History

The Club was founded in 1917 as Epsom Town F.C. and on reaching senior status they joined the Southern Suburban League and won the League Championship at the first attempt without losing a game. In 1922-23 they reached the final of the Surrey Junior Cup, losing 2-1, (after a 1-1 draw), to Caterham Mental Hospital. In 1925-26, they were winners of the Surrey Senior League and again in 1926-27, also in the same season they were winners of the Surrey Senior League Charity Cup beating Egham Town 1-0.

They were elected to the London league in 1927-28, winning the League Championship at the first attempt. They reached the final of the Surrey Senior Cup losing 3-2 to Redhill in 1928-29. in 1929-30, Epsom Town Reserves were winners of the Surrey Intermediate Cup beating Farnham Town Reserves 4-2 and in 1932-33 were winners of the Surrey Senior Shield, beating Woking 5-0.

In 1933-34 after beating Woking, Nunhead and Leytonstone, all clubs from the Isthmian League, Epsom Town reached the 1st Round Proper of the FA Cup for the only time in the Club's history, where they faced Clapton Orient from Division Three South of the Football League. The Times said of the match, "Epsom fought hard against Clapton Orient, Clapton were 3 goals up, one from a penalty, with less than 30 minutes left. Epsom scored two quick goals, (Marlow and Graves), and had a reasonable chance of drawing level before Morris made the game safe for the home team, Clapton visit Walsall in the 2nd Round." In the same season, Epsom Town Juniors won the Surrey Youth Cup beating Stoughton 4-3 after extra time. Remaining in the London League until 1949, Epsom failed to repeat the championship win of 1927-28, but they were runners-up in 1931-32, 1932-33, 1936-37 and 1937-38, at the commencement of 1937-38, they changed their name to Epsom F.C.

It was decided after hostilities started in 1939 that the Committee would devote its energies to the war effort instead of the running of a football club. During the period of the war, the West Street ground was let to a side who played under the name of Epsom Town. They reached the final of the Surrey Senior Emergency competition in 1943- 44, losing to Tooting and Mitcham. In 1945, Epsom F.C. reclaimed their West Street ground and recommenced in the London League, whilst Epsom Town F.C. continued for one season in the Corinthian League, playing their home matches at Kings College, Lavender Avenue, Mitcham and later in the season, at Ruxley Lane, Ewell. Epsom Town F.C. was disbanded in 1946-47, but Epsom F.C. continued to compete in the Premier Division of the London League.

The Corinthian League was started in 1945 with 8 clubs, who, having competed on equal terms with Isthmian and Athenian League sides during the war, did not wish to return to the inferior London or Spartan Leagues. The size of the Corinthian League was expanded over the years and when Epsom joined in 1949 it was up to 14 clubs. Epsom took time to adjust to the higher level, finishing 13th in the first two seasons, but by 1952-53 had progressed enough to come 3rd with just 5 points less than champions Carshalton Athletic.

This was to be their highest position although they cam 4th in 1956- 57 and 5th in 1955-56. In 1953-54 after beating Addlestone, Malden Town and Dulwich Hamlet, Epsom lost to Corinthian Casuals in the Final of the Surrey Senior Cup, 2-0, at Crystal Palace's ground, Selhurst Park. Despite finishing bottom of the Corinthian League in 1954-55, Epsom won the Surrey Senior Shield beating Carshalton Athletic 1-0. In 1956-57 Epsom were finalists in the Corinthian League Memorial Shield losing 2-0 to Maidenhead at Dorking's ground. Epsom Reserves were winners of the Surrey Intermediate Cup in 1957-58 beating West Byfleet 2-1. In 1958-59 Epsom finished 12th in the Corinthian League but the following year were winners of the Memorial Shield beating Maidenhead United 2-Oat Wembley F.C.

In 1960, Epsom F.C. merged with Ewell and Stoneleigh F.C. changing their name to Epsom and Ewell F.C. and finished 12th in the Corinthian League. In 1961-62 they finished in 15th position the following year. Following the amalgamation of the Corinthian League with the Delphian League, Epsom were elected to Division One of the Athenian League for 1963-64 and finished bottom of the table with only 9 points from 26 games, conceding 104 goals. Letchworth and Worthing both scoring 9 against them, Letchworth scoring 7 in the return League game after Epsom had been leading 3-1 at half time. Also in this bad season Walthamstow Avenue won 8-0 in the F.A. Cup.

