THE COUNTS ARE PROMOTED!
AFC Walcountians promoted to Step 6 of the National League System
AFC Walcountians have been promoted to the National League System, following a successful 2024/25 campaign in the Surrey Premier County Football League.
This season marked the tenth season of the First Team since they were incorporated for the 2015/2016 campaign, and caps a remarkable rise since beginning in the Redhill and District Division 1 ten years ago.
The season went down to the very final game of the season, with Walcountians finishing level on points with the only other side eligible to be promoted – Dial Square FC – but pipping them with a superior goal difference. The promotion is our First Team's fourth promotion in the last seven seasons and reflects a huge amount of effort from the players and management to try and drive the club forward in adult football.
The team will now enter Step 6 of the National League System, competing in the Southern Combination Football League Division One. They will also have the opportunity to enter the FA Vase – a prestigious national competition where the final is held at Wembley.
We hope that in the coming seasons we will be able to provide an upgrade to the facilities at Walcountians in line with FA requirements for participating in the National League System, which will enable the team to return to the club for its home games, as well as providing improved facilities and playing opportunities for our youth team players.
Please do get along and support the team during the 2025/2026 season, and stay tuned for more updates!
Commenting on the promotion, First Team Manager Matt Scola said:
I'm really proud of the team's achievement to reach the National League System. We started out playing park football on Saturday afternoons in the 2015-2016 season and I don't think anyone realistically thought reaching Senior Football would happen.
It is a testament to the players over the years and their relentless commitment and dedication. Several of the players in our side have been representing the club since they were in primary school and are now in their 30s. The main rivals this season for promotion were an incredibly well-resourced side in comparison to us. Our boys were still paying their weekly subs and annual membership to represent the club every week. It was a true team effort, and the players are all great ambassadors for our club.
There is so much potential in this club to continue progressing, and for the benefits of our success in the senior sides to filter down to all our youth sides, in terms of improving our facilities for all and increasing opportunities for young players to progress within the club and represent our adult sides in non-league football. We have such a great youth section, and have done for so many years, and we want to create an adult section that they can all aspire to play in.
Our long-term goal is to get back home with an improved ground. I know we will get to that point eventually, but in the meantime we would love some support at matchdays, and any volunteers to help with matchday duties at the weekends as we step up a level.
Thank you to all who at the club who have helped us and supported us over the past ten seasons. There are too many to name. We're sure there is more success to come across the club, whether in the youth or adult sections, and hope that there will be plenty of club members there to enjoy that experience with us and keep driving the club forward.
