The Club was founded in 1982 by Mike Smith.  Having a small son of his own, he recognised the need for some organised junior football in the village.  Games were played on a friendly basis until 1984-5 when an Under-11 team was registered with the East Grinstead & District Minor League.

Following the break-up of that League, the Club joined the Crowborough & District Junior League in 1985-6, registering the Under-12 team under the name of “Forest Row Sprites”.  Young enough to be entered again in 1986-7 as Under-12, the boys found it hard going at first, but started to win matches as their confidence grew.

It soon became apparent that the team was being joined at training each week by a number of younger “extras”!  As word spread, there were soon large numbers of 8-9 year old Sprites, and even younger 5-8 year olds known affectionately as “Sprouts”.  They clearly needed someone to organise them, and Mike Broad took on this role throughout 1985-86 and, in 1986-87, an Under-10 side was entered in the League which lasted a further year before disbanding.

Mike Smith’s team continued to do well, and the social side of the Club flourished.  The Wembley trip and the annual Dads v. Boys match prior to the Barbecue were very popular, and the annual Sprites Disco (with delicious home-made food organised by Lin Smith) became the highlight of the Christmas season.  In May 1988, the boys enjoyed a trip to Dorset.

Former Sprites and Sprouts were still on the scene, with younger boys continuing to appear.  In 1988-89, Lee Ewan, assisted by two of Mike Smith’s players, Ivan Beard and Duncan Shoebridge, undertook their training and an Under-10 team was registered with the League in 1989-90.  In this season also, John Waring ran an Under-15 side containing some of Mike Broad’s original players, but this was only to last a few months.

In the meantime, Mike Smith’s team was becoming a cohesive and increasingly successful side.  With the addition of a permanent younger team, they were now referred to as the “seniors”.  It was decided that they had outgrown the name “Sprites”, and subsequent teams were registered as “Forest Row Junior Football Club”.

The Club had, by now, become respected throughout the League, and the senior team were very proud to win the very prestigious League Sportsmanship Trophy in 1992.  In that year, too, Mike Smith took them on the first very successful visit to Forest Row’s twin town, Milly-la-Foret, which was to be the forerunner of subsequent return visits.

Lee Ewan’s management of the younger boys continued through 1990-91 and some of 1991-92 but, for various reasons, he could not continue.  So Lin Smith, as well as being Secretary, undertook the administration of the team to keep the boys together and, with John Norris organising the boys at matches, the remaining 1992 fixtures were fulfilled.  Being the first woman in the Crowborough League to become involved in team management, and in recognition of her hard work over ten years, Lin was presented with a League award for services to football.

The “junior” team was on the point on disbanding just before the 1992-93 season when Mick Humphrey agreed to be “temporary” Manager.  After contacting all the players who had drifted away, he found himself with so many that they were split into two age-groups.  The “temporary” Manager then ended up running both teams simultaneously for a further five years!

In 1992-93 also, the seniors had really found their form, and won the League Championship and Tournament Shield.  In 1993-94, they went on to play their best and last season at Under-18, winning the Treble – League Championship, Tournament Shield and Knockout Cup.  Mike Smith received the coveted “Manager of the Year” award from the

League, a fitting tribute to his years of hard work with the team.  Many of his players had stayed together since they were nine years’ old or younger, and this was a fine achievement to mark their final year, and the end of an era.

However, in the year we said goodbye to one team, we welcomed a new one run by Paul Hitchcott, comprising Forest Row and Ashurst Wood Under-12s. 

Then in 1994-95, Phil Rowe joined us and ran an Under-11 team which showed great promise despite being at the younger end of the age group.  Paul Hitchcott’s Under-13s were very successful, just missing out on the League Championship at the end of the season.  Mick Humphrey’s Under-14s were looking good and, with an influx of new players, the Under-15s were a strong and skilful side by the end of the season.

In 1994-95 also, the Club hosted the return visit of Milly-la-Foret over the Easter weekend which was very successful, ending up an overall draw and paving the way for our later trip to France. The Under-15s went on a football tour to Brean Sands, while the younger boys enjoyed a coaching trip to QPR Football Club.