In 1964-65 Epsom were again bottom of the table and relegated to Division Two. This was the year in which the first rumours circulated that Epsom's West Street ground was to be sold to property developers. In 1965-66, ex-Burnley and Leyton Orient winger Jimmy Smith was appointed Epsom's new manager and Epsom had their largest gate for three years, 532 for the visit of Leyton in the Amateur Cup. They had finished in 9th place in the League. In 1966-67 Jimmy Smith resigned in September and Tony Williams took over, but Epsom had to wait until November for their first win, 6-3 over Eastbourne. Epsom's misconduct record prior to Williams' appointment sees them suspended indefinitely by the Surrey County F.A., the ban being reversed on appeal. Also in 1966-67 the Borough Council rejects planning permission for 99 flats to be built on the West Street ground.

In 1967-68, player manager Tony Williams rejoins the R.A.F. and is succeeded by Dave Fillery. Chris Kelly, a local 17 year-old made his debut and scored in the opening match of the season against Aylesbury. Epsom reached their first cup final for 8 years, but lose 3-0 and 4-0 at Edmonton in the two legs of the Athenian League Division Two Challenge Cup.

1968-69 saw Epsom finish in 14th position, one point away from re- election, manager Dave Fillery quits at the end of the season. Local schoolmaster Peter Norris was appointed manager in 1969-70 and over 700 saw Epsom narrowly lose 2-1 to Tooting & Mitcham at West Street in an Amateur Cup tie, they finished 15th in the League. In 1970-71 Epsom were forced to apply for re-election, finishing bottom of the table with 10 points from 30 games. Epsom's sagging finances are boosted by the sale of Wimbledon's floodlights, which had been donated to the club some years earlier, to Windsor and Eton. Peter Morris resigned in October 1971 and Epsom got only 4 points from their first 12 games, and eventually were forced to apply for re- election for the second consecutive season.

In 1972-73, Peter Kenchington was appointed player - manager, but left the club in November. The club never rose from the foot of the Athenian League, and a meeting was held in February to decide if the club should continue, they were not re-elected to the Athenian League at the end of the season.

Ex-Fulham player Pat O'Connell was then appointed as manager and the club was accepted back to the Surrey Senior League, this heralded a remarkable turn around. In 1973-74 Epsom were League runners-up and League Cup winners. The latter was the first trophy to be won by the club in 15 years. The following season they were League Champions and again won the League Cup, they were also finalists in the League Charity Cup and their greatest triumph - they reached the final of the inaugural F.A. Challenge Vase competition played at Wembley, Reigate Priory, Horley Town, Worthing, Eastbourne Town, Hornchurch, Addlestone and Stamford were all beaten before losing to Hoddesdon Town 2-1 in front of a 10,000 crowd.

Not surprisingly, the Athenian League were quick to offer the club their place back in Division Two. The club were promoted to Division One at the first attempt. During the 1975-76 season, Millwall signed two of Epsom's first team players, Trevor Lee and Phil Walker; they immediately became first-team players and helped Millwall gain promotion to Division 2 of the Football League.

In 1976-77, Epsom finished in 10th place and were Athenian League Cup finalists and with new floodlights installed they were invited to apply for election to the newly - formed Division 2 of the Isthmian League, this they did and were duly elected. This season also save Epsom's greatest success off the field when they purchased the freehold of the West Street ground.

1977-78, their first season in the Isthmian League saw them finish as Division Two champions. Metropolitan Police joining them in Division One as runners-up, in 1978-79 they finished in 10th place, 1979-80, 9th and also winners of the Southern Combination Cup. This was also the season in which the start of the new Clubhouse was made and they acquired their first major sponsors, DURST, an international photographic company. The same season they also started the club's weekly ticket scheme, sadly it closed during the beginning of 1990.

In 1980-81, Epsom just missed promotion to the Premier Division finishing 3rd, but the disappointment of missing out was allayed as they lifted the Surrey Senior Cup for the first time, beating Woking at Tooting & Mitcham's ground. Epsom finally attained Premier Divisior status when they finished runners-up to Windsor & Eton in 1983-84; in addition they also reached the Surrey Senior Cup Final, but lost to Sutton United. But then the bubble burst, after two seasons in the Top flight Epsom were relegated back to Division One at the end of 1985-86, and the following season were relegated again, to Division Two South.

