Dorking Wanderers F.C.#Ground

File:Little Common v Dorking Wanderers (8262989568).jpg in the Sussex League Division Two in 2012.]]

The club was formed in 1999 by businessman Marc White and friends Peter Buckland, Mark Lewington, Ian Davidson, Lee Spickett, and Penny Gregg. White described at the time of the formation of the club he and his friends were season ticket holders at Wimbledon and had become disillusioned with how the club was being run coming to the end of its Premier League tenure. The group decided to do something else with their weekends and so Dorking Wanderers were formed as an amateur recreational team.{{cite news |last1=McVeigh |first1=Niall |title='Real-life Championship Manager': the incredible rise of Dorking Wanderers |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/oct/11/real-life-championship-manager-rise-dorking-wanderers |website=The Guardian |date=11 October 2019 |access-date=11 October 2019}} The club initially played in the Crawley & District League.[https://web.archive.org/web/20170118221629/http://www.dorkingwanderers.com/history History] Dorking Wanderers F.C. After their first season in the Crawley League they switched to Division Four of the West Sussex League, winning the division at the first attempt.[https://web.archive.org/web/20130927072227/http://files.pitchero.com/clubs/23011/DorkingWanderershistory.doc A History Of Dorking Wanderers F.C.] Dorking Wanderers F.C. In 2001–02 the club finished as Division Three runners-up, earning a third consecutive promotion. After winning Division Two in 2003–04 they were promoted to Division One, and a third-place finish in Division One in 2005–06 saw them promoted to the Premier Division.

In 2006–07 Wanderers won the West Sussex League's Premier Division, clinching the title with a victory on the last day of the season. As a result, the club were promoted to Division Three of the Sussex County League.{{fchd|id=DORKINGW|name=Dorking Wanderers}} They went on to win Division Three in 2010–11, earning promotion to Division Two. A third-place finish in Division Two the following season was enough to see them promoted to Division One. Although the league initially denied them entry to the division as their ground was not deemed to meet the requirements,[https://web.archive.org/web/20130928055130/http://www.thisissurreytoday.co.uk/League-secretary-slams-Wanderers/story-15932451-detail/story.html League secretary slams Wanderers] This is Surrey, 27 April 2012 the club appealed to the Football Association, who overruled the decision after an independent ground grading visit confirmed that the ground reached the mandatory standards for Division One football.[https://web.archive.org/web/20130928055133/http://www.thisissurreytoday.co.uk/Champagne-corks-fly-Wanderers/story-16524035-detail/story.html Champagne corks fly as Wanderers] This is Surrey, 12 July 2012 The team initially struggled in Division One, finishing third-from-bottom in 2012–13. However, they finished second in 2014–15, earning promotion to Division One South of the Isthmian League.

In Wanderers' first season in the Isthmian League they finished as runners-up in Division One South, qualifying for the promotion play-offs, going on to lose 2–1 to Faversham Town in the semi-finals. The following season saw them finish second again; in the play-offs they beat Hastings United on penalties in the semi-final after a 1–1 draw, and then won again on penalties against Corinthian-Casuals in the final following a 0–0 draw, earning promotion to the Premier Division. In 2018–19 the club won the Premier Division by a margin of 22 points, earning promotion to the National League South for their first time in history. Following the curtailment of the 2019–20 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they were placed seventh in the league table (decided on a points-per-game basis), qualifying for the promotion play-offs. After beating Bath City 2–1 in the quarter-finals, the club lost 3–2 to Weymouth in the semi-finals. The 2020–21 season was made null and void following a vote by member clubs of the National League, with Dorking top of the National League South at the point the season was ended.{{cn|date=March 2025}}

In the 2021–22 season Wanderers finished second in the National League South, going on to defeat Ebbsfleet United 3–2 in the play-off final, earning promotion to the National League for the first time in the club's history.{{Cite web |last=Panting |first=Matthew |date=2022-05-21 |title=Report: Ebbsfleet denied promotion in controversial fashion |url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/gravesend/sport/report-dorking-wanderers-v-ebbsfleet-267515/ |access-date=2022-05-22 |website=Kent Online |language=en |archive-date=1 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220601192542/https://www.kentonline.co.uk/gravesend/sport/report-dorking-wanderers-v-ebbsfleet-267515/ |url-status=live }} They also won the Surrey Senior Cup, beating Kingstonian 5–4 on penalties after the final had ended in a 1–1 draw.{{Cite web |last=Stobbart |first=Dan |date=2022-05-18 |title=Wanderers win the Surrey Senior Cup|url=https://www.dorkingwanderers.com/post/wanderers-win-the-surrey-senior-cup |access-date=2022-05-22 |website=Dorking Wanderers FC |language=en |archive-date=2 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220702012744/https://www.dorkingwanderers.com/post/wanderers-win-the-surrey-senior-cup |url-status=live }} The club's second season in the fifth tier saw them finish second-from-bottom of the division, resulting in relegation to the National League South, the first time the club had been relegated. {{cite web|url=https://www.thenationalleague.org.uk/many-matters-now-settled-with-just-one-week-left-t-81366|title=Many Matters Now Settled With Just One Week Left To Go|website=National League|date=13 April 2024|accessdate=14 April 2024}}

In 2015 the club's reserve team were promoted from the Suburban League to Division One of the Combined Counties League.{{fchd|id=DORKINW2|name=Dorking Wanderers Reserves}} However, they left the league at the end of the season as the club were set to groundshare with Dorking during the 2016–17 season.[https://web.archive.org/web/20160415123057/http://combinedcounties.pitchero.com/dorking-wanderers-reserves-submit-their-resignatio-29987 Groundshare ends Membership for Reserve Side] Combined Counties League The reserve team rejoined the Combined Counties League at the start of the 2018–19 season. In 2021 they were transferred to Division One of the Southern Combination.

File:Meadowbank Stadium Dorking Wanderers May 2021.jpg]]

The club initially played at Brockham Big Field, before moving to the Westhumble Playing Fields on London Road in 2007. The ground had a small seated stand and covered standing on one side of the pitch, with the remainder being uncovered;[http://lewesfc.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/RLS-Handbook.pdf The Ryman League South Guide 2016/17]{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Lewes F.C. Floodlights were installed in 2012. In July 2018 the club relocated to a refurbished Meadowbank ground, which had previously been home to Dorking F.C. prior to their disbanding.[http://www.surreymirror.co.uk/dorking-s-137-year-old-football-club-is-closing-down-leaving-just-one-senior-team-in-the-town/story-30135988-detail/story.html Dorking's 137 year old football club is closing down leaving just one senior team in the town]{{Dead link|date=November 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Surrey Mirror, 16 February 2017 Their first game at Meadowbank was a friendly match against Sutton United on 17 July 2018.

Meadowbank had become the home ground of