9th tier club to be taken over by Wilfried Zaha, Stormzy and Danny Young

9th tier club AFC Croydon Athletic are set to be taken over by a consortium led by Wilfried Zaha, Stormzy and Danny Young.

The Rams currently play their football in the Combined Counties League Premier Division South, and finished 15th in the 20-team division last season.

They was founded in 2012 after Croydon Athletic FC withdrew from the Isthmian League in the 2011-12 campaign and then folded.

Prior to their resignation, the club’s owner Mazhar Majeed was jailed due to his involvement in the Pakistan cricket spot-fixing scandal.

Majeed was recorded admitting that he had purchased the club solely in order to launder money, and the club had been locked out of its ground by the local council due to unpaid debts.

The new club joined Division One of the Combined Counties League for the 2012–13 season, finished 8th and won the Division One cup, beating Staines Lammas 5–0 in the final.

They then finished 7th the following season and came runners up in 2014–15, earning promotion to level eight of the pyramid.

Instead of entering the Premier Division of the Combined Counties League, they were transferred into the Southern Counties East League, win the London Senior Trophy, beating Interwood 4–3 after extra time, finish 11th under Antony Williams.

At the end of Kevin Rayner’s first season in charge he led the team to their highest finish of 7th and at the end of the 2020–21 season the club were transferred to the Premier Division South of the Combined Counties League.

In a tweet, the club wrote on their big news: “We are delighted to embark on a new era at AFC Croydon Athletic, subject to final FA and league approval. This has been the culmination of many months of discussions.”

📣 📣 CLUB ANNOUNCEMENT 📣📣

We are delighted to embark on a new era at AFC Croydon Athletic, subject to final FA and league approval. This has been the culmination of many months of discussions.

Further details to follow in due course. pic.twitter.com/zruFM751nf

— The Rams (@AFCCroydonAth) June 27, 2023

CLUB STATEMENT:

“A three person consortium comprised of wilfried zaha, stormzy and Danny Young has exchanged contracts with the existing ownership of AFC croydon athletic to acquire the assets of the club.

“The consortium Will own, operate and develop their childhood hometown football club.

“Whilst completion is subject to legislative and governance procedures, the three consortium members are excited about developing a community asset in the borough that gave them their own opportunities. They hope to take the entire community on this exciting journey with them.

“There will be more updates to come from the consortium in due course on completion of the transaction. In the meantime there Will be no further comment.”

📣 📣 CLUB ANNOUNCEMENT 📣📣

We are delighted to embark on a new era at AFC Croydon Athletic, subject to final FA and league approval. This has been the culmination of many months of discussions.

Further details to follow in due course. pic.twitter.com/zruFM751nf

— The Rams (@AFCCroydonAth) June 27, 2023

Stormzy is a Croydon born lad and is one of the biggest talents in music today. According to London News Online, he donated £500,000 – through his Merky Foundation – to fund educational scholarships for students from disadvantaged backgrounds in 2020.

In November 2022, the rapper launched Merky FC with special reason behind his new project in football.

Stormzy and adidas announced a partnership with 10 brands to come together on a multi-year initiative, Merky FC – a programme committed to enhancing and protecting diverse representation in the football industry.

He hopes his new Merky FC initiative “can drive change” after discovering that just 6.7 per cent of senior roles in football are taken by black or mixed heritage people. See more on that by clicking HERE.

Here’s what fans are saying as 9th tier club AFC Croydon Athletic are to be taken over by Wilfried Zaha, Stormzy and Danny Young…

@Wheeler86: This is great, having grown up around here this is fantastic for the club and the area. Both Croydon clubs have lots of potential, good to see those who have the means supporting their community

@CPFC_Trigs: further evidence zaha is a great bloke

@cpfc_taylor17: Zaha, Stormzy and Danny the kit man 🔥🔥

@gazbod: Up the Croydon!! ❤️💙 #CPFC

@JamesGi80140682: Exciting times ahead for the club. Congratulations to all involved ⚽️⚽️👏🏻👏🏻

@Cpfcbkc: What a man zaha is.

@phil_dfc:
This is absolutely class
Hope it all goes through fine, massive
Future for this club 👏🏻

@Phillyconcarne: Zaha, Stormzy and Danny Young?? 😂 love it

@danvaugh_: Big things coming 🐏

@maxcpfc21: Wilf, stormzy and Danny the kit man owning Croydon Athletic? That’s fucking awesome

@EvilSashPioneer: Wilfried Zaha is one of the best humans on Planet Earth

@CPFCHQ: 🐐 does 🐐 things #CPFC

@GilesyL14: Just when I thought I couldn’t love Wilfried Zaha any harder.

@rickeveleigh: Incredible – a great day to be a Croydon boy!

@Janerz86: Up the Croydon! …where can I buy a shirt?! 😎

@PalaceGigs: Wow

@G_Pavlou: Massive for the area. The talent in that part of London is insane. With the right backing AFC Croydon Athletic can be a grassroots powerhouse.

@GowersTS9: Put the cat amongst the pigeons in non league!

@calb20_10: How many times do we have to repeat it. HOW CAN ANYONE HATE ON WILFRIED ZAHA!

@priestley93: Wilf and Danny 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼❤️

@Luch1MA: This is mad, love this 🙏🏾

@jr1of1: Support your local hype. I will be there

@EaglesPerchCPFC: This is quite something…..

@rossbart97: Another reason why he’s the goat