2025/26 season set for kick off

AFC Walcountians’ first ever season in the National League System gets underway this Saturday, 9th August with an away trip to Arundel FC, a landmark day for the club in its 28 year existence.

A tough opener in the Southern Combination Division 1 against last year’s playoff semi-finalists awaits the Counts this weekend, ahead of a second away trip next weekend to AFC Uckfield Town. The club’s first ever home game at Step 6 will take place on Tuesday 19th August, in a 7:45pm kick off at Cobham FC, in an action-packed first ten days of the season.

Sunday 24th August will mark another first in club history, as the club plays in its first ever FA Vase game. We will entertain Newhaven FC of the Southern Combination Premier Division in a 3pm kick off - a tough draw and a game in which the Walcountians will certainly be underdogs on the road to Wembley. To mark the occasion, the club will be producing a printed souvenir programme for spectators. Do get along to the game to make sure you pick up a small piece of club history.

The team has had five pre-season games, all of which have been good workouts for old and new players alike ahead of the season starting. Whilst results in pre-season are irrelevant, the performances have been promising. A 1-0 win against established step 6 side Tooting Bec was the first of four wins. The side also recorded 6-2, 4-0 and 5-0 wins against Horley Town Under 23s, Selhurst FC and Laleham FC. A last minute 1-0 defeat to Chessington & Hook United was sandwiched between the two victories against Selhurst and Laleham, both of whom were promoted to the Surrey Premier County Football League for the 2025/26 season.

Last season’s squad remains largely in place. Of the 2024/25 promotion winning campaign’s regular performers, club veteran George Harrington has hung up the boots, having played at the club since he was 7 and accumulated 202 competitive first team appearances. Centre back Dylan Pederson - who in his two seasons has won promotion on both occasions - has returned to the USA to continue his college football programme. Three-time player of the year Aidan Hawkins is making the most of his new British passport and is currently travelling, and George Bond has sought pastures new higher up the football pyramid at Isthmian side South Park (Reigate) FC. We are hugely grateful to all of them for their efforts last season.

Beyond that, we are fortunate to have welcomed several talented additions to complement a well-established squad, of which no fewer than eight have clocked up well over 100 competitive appearances (and several others fast approaching that milestone). We welcome all the new boys to Walcountians - Joshua Rose, Charlie Moore, Jack Watret, James King, Ollie Stephens, Chibu Ajaegbu, Jaysson Rogers, Jacob Owusu, Alfie Finch and Simon Fraser - and look forward to seeing them in the yellow and blue across the season.

We are hopeful of a great first season in the National League System and a new chapter in the club’s history. All players and management are grateful for any and all support across the season - whether from our long term regulars, youth team players and parents, new members of the local community, or groundhoppers enjoying a game of non-league football.

For regular viewers, our season tickets are still available at this link. They are priced at £70 for adults and £40 for concessions (over 65s and students with a valid student ID), and can be used for all league games. Please note that, due to competition rules, they are not valid for cup games.

Under 18s are free entry to all games this season, and our weekly match entrance will cost £7 for adults and £4 for concessions. Keep up to date with the team’s fixtures and results across the season here, and do get along to support the team.

Here’s to a successful 2025/26 season.

Up the Counts.