Pat O'Connell had resigned as manager in 1981-82, and ex-player Adrian Hill took over, having taken us to the Premier Division he stayed for another season before leaving for Croydon. Another ex- player and former reserve-team manager Alan Webb took over, but after relegation, player Ricky Kidd was appointed in his place during 1986-87, and although being relegated at the end of the season the team was beginning to build in strength and if the usual two teams instead of four had been relegated, Epsom would possibly still be in Division One.

At the end of season 1987-88, Epsom finished in 5th place in Division Two South and the following season, they finished 9th. Towards the end of season 1989-90, manager Ricky Kidd left the club by mutual agreement, and former manager Adrian Hill returned to the manager's seat. Despite several players leaving when Kidd left, Epsom still managed to finish mid table.

Season 1990-91, saw Epsom finish just below the magic half-way line, and so became a founder member of the newly-formed Division Three, and at the end of the season 1991-92 finished 9th. 1992-93 saw them finish 15th, and they played their last game at West Street having sold the ground to Wimpey Homes.

In season 1993-94, Epsom finished 10th, after being next to bottom at the end of January, and a site for a new ground was purchased at Banstead Road, Ewell, but their planning application was rejected, 1994-95, a promising mid-season rally suggested a finishing position in the top half of the table, but injuries to key players, coupled with a late season fixture build-up, which ended in six straight defeats, saw them finish a disappointing fourteenth. 1995-96 saw them on the verge of promotion race; eventually finishing in seventh place, they achieved their record Isthmian victory, 11-1 over Tring Town.

In 1996-97, their early promise soon evaporated and they finished fourteenth, however, they had plans passed on another site in the Borough in 1997-98, their fifth season ground sharing with Banstead Athletic F.C., although still continuing to await the completion of the purchase of the site for their new ground, they finished in seventh place, and in addition, reached the final of the Vandanel Associate Members Trophy, losing 2-0 to Bedford Town at Hendon's Claremont Road ground.

The following three seasons saw them always on the fringe of promotion finishing in fifth, sixth and seventh place, in addition Epsom picked up the UMBRO Division 3 Fair Play trophy twice at the end of the 1998-99 and 2000-01 seasons.

In 2001-02, the League re-organisation resulted in a minimum of six promotion places being available, always in contention they sealed fifth place, and a place in Division One South, with a finishing burst of one defeat from their last fourteen games. Manager Adrian Hill took a lot of credit for Epsom's promotion, together with coach Barry Barnes and physio Kevin Taylor. Epsom & Ewell stormed to the top of the table with 19 points from their opening 7 games at the start of the 2002-03 season, however, they were unable to maintain the momentum, but still finished the season in an extremely creditable ninth position.

Manager Adrian Hill announced his retirement from the manager's position in April 2003, Barry Barnes was appointed as his replacement, with Mick Stratford returning to the club as coach. Stratford left the club in October 2003 to be replaced by former Reserve team manager Ray Purvis, but Epsom rarely looked like escaping from the foot of the table and with the re-organisation of Levels 1-4 coming in at the end of the 2003-2004 season, Epsom finished the final game of the season without knowing their fate. An application to rejoin the Combined Counties League was rejected by the F.A., and Epsom were relegated to Division Two of the Ryman League.

Barry Barnes left during the summer to be replaced by Ray Purvis with player Mark Freeborough taking over as coach and the 2004-2005 season saw Epsom fade after a promising start, although they again picked up the Division 2 fair-play award, an award that was mirrored by the Youth team who won the Southern Youth League John Denham Fair Play trophy. Mark Freeborough at the end of the season decided to step down from the position of coach with former Youth team manager Paul Pritchard being appointed as Assistant Manager.

The club parted with Ray Purvis in January 2006 when he was replaced by Paul Pritchard that saw Reseve team manager Peter Augustine step up to be appointed as assistant manager. Epsom for the second successive season faded badly after a promising start. The re-organisation of Level 5 in May 2006 saw Ryman League Division Two disbanded seeing Epsom along with Camberley, Chertsey, Dorking and Egham being transferred by the F.A. to the Combined Counties League.