Leatherhead Football Club
Here at the Pitchsider, Toby and I are both leatherhead FC fans. From time to time, you will see that we go to a few leatherheads per season which we post on our Instagram story. Leatherheads are a local club to us but many of our followers will need to learn who they are. So, this article will be about the history of Leatherhead FC and what they are about. Leatherhead FC is a Club that plays football in a Fetcham grove in Leatherhead. They are in the Isthmian League – South Central Division level 8 on the footballing pyramid.
Leatherhead Football Club can trace its history back to the formation of Leatherhead Rose in 1907. Rose was crowned champion of the Dorking & District League in 1910 and 1919 before joining the Kingston and District League, where they won the league title three times. Leatherhead United were formed in 1924 and, in 1926, won Division One of the Sutton and District League. In the early 1930s, United joined the Surrey Junior League, becoming Champions in 1933-4.
After the War, officials of the two clubs met, and in May 1946, the Leatherhead Football Club was officially formed at a public meeting. United’s Fetcham Grove ground was to be used as the home ground. The Tanners won four consecutive Surrey Senior League Championships before spells in the Metropolitan, Delphian and Corinthian Leagues. Tanners were Corinthian League champions in 1963 before moving into the Athenian League.
After being elected to the Isthmian League, Leatherhead made national headlines in 1974-5 when they reached the Fourth-Round proper of the FA Cup, defeating League sides Colchester Utd and Brighton & Hove Albion before bowing out to First Division Leicester City 2-3.
The Tanners finally reached Wembley Stadium in 1978 but were beaten in the FA Trophy Final. The Club then entered a period of decline and was relegated in 1983. 1990, it slipped down into Division Two South but was back in Division One in 1997. Finances were a problem, and, in the summer of 2000, the Club was within a few days of folding but was saved by its
Mick Sullivan was appointed First Team Manager in May 2009. Under Sullivan’s guidance, the Club had its most successful season in years, winning the Isthmian League Cup, the first major trophy in 40 years and finishing the season in fifth place in the League before losing a playoff semi-final. The following season, a dramatic playoff victory against Dulwich Hamlet (4-3 after extra time) saw The Tanners return to the Premier Division for the first time since 1983. Tanners' stay lasted just one season, though. In 2013-14, Tanners reached the playoffs again, this time edging out Guernsey 3-2, before winning a penalty shootout at Folkestone Invicta to return to the Ryman Premier Division.
Sammy Moore was appointed in the summer of 2017. In his first managerial job, Sammy steered Tanners to the second round of the FA Cup, a County Cup Final and a top-eight finish in the League. He was replaced by former Margate boss Nikki Bull, who, despite rebuilding the squad, took the team to an 8th-place finish.
After a poor start to the 2021-22 season Luke Tuffs was appointed to the Fetcham Grove hot seat in January 2022, and his team very nearly escaped relegation after a number of battling performances. However, the Tanners missed one point and were relegated to the season's final on a points-per-game calculation. The 22/23 season started slowly for the Tanners, and after a dozen games, Luke Tuffs decided to step down; Hayden Bird replaced him, and results improved, taking the team from 17th place to 7th, only missing a playoff position by one point.
This season, they currently sit 4th in the League, hoping for a playoff run where they can get promoted. Only time will tell if this can come true. Leatherhead wants to grow as a football club and become bigger and better. With some good players who come in on loan from the likes of Dorking Wanders with Olly Allen in the squad this season. To get the best players in the League and push for promotion. Under Hayden Bird, the club looks to be going in the right direction and returning to where it once was.
Here at the Pitchsider, we look forward to going to many more games in the future and for the Club to climb up the leagues, as it holds a special place in our hearts.