In 1995-96, we added a new Under-12 team, run by David Robertson, bringing our team numbers to five, and Phil Rowe offered to manage the Under-13s following the departure of Paul Hitchcott, as well as his own Under-11 team.  Mick Humphrey’s Under-16s were invited to represent East Grinstead Lions in their national tournament and reached the quarter-finals despite fierce opposition from stronger Clubs, and missed the League Championship by a play-off.  In this year also, we took the whole Club off to Milly-la-Foret at Easter, with the majority of players and parents staying with French families.  We enjoyed the facilities at their Stadium, the atmosphere and hospitality was first-class, and the football was excellent.

1996-97 saw history repeating itself.  We said goodbye to one long-standing team while welcoming another new one, Under-10s, run by Terry Edwards and Mike Pearse who had been organising football in the area for “Sprout”-aged youngsters, just as Paul Hitchcott and Paul Rowe had done before them.  Phil Rowe’s team swelled so much that a second “friendly” team had to be formed, run by Frank Crockett.  We welcomed Phil Cowlard taking over from Phil Rowe to manage the Under-14s.  The Under-17s played a fine final season and, along with the Under-16s, topped it off with straight victories during a highly successful trip to Holland.  The Under-16s started the following season at U-17 but, after only three games, had to disband due to unprecented amounts of injury.  Therefore, this marked the departure of two long-standing, successful teams, some of the players having been with us since 5 years’ old, and the end of another era.  At the end of the season, the Club was proud to be awarded the Colin Bradford Memorial Award for Sportsmanship by the League.

In 1997-98,  Frank Crockett’s “friendly” team was registered with the League at Under-12, while Phil Rowe’s continued at Under-13. Sadly, this proved to be their last year, Phil having to give up due to work commitments, but most of the players were accommodated in our other teams. Gerry Hope took over from Phil Cowlard in managing the Under-15s, and the Under-11s went from strength to strength.  Mick Humphrey helped Dave Robertson to run his Under-14s then, due to Dave’s retirement due to ill-health, found himself running the team for the last half of the season, and continuing thereafter.

In the summer before the 1998-99 season, we were shocked at the burning down of our Pavilion in an arson attack, and we faced our first season in a portacabin. On a more hopeful note, Gerry Hope had worked hard throughout that summer to build up a new young Under-10 team which was then entered in the League.  However, after a few fixtures, a change of job for Gerry meant he could not continue, so Mick Humphrey took over. As he was also running the Under-15s, and an Under-16 team, he became the first manager to run three teams at the same time.  Terry & Mike’s Under-12 team had a good season, as did

Frank Crockett’s U-13s, becoming League Runners Up and being awarded the League Sportsmanship Trophy. 

The Under-16s had started the season in great spirits with a fit-looking, laughing Stephen Budgen as captain. There are no words to describe the sense of disbelief, shock and sadness when a niggling complaint was diagnosed as cancer, the frighteningly speedy progress of which led to his tragic death only three months’ later.  His team-mates were profoundly affected but vowed to finish the season in his memory, and went on to raise money for cancer research.

So, into a new Millenium.  For 1999-2000, Mick Humphrey’s younger players were split into Under-10s and Under-11s; both very promising with three players picked to play for the League, and looking good for the future. Terry Edwards and Mike Pearse’s Under-13s were in the running for the League Championship right up to the end and remain a strong, committed side.  The Under-14s managed to stay together to fulfil their fixtures, thanks to Roger Sargeant who stepped in to see them through to the end of the season after the departure of Frank Crockett at Christmas.  The Under-16s had an enjoyable season, for some their last at junior level, and this was rounded off with a successful tour to Holland in which they won both their matches.

2000-01 to date

During the summer prior to 2000-01season, we took full part in Forest Row’s very successful Millenium celebrations and it was decided that the Club should, once more, start to cater for the 5-8 year old age group training and playing friendlies. These very young players were headed by Mike and Lin Smith helped initially by their son Paul who, amongst others of his age, provided the inspiration to form the Club in the first place, and an Under-9 team was registered with the League.  Russell Fletcher and Harvey Chapman took on the management role half-way through the season after Mike was forced to withdraw through illness, and the team had a very successful first season, and participated in a very enjoyable international tournament in Milly-la-Foret despite being a year younger than most.  

