COMMUNITY
KINGSTONIAN BY NAME, KINGSTON BY NATURE
Kingstonian FC – or the Ks as they are known to their fans – are one of the longest playing teams in English
football. However it has had its share of ups and downs in recent years. Time & Leisure Junior spoke with first team manager Hayden Bird to find out more about their journey.
Kingstonian FC can trace its heritage back to 1885. It has been playing continuously since then and is currently in the Isthmian League, a regional men’s football league covering London, East and South East England. The K’s play in the BetVictor Isthmian Premier Division.
Kingstonian used to be one of the biggest clubs in non- league football. In fact, the Club hit some heady heights at the turn of the millennium – winning the F.A. Trophy in 1999 and 2000. It also progressed to the fourth round of the F.A. Cup in 2001. Since then the team has faced more than its fair share of challenges and even senior managers acknowledge that the team has become a ‘sleeping giant’. However, the team is poised for bigger and better things.
Back to their best Hayden joined Kingstonian in September 2019 as first team manager – a job that he describes as a career highlight and a privilege.
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Photo courtesy of Simon Roe
“My objective is simple. I’m here to restore the Club to it’s former glory and in doing so, bring silverware to the people of Kingstonian.”
Early signs are positive with the K’s having reached the first round of the F.A. Cup for the first time in 20 years.
The Twelfth Man The team is now playing football regularly in Tolworth. In recent years, the team has been moved from its former home at Kingsmeadow, to a temporary home in Leatherhead last season. They are now groundsharing with Corinthian Casuals at their pitch at King George’s field in Tolworth. But for Kingstonian, being part of the community is not just about location.
The K’s have actively embraced their responsibility to the Royal Borough of Kingston and its wider community. As a result, they can draw on a committed fan base that is hard to replicate in other teams.
“The fans are a big part of the Club,” says Hayden. “There have already been many occasions when the team is under pressure and we have won due to the supporters cheering the boys onto victory. There is a saying in football that the supporters are the ‘twelfth man’. Here, they really are!”
Photo courtesy of Simon Roe
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