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New phoenix club created in hope of replacing withdrawn Isthmian League team

A new phoenix club has been created in the hope of replacing the withdrawn Isthmian League team Whyteleafe, it’s confirmed.

Football in the village is expected to make a quick and sudden return with AFC Whyteleafe launched and already securing a four-year-deal to play at Church Road, the home of former club Whyteleafe FC, and will enter the Surrey South Eastern Combination League this season.

And at the forefront of it all is Kelly Waters, who is set to become the club’s chairman and first team manager.

Podcast interview with Kelly Waters

Photo Credit: www.tech-talks.co.uk

He said: “We started a new club, we’ve managed to get the stadium secured for four years and we’ve managed to get the Supporter’s Association on board with the project, so we’re hoping to give back as much as we can and get football started again pretty soon.

“It’s all moving very fast, we’ve literally only been running with it for a few weeks and we seem to have got more or less everything in place, so I’m happy with the speed at which it has all happened.

“Securing Church Road is massive and it’s the driver behind the project, to get football back at Whyteleafe and to get fans back at Whyteleafe.

“Even if it’s a different club at a different level, let’s give the community a team to support, and hopefully we’ll get people back out to enjoy the football with their families.”

There has already been an official Twitter page set up to promote the new phoenix club, which has also been providing a contact for any interested players to get in touch with.

www.fanbanter.co.uk – Fan reaction to the latest football news, gossip & funnies

Waters has also confirmed that the club have been holding trials recently, while they have also teamed up with Balham FC to merge with their B team.

He said, as mentioned by SurreyLive: “We’ve agreed a deal with Balham FC to merge Balham B team into AFC Whyteleafe and so we will be bringing in quite a lot of players from Balham.

“We’re also having trials at the moment, and over the last couple of weeks, and have been bringing in some quite decent players.

“The only problem is that we’ve got a couple of weeks to bring a team together, whereas everyone else has had a full pre-season, so it’s going to be a bit rushed to really get the team gelling but we do have players.

“We still need players to compete at the level we play at and we’ll be looking for players to compete at a higher level so, our intention is to re-apply to join the National League System at Step 6, and will be looking for players that can help us to do that.”

Waters is providing the funds for the club as things stand and insists that they do not need any financial support. The club don’t currently have any sponsorship at this stage.

This is said to not be a huge concern whilst the club compete in the Surrey South Eastern Combination League, but things will have to adapt should they wish to achieve their aim of getting back to Step 6.

Waters said: “The ambition is to get back into the semi-pro level, where Whyteleafe FC was, and when we have to start paying players and costs will increase, we’ll obviously be looking for sponsorship.

“We’ll see what’s possible there but, in the end, that one will be up to the FA and we need to apply to them if we wish to re-enter and there will be a lot of criteria that we’re going to have to meet to be able to achieve that.

“I can’t really say what will happen, it will be in the hands of the FA, but that’s our ambition.”

SEE MORE: ‘Frustrated’ Isthmian League chairman fears club could be set to fold

Fans reacted with a new phoenix club created in the hope of replacing the withdrawn Isthmian League team Whyteleafe…

@SFC_TheWickers: Good luck this season guys!

@CraigMini3: Best wishes to you all

@chrisp12591: Good luck to all involved

@thipperson202: Great news 👍

@SHindson: AFC Wimbledon, watch your backs.. AFC Whyteleafe are in town! 🍃

@J_McGeoghegan: All the best guys, hope it goes well 👏

@Ian_Selley: Great club Whytleafe, I had a great time there , hope it all goes well chaps.

@Sporting50FC: Fuck me if this is AFC Wimbledon take 2 we’re in for a tough season. Allez la 50. #UT50

@embe14: Great to see the club back up and running @MarkBlackman990! I look forward to seeing them progress back to where they belong!

@stripeyshark: Great club, this. Hope they get the personnel they need. Best of luck! #NonLeagueFamily

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