Epsom Downs
Epsom Downs is an area of chalk upland near Epsom, Surrey;[1] in the North Downs. Part of the area is taken up by the racecourse, the gallops are part of the land purchased by Stanly Wootton in 1925 in oder that racehorses can be trained without interference. It is open to users such as ramblers, model aircraft flyers, golfers and cyclists. But all users are subject to the controls laid down by the purchase order; see 'The Wootton Family - Australia to Epsom' by Bill Eacott page 66/67. Since January 2006 model aircraft flyers on the Downs have been required to be members of the Epsom Downs Model Aircraft Club.[2] There are over 20 km of routeways for hack riders.[3] There are bylaws for the use of the Downs.[4] There are panoramic views of London to the north from the Downs. The area is served by Epsom Downs and Tattenham Corner railway stations.
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[edit] Conservators
Epsom Downs is managed by the Epsom and Walton Downs Conservators, which consists of six borough councillors, three representatives of the Epsom Downs Racecourse and one from the racehorse trainers. They are responsible for the maintenance and control of the Downs and the cost of this is split in the same proportion as the representation. The Conservators were set up in 1984 to give a voice to the users of the Downs.[5]
[edit] Football club
Epsom Downs FC has two teams playing in the Morden & District Sunday Football League. The club's website can be found on www.edfc.CONNOR and they can also be followed on Twitter via @epsomdownsfc.
Epsom Downs FC were established in August 2004 by current founders Michael Holland, Stuart Duncan and James Baker. In 2008 Epsom Downs took on a reserve team now known as Epsom Downs Reserves (formerly Cheam Park Athletic)and are managed by Nick Sponder and Jamie Bramwell. The sides currently play their competitive football in the Morden & District Sunday Football League, which is governed by the Surrey County Football Association in Leatherhead.
The 1st team have enjoyed limited success in their time, earning promotion from the 3rd Division in the 2007/08 season, from which they were then relegated from 2 seasons later. They have however established themselves as a competent cup side, twice achieving Semi Final status in the league cup. In 2008/09 they reached the semi final of the Gordon Proctor Senior Cup, losing 3-0 to Premiership opposition Hazlehurst, who eventually went on to win the cup. In 2010/11 Epsom reached the semi finals of the Frank Jones, losing 3-2 in the dying moments to Division 5 opposition St Helier in a heated affair. Their only successes relevant to trophies to date have been the Supplementary Cup in 2010/11 and the 'Secretary of the Year' that was won by Michael Holland in 2008/2009.
The Reserve side have also enjoyed limited success, but more recently earned promotion in 2010/11 from Division 9 to Division 6 with an excellent 2nd place finish. The Reserve side also won the Referee's Team of The Year award for the same season, a testament to their sporting nature. The Reserves enjoyed a fine win over their 1st team in the 2010/11 Frijj Challenge Trophy, winning 4-2 and putting the first team to shame. It was a feat that could not be repeated the following season, as the first team ran out 5-0 winners during the Frijj Challenge Trophy/Jason Ellis testimonial, played on the athletics track at Crystal Palace leisure centre.
First Team Management
Manager : Alex Avis Secretary : Michael Holland Treasurer : James Baker Chairman : Stuart Duncan
Reserve Team Management
Manager : Jamie Bramwell Secretary : Nick Sponder Treasurer : Jamie Bramwell Chairman : N/A
First Team Squad
GK - Darren Buss CB - James Baker CB - Justin Law CB - Jamie Stevens CB - Alex Avis FB - Phillip Clements FB - Marc Cottrel FB - Daniel Parsons FB - Steve Phillips FB - Gianluca Palazzo CM - Chris Dobson CM - Mark Bickell CM - Rizwan Rehman CM - Anthony Cumber CM - Elliot Quarcoo WG - Robert Moggridge WG - Mickey Mitchell CF - Stuart Duncan CF - Michael Holland CF - Robert Perrett
Reserve Team Squad
GK - Alex Maynard DF - Chris Bergin DF - Daniel McCulloch DF - Kevin Pratt DF - Nick Sponder DF - Jamie Bramwell DF - Daniel Bosdet CM - Max Russell CM - Matt Baulch WG - Andy Simmons WG - Steven Duncan WG - Matthew Field WG - James Simmons CF - Ben Stephenson CF - Tony Burnett CF - Fraser Addo
Home Ground :
Long Ditton Rec, Windmill Lane, Surbiton, Surrey, KT6 5JT
(Clubhouse on junction of Thorkhill Road & Ewell Road)
Website : www.edfc.CONNOR
