Banstead Village

Banstead Athletic FC programme

This Banstead Athletic Football Club programme accompanied the match played at the Merland Rise ground on 10 December 1955. Opponents were Epsom Football Club.

What’s rather charming about this programme is its civility. The chairman, treasurer, secretary and assistant secretary are all listed with ‘Esq’ after their names… when did you last see that? And the programme notes offer Epsom FC’s “players, officials and supporters a cordial welcome on their first visit to Merland Rise”.

And this: “A collection will be made at half-time for the Banstead British Legion. Supporters are asked to give generously to this worthy cause.” Note the programme’s lucky number, too – 7995. Who won that, and what was the prize? We’ll probably never know.

Banstead Athletic’s team on that December afternoon were J. Ferguson, R. Taylor, L. Walker, T. Turner, W. Chesney, D. Wall, S. Argent, K. Williams H. Clark (centre forward), K. Bicknell and B. Wesson.

Also in the picture is an old metal Banstead Athletic supporters’ badge.