Metropolitan Police F.C.
Full name | Metropolitan Police Football Club | ||
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Nickname(s) | The Met | ||
Founded | 1919 | ||
Ground | Imber Court, East Molesey, Surrey | ||
Capacity | 3,000 | ||
Chairman | Desmond Flanders | ||
Manager | Jim Cooper | ||
League | Isthmian League South Central Division | ||
2023–24 | Isthmian League South Central Division, 16th of 22 | ||
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Metropolitan Police Football Club is the football club of the Metropolitan Police Service. While originally consisting of serving police officers, this rule was removed when the Commissioner refused to sanction time off for the team. The team has not had a serving officer playing for it since 2011, and the current team consists of the usual mix of semi-professional footballers. [1][2]
They are currently based just outside London in East Molesey, Surrey and play in the Isthmian League Premier Division.
History
The club was formed in 1919 and played friendlies until they joined the Spartan League in 1928, a league in which they played until 1960. The club switched to the Metropolitan League in 1960, and joined the Southern League in 1971. They joined the Isthmian League's newly formed Division Two in 1977 and were promoted at the first attempt. In 1982 they came close to promotion, missing out by just two points, but in 1985 were relegated back to Division Two. In 1988 they were promoted once again, but 1991 saw them drop to Division Two once more, where they remained until league reorganisation in 2002 saw them placed in Division One South. In 2004 the league was reorganised again and the Met played in Division One for two years, but in 2006 the regionalised divisions returned.
In 2010, the Metropolitan Police won their first senior trophy, beating AFC Wimbledon 5–3 on penalties after a 4–4 draw in the final of the London Senior Cup. They finished the 2010–11 season as champions of the Isthmian League Division One South, winning the league by one goal difference over Bognor Regis Town.
Ground
Metropolitan Police play their home games at the Metropolitan Police (Imber Court) Sports Club, Ember Lane, East Molesey, Surrey, KT8 OBT.
The club's home at Imber Court is a general-use police sports facility which the Force acquired in 1919. Significant ground improvements, including a new stand, have taken place since the 1980s, funded by a Force lottery scheme.
Current squads
First XI
- As of 2 September 2016.[3]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Second XI
- As of 2 September 2016.[4]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Honours
- Isthmian League Division One South[5]
- Winners: 2010–11
- Isthmian League Division Two[5]
- runners-up: 1977–78
- Isthmian League Division Two South[5]
- runners-up: 1987–88
- London Senior Cup[6][7]
- winners: 2009–10
- runners-up: 1934–5, 1940–41, 2013–14
- Surrey Senior Cup:[8]
- Winners (1): 1932–33, 2014-15
- Runners-Up (1): 2006–07, 2013–14
Club records
- Best league performance: 5th in Isthmian League Premier Division, 2014–15
- Best FA Cup performance:[5] 1st round proper, 1931–32, 1984–85, 1993–94, 2012–13
- Best FA Amateur Cup performance:[5] Semi-finals, 1933–34
- Best FA Trophy performance:[5] 2nd round proper, 1989–90
- Best FA Vase performance:[5] Quarter-finals, 1994–95
Former players
1. Players that have played/managed in the football league or any foreign equivalent to this level (i.e. fully professional league).
2. Players with full international caps.
3. Players that hold a club record.
- Harry Bearryman
- Bill Amor
- Rene Regis
- Lee Gledhill
- John Cottam
- Luke Gambin
- Nigel Smith
- Chris Sharpling
- Rob Haworth
- Daniel Gwyther
- Corey Almond
- John South
Sources
- Metropolitan Police at the Football Club History Database
References
- ^ "Metropolitan Police FC". The Ball is Square. 31 August 2011. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
- ^ Surtees, Joshua (22 April 2015). "Behind the Scenes at Britain's Most Misunderstood Football Club". Vice Sports. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
- ^ "The Team - First XI". Metropolitan Police F.C. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
- ^ "The Team - Second XI". Metropolitan Police F.C. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Football Club History Database – Metropolitan Police". Fchd.info. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
- ^ "Memorandum Of Procedures For Dealing With Misconduct Occurring". Docstoc.com. 24 April 2010. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
- ^ Stevens, Rob (2 November 2012). "BBC Sport – FA Cup: Met Police boss gets break from riot investigation". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
- ^ "Saturday Senior Cup Previous Winners". SurreyFA. Retrieved 28 April 2013.