Santos '92 From the Beginning
21 Feb 2012

It would be wrong to talk about the history of Santos 92 without talking about the two precursors to the modern day team founded in Shirley, Croydon in the summer months of 1999.

Santos FC existed as a club before (founded in 1992 incredibly!)  This team was run and managed by the new club’s Manager, Frank Philips and consisted of a number of the squad’s early favourites, Andy Bumstead, Ian Baverstock, Steven Phillips and  Rob Maytum (kindly known in 1999 as ‘the old lot’).  This team ran for a few years with limited success folding when a number of the players went off to tax doge at University.

The other Brockwell FC, a club which ran from 1998 to 1999.  This badly organised, bunch of individuals was a random mix of whoever turned up on a Sunday morning.  It started badly getting walloped every week, but quickly developed from this raw young team to something of real potential.  This bunch included future Santos stars such as Kevin and Daniel McGourty, Sean Crinnegan, Michael Dwyer and Jon De la Lama.  The team was young and without direction folded within a year.

In the Summer of 1999 one man’s vision was to pull these two rabbles together and so the plans for a new team began.  Frank Philips enlisted the help of Frank McGourty (Chairman), John Crinnegan and Alan Dwyer (Coaches) to support him.  The ‘four stooges’ as they were fondly referred to carried out trials over the summer months, at both Ashburton Playing Fields, the Crown and the Cricketers Public House  highlighting the necessity to be able to hold your drink as to be able to kick or head a ball.  The aim was to setup a club that we could then take over and run ourselves (not a bad idea... and it only took 11 years!)

A kit was chosen, bright yellow shirts with a splash of green that looked remarkably like someone had projectile vomited the design over both shoulders.   However, it served to ensure that it was so bad that no one would have the same and therefore an away strip wasn’t required.

.....And so it began on a warm summer’s morning against Farley Rovers Reserves in August 1999.  I don’t remember much about that game apart from that it was hot, it finished 0-0 and that Kev White delayed the second half as he was having a sh1t!  Kevin McGourty in a new striker role would have to wait another week for his first goal...... lucky the Manager kept faith!

The early days were characterised by great cup runs and almost the whole team turning up so drunk that they barely stand let alone complete 90 mins.  Games were entertaining and full of goals at both ends, sometimes coming in at half time having scored five and still losing!  Nevertheless all games in those first few seasons were accompanied by good fun and ten pints on a Sunday after.  Great early wins against so called stronger sides such as Mayfield Rovers, and Shannon Corner strengthened and showed the unique team spirit and togetherness that the club possesses.

One highlight in the early years was the televised clash against bitter rivals Lombard Phoenix.  Santos triumphed with a 2-0 smash and grab raid in Lombard’s  back yard.

After the end of the 2006 Season, Frank Phillips handed over the Management reigns to former coach John Crinnegan, who continued the Santos theme and guided us to two cup finals in five years.  In that time, Santos became a more professional outfit.  Sponsorship from Albone Jewellers allowed for a new black and blue strip and we developed into a club that really challenged.  With the new kit, it not only made us look like a proper side, but ‘black and blue’ also fitted in better with all the football songs the players like to sing about themselves in the pub.  As well as this, John Crinnegan’s time will be remembered for the large pool of players he had to pick from on a Sunday such as Tony Hunter in midfield and both Mark Pemberton and Pembers to share goalkeeping duties.

Santos has continued to be a club that hasn’t forgotten its roots.  Despite players moving on we have kept one rule on our recruitment policy which is that you have to be a mate of someone who already plays, and you have to be prepared to play left midfield for the first two years of your Santos career.

After two Cup Finals and some near misses in the league, John stepped aside in the summer of 2011 and passed the team onto his Assistant Jon De La Lama (because no-one else would do it!). 

Jon (lumu) bought in some new players in the summer of 2011, proving to be good signings Santos are currently enjoying a good season and have a vision of silverware…Believe.

Picture:
Neil Birkbys Testimonial game in the summer of 2011, the Current Santos team beating the ‘old boys’, a great day had by all-thank you to everybody who turned up to make it such a special day for the club and for Neil!