The Under-11s and 12s were both very successful, with four players selected to represent the League and, together with the Under-14s, they all enjoyed a trip to Holland at Easter.  Sadly, this was to be the last season for the Under-14s with Terry and Mike retiring after many years of continuous management, some of the boys having been with them since they were five years old.  We also had to bid a fond farewell to the boys in our Under-17/18 team as the time had come for them to move upwards from junior-level football.  However, as has been the case throughout our history, our sadness at the end of one era was tempered by the start of a new one, and this season saw considerable numbers of younger boys coming along to join the Club and enjoy training with Adam Yates and Mark Jackson.

In 2001-2, two teams of these U-8 youngsters were entered in the League, yet even younger ones continued to arrive and Toby Webb came to the assistance of Adam and Mark.

The U-10s went from strength to strength, and their season ended with a second, highly successful trip to Milly-la-Foret for their annual U-10 international tournament.  In the meantime, the progression of Mick Humphrey’s U-12s to 11-a-side meant that the squad was too large so an extra U-11 mini-soccer team had to be formed to cater for everybody.

As more boys arrived, it was clear that Mick had a third full team on his hands!  All had a very good season, culminating in an end of season trip to Normandy.

In the 2002-3 season, we were catering for boys in the U-8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 age-groups.  Marek Zytnski was helping Toby Webb with two U-8 teams;  Adam Yates and Mark Jackson continued to run two U-9 teams;  we were grateful to Steve Oliver for stepping in to manage an U-10 team, and to Simon Aston who took over management of the U-11 team, ably assisted by Harvey Chapman.   Mick Humphrey continued to run three teams –

U-12, 13 and 14 (League runners up) and was indebted to Rick Walsom and Lawrence Webb for taking charge of the U-12 team when necessary.  The U-10s won their Mini-Soccer division and enjoyed the Milly-la-Foret tournament, while the U-12s, 13s and 14s had a great time on a football trip to Belgium.

In 2003-4, Toby Webb split his team into two age-groups and Andy Wright came forward to manage the younger U-7 boys, while Toby and Marek Zytynski carried on with the U-8s, as did Clive Robinson with U-9s.  This year, it was the turn of the U-10s with Adam Yates and Mark Jackson to enjoy a successful trip to Milly-la-Foret.  Ian Gardiner came forward to help Steve Oliver with the U-11s and the team was awarded the League Sportsmanship Trophy.  Also winning the Sportsmanship Trophy for U-12s was Simon Aston and Harvey Chapman.  Rick Walsom took over management of the U-13 team, assisted by Gary Jones, leaving Mick Humphrey with the U-14s and 15s.  In March 2004 we started using the new pavilion ahead of the official opening in June.  Thus 6 years’ of hard work, fund-raising and enduring less than ideal operating conditions in a portacabin had, at last, come to an end!

In 2004-5 we welcomed Des Dearlove to look after the U-7s;  with all the others moving up a year with existing managers.  The U-11s were League Mini-Soccer pre-Christmas winners;  the U-13s again won the league Sportmanship Trophy;  U-15s were League Runners-Up and Mick Humphrey’s U-16s were League winners.

In the current season, we are running teams in 10 age-groups, with newcomer Gary Brooker running the U-7s.   For the first time, we entered a team in the Horsham League – the guinea-pigs being the U-12s, run by Adam Yates and Mark Jackson. This was to enable the team to continue to play on Saturdays as managers have Sunday commitments. Unfortunately, Steve Oliver was unable to continue management this year so, unfortunately, we were not able to offer an U-13 team. Toby Webb and Marek Zytysnki and their U-10 teams are currently looking forward to the Milly-la-Foret tournament.

From very humble beginnings, the Club has grown steadily and built up a good reputation over the years throughout the League.  Many of our players have represented the League and have been scouted by professional clubs and, often, up to 10% of our membership have been selected by the League -  a proud record for an open, non-selective village Club.  We have seen a great number of players who have remained with the Club throughout their junior playing years, and they have often gone on to play for local teams, university teams and some for professional clubs.  We have become a well-respected part of the community and worked tirelessly in co-operation with others to achieve the building of our new Pavilion.  As part of the Forest Row Sports Ground Association we share responsibility for its maintenance.

We have come of age and the Club is still growing apace.  Our history is characterized by cycles and, whilst we reflect on the past with affection and pride, we look forward with confidence to a thriving future.