Not many football fans will know that the famous Wanderers FC were reformed back in 2009. The first Wanderers FC were formed way back in 1859 as Forest Football Club and existed until 1887. The founder of the club Charles Alcock (he founded the club with his brother John Forster Alcock) and secretary AW McKenzie were present at the meeting which established the Football Association in 1863 and the club won the FA Cup an amazing five times before folding in 1887.
In 2009 with the backing of descendants of the Alcock the club were reformed to ensure that the legacy of the original club lives on and to raise money for worthy causes. The legacy of the Alcock brother's lived on in 2010 when on Saturday 7th November JF Alcock's Great-Great-Great Grandson Johannes Gunnell played his first game for the club.
After playing a number of charity matches in 2009 and 2010 the club joined the Surrey South Eastern Combination Junior Division Four and have since won two promotions. For the 2014/15 campaign the club's first team are in the Junior Division Two alongside teams such as Norbiton Dragons, Wilf Kroucher* and Ewell Conquerors. The club also have a ladies team formed for this season which is great to see.
The club have been playing matches in Belair Park, Dulwich but have recently announced they have secured a ground share with AFC Croydon Athletic. Their first match at Mayfield Park is this Saturday against AFC Ewell which kicks off at 2pm. They then play two more home games prior to Christmas against Norbiton Dragons (13th December) and Trinty Reserves (20th December).
The club's aim is to rise though the leagues and hopefully one day return to the world's greatest cup competition.
You can check out their website here and follow them on twitter here
* The name Wilf Kroucher is shrouded in mystery but apparently comes from some of the members of the team who were on a trip to India and when paying a visit to the very basic toilet had to crouch down or squat. This coined the phrase "going for a Wilf Kroucher" from which the football team was named after.
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