Leatherhead FC

Information

Leatherhead Football Club Limited is a Private Limited Company. Company No. 03067144.

The Company’s shareholders are listed as Richard Bligh, Debbie Eastman, John Dean, Christine Edwards, Laurence Herbert, Richard Wilkinson, David Pope, Mick Sullivan & Colin Ward.

Leatherhead FC History

1907

Leatherhead Rose

Leatherhead FC can trace its history back to the formation of Leatherhead Rose in 1907

1907

1919

New League

Joined the Kingston and District League where they won the League title three times, the last in 1938-39

1919

1925-6

Divison Winners

Leatherhead won Division One of the Sutton and District Leagued

1925-6

1930s

Surrey Junior League

United joined the Surrey Junior League becoming Champions in 1933-4

1930s

1946

Leatherhead Football Club

After the War, officials of the two clubs met and in May 1946, 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 went on to win four consecutive Surrey Senior League Championships before spells in the Metropolitan, Delphian and Corinthian Leagues.

1946

1963

Corinthian League Champions

Tanners were Corinthian League champions in 1963 before moving into the Athenian League. Leatherhead won promotion from Division One at the end of the first season and inaugurated their floodlights with a match against a Fulham side.

1963

1969

Surrey Senior Cup

Leatherhead won the Surrey Senior Cup for the first, and to date, only time.

1969

1974-5

FA Cup National Headlines

After being elected into 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. In subsequent seasons, the Tanners defeated two more Football League sides at the Grove – Cambridge United and Northampton Town.

1974-5

1978

Wembley

After the disappointment of defeat in FA Amateur Cup semi-finals in 1971 and 1974, the Tanners finally reached Wembley Stadium in 1978 but were beaten in the FA Trophy Final.

1978

1983 - 1990

Relgation

The Club then entered a period of decline and were relegated in 1983 and in 1990, slipped down into Division Two South

1983 - 1990

2000

Financial Problems

Finances were a problem and in the summer of 2000, the club was within a few days of folding but was saved by its supporters who took over following a crisis meeting.

2000

2006-7

First Round Proper

In 2006-7, Leatherhead were the lowest ranked team to reach the First Round Proper of the FA Cup, losing 1-2 at Football League side, Torquay United.

2006-7

2009

Isthmian League Cup

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 for some 40 years) and finishing the season in fifth place in the League before losing a play-off semi-final.

2009

2010

Return to the Premier Divison

The following season, a dramatic play-off 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 the one season though.

2010

2013-14

Return to the Ryman Premier Division

In 2013-14 Tanners reached the play offs again, this time edging out Guernsey 3-2, before winning a penalty shootout at Folkestone Invicta to return to the Ryman Premier Division.

2013-14

2017

County Cup Final

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 before departing for Concord Rangers along with the majority of the team. He was replaced by former Margate boss Nikki Bull who, despite having to rebuild the squad, took the team to an 8th place finish narrowly missing out on the play-offs.

2017

2022

Relegation

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 out by one point, and were relegated on the final of the season on a points per game calculation.
The 22/23 season started slowly for the Tanners and after a dozen game, Luke Tuffs decided to step down, and he was replaced by Hayden Bird and results improved, taking the team from 17th place to 7th. only missing a play-off position by one point.

2022

2024

Ian Selly

Leatherhead Football Club are pleased to announce the appointment of Ian Selley as our new first team manager.

Ian had a very successful playing career the highlights being his time at Arsenal where he won the European Cup Winners Cup, F A Cup and League Cup. He went on to play for Fulham and Wimbledon amongst others.

2024

Important Links

Safeguarding

Click Here

Tanners Supporters Club

Click Here

Lead Match Day Photographer

For 27 years, Stuart was a TV news cameraman shooting with, among others, CNN and the BBC.

On leaving TV, he became a news & features press photographer.

His favourite part of the game is a good scrap in the goalmouth!

His website can be viewed HERE

You can follow him on Instagram here: HERE