User:AirRaidPatrol 84/Crowborough Athletic history
Crowborough Athletic FC - A brief history
[edit]USE THIS INFORMATION TO EXPAND HISTORY IN ARTICLE Crowborough Athletic F.C.
FROM CROWBOROUGH ATHLETIC OFFICIAL WEBSITE. Official website
The Club was formed around 1894 and played in the local Tunbridge Wells leagues for many years. Having played at various grounds around the town they moved to their present location at the Alderbrook Recreation Ground in the early 1950's.
They joined the Sussex County League in 1974, finishing 4th in Division Two in their first season. Since those early times they have enjoyed mixed fortunes, moving up and down the various divisions through the years.
In the 1984/85 season they found themselves in Division Three but won promotion to Division Two in the 1986/87 season. They stayed in that division until they won promotion to Division One in season 1992/93 where they remained for three seasons until relegation saw them back in Division Two.
A two year stay in that division saw them leave Division Two behind unfortunately it was because of relegation so they found themselves back in Division Three for the 1999/00 season and although they gained immediate promotion back to Division Two they came straight back down again in 2000/01.
It was around this time that the Club started to stabilise itself and having finished 4th in Division Three in 2001/02 they went one better in 2002/03 only to miss out on the promotion places behind Midhurst & Easebourne and Haywards Heath Town. They also lost the Division Three Cup Final to Midhurst & Easebourne having already beaten the league champions twice in the league.
Any disappointment was short lived as they won promotion in season 2003/04 as Champions as they beat their nearest rivals, St. Francis Rangers by 11 points and they made it a league and cup double by beating near neighbours Uckfield Town in the Division Two Cup Final.
Further success followed as back-to-back championships were gained when they were again crowned champions by 7 points from runners-up Wick FC therefore they were back in Division One after a nine year absence. Seaon 2005/06 was one of consolidation as they finished 6th in their first season back in the top flight however a top three position was up for grabs until the last day of the season.
Further success followed in season 2006/07 as they won the John O'Hara League Challenge Cup by beating fellow Division One side Sidley United 2-1. They also improved on their previous league position to finish in 4th place, level on points with 3rd placed Arundel FC whose superior goal difference meant they took 3rd spot. This was despite The Crows beating them twice in the league.
GROUND INFORMATION
[edit]from Nomad Online. link
Description of ground The 1st team pitch of Crowborough Athletic is one of several in Alderbrook Recreation Ground, but is easily recognised by its perimeter fence, enclosing a much improved ground.
In the past the pitch has suffered badly from waterlogging in wet weather. However, extensive drainage work carried out during the 2003 close season addressed this to a large degree, whilst further works were undertaken during the summer of 2006. The present clubhouse is located just inside the entrance to the ground, and is a short walk from the pitch.
In December 2006 it was announced that the Crows had been granted funding totaling £381,879 by the Football Foundation, and its partner organisation, the Football Stadia Improvement Fund (FSIF). The Football Foundation grant of £281,878 has allowed the club to redevelop facilities at the Alderbrook by building a new community changing room block (to include six team and three referee changing rooms, a treatment room, refreshment facilities, a lounge and a community training development room).
In addition, the £100,000 FSIF grant meanwhile is going towards the construction of new perimeter fencing, two new turnstiles, terracing and two new stands. Visiting in August 2007, just 12 months since my previous visit, the transformation whilst still not quite completed, was quite astonishing and more than merits the ground's name change, although no doubt "The Alderbrook" will be used for some years to come by supporters.
The original cover, situated half way along the far touchline, previously afforded a covered elevated view from a terrace of seven steps. It has now received a considerable face-lift and is now fully seated. Further seating is provided on one side courtesy of a pre-fabricated stand of the Arena Seating variety, with a similar albeit unseated cover on the other side. This has resulted in an interesting juxtaposition of old and new, and the club is to be applauded by retaining and refurbishing the original stand when many others would have simply demolished it and opted for an additional 'off-the-shelf' cover.
The open space behind the near goal, previously used for car parking, has been taken up by the impressive Clubhouse / Dressing Room block. It is not complete [as of August 2007] but is certainly well-appointed. The building will incorporate further cover for spectators, and the long-term plan is to build a second storey. The original clubhouse is Council-owned and will remain once its replacement is finished. The dugouts that once stood in the middle of the stand and obscured part of the view were replaced and rebuilt on the opposite touchline in 2006.
An impressive development and one imagines that should the Crows finish in a position to be considered for promotion to the next step of the non-League Pyramid the facilities at the Alderbrook will not be found wanting, and the ground now ranks as one of the very best in the County League.