History Page

Before The Great War

A Hersham FC was playing in the Kingston & District League (1st Division) in 1896 but the club had periods of dormancy and junior status football between then and the amalgamation with Walton-on-Thames FC in 1945. By 1901/02 the side had drifted down to Division 2.

In September 1904 a meeting of local Hersham senior and junior clubs decided to amalgamate and Hersham Rovers was formed playing at Mole House on the Mole Estate, home of Baron Profumo who became Club President. They participated yet again in Division 2 of the Kingston & District League and here they stayed until they decided to drop their senior status at the end of the 1905/06 season and join the Surrey Junior League. They were league champions in 1908/09 winning all 13 games, scoring 54 goals and conceding just 7 along the way.

As a result of their performance they joined their near neighbours Walton FC in the West Surrey League for 1909/10 and won both derby matches that season. 1910/11 saw Hersham enter the FA Cup for the first time and finish a respectable 4th in the league (as Walton FC were crowned champions). 1911/12 saw them improve with a third place finish, just one behind Walton FC. In 1913/14 they opted to participate in the South West Middlesex League as well as the West Surrey League.

Between The Wars And Amalgamation

Due to hostilities there was no football between then and the 1919/20 season although Hersham did not have a senior side competing until the 1920/21 season when they entered the South Suburban League, continuing to play at Mole House. In 1922/23 they moved to the Surrey Senior League but were forced to resign in the December of the 1923/24 season and return to junior football.

A newly formed Hersham FC joined the senior ranks once again for the 1926/27 season playing in the Kingston & District League. In 1928/29 this side along with a number of junior Hersham sides combined and in 1929/30 they rejoined the Surrey Senior League. A period of stability followed although some locals were angered by the apparent preferential treatment being received by Walton FC from the local council.

The 1935/36 season proved to be a very good one for Hersham. They defeated Walton FC in the Preliminary Round of the FA Cup and also won the league by 9 points with Walton FC in the runners up spot. The two met again at the end of the season in the final of the League Charity Cup but this time Walton FC came out on top by the odd goal in seven.

In 1935/36 they finished as runners up in the league to Walton FC with both teams finishing on 45 points and a goal difference of 99. They were runners up in the league again in the following season but 1938/39 saw them crowned as champions for one final time. With the Second World War in full swing Hersham played their last competitive match on 18 May 1940.

In 1945 a merger with Walton FC was agreed and a new era as Walton & Hersham FC began.