A victim of the north-south divide in ways you wouldn’t be expecting, Epsom & Ewell only ever played us in one league season. That divide came in the form of the regionalisation of the Vauxhall Open League. We only spent time with them during the 1986-7 Division One campaign. And four points from two games was our return. It didn’t last purely because The Salts were relegated that season into Division Two South. We went down the following season. But into the North. So, our chance to cross paths since relied on them keeping pace with us. And that they did not do.
Epsom & Ewell: The Facts
The NRT Stadium
High Road, Chipstead, Surrey, CR5 3SF
In 1918, a new cricket club was born: Epsom Juniors. Alas, this club had nowt to do at the end of the summer season – so a football club called Epsom Juniors came to life too. For much of that interwar period, the Salts took part in district and county competitions – renaming themselves Epsom Town in 1920. Not remarkable in itself, but the 1933-4 season did see them reach the first round of the FA Cup. In 1934, the Town moniker was binned off. And, with a little fast forward past WWII, it’s 1949 and now the club are in the Corinthian League.
We’ll keep our finger on the fast forward button for now. We’re passing the adoption of the current name of Epsom & Ewell (1960), joining the Athenian League after the Corinthian League disbanded (1963) and a brief spell in the Surrey Senior League (1973). After rejoining the Athenian League in 1975, it took just two seasons for the Salts to end up in the Isthmian League. They were Division Two champions at the first crack. Then, at the same time Boro’ were joining the competition (1984), Epsom & Ewell were reaching their zenith.
Why do we know Epsom & Ewell?
Phew, we’re almost there.
So, that zenith earned the Salts saw promotion to the Isthmian League Premier Division. It would only be a two-year stay, however, and the drop back to Division One ahead of the 1986-7 campaign put them up against an upwardly mobile Boro’. Well, comparatively speaking. Two league meetings were all we could manage before a second successive relegation flung Epsom & Ewell down into Division Two South. Boro’ won the first at home (1-0), before the spoils were shared in the return (2-2).
How to get to Epsom & Ewell – Travel Information – Distance: 68 miles
By Road
Epsom and Ewell are calling Chipstead FC home at the moment. To get here, go around the counter-clockwise M25 to Junction 8. Leave the motorway and take the first exit at the roundabout for the A217; taking the third exit at the next roundabout for Babylon Lane.
Turn left onto High Road and the ground is up here on the right after two miles.
We don’t think it’ll be too much stress to park here.
By Rail
Station: CHIPSTEAD
Services to: LONDON VICTORIA
Go south on Hazel Way and continue onto Hazelwood Lane all the way until a slight right takes you onto High Road. Keep on going and the ground is on the left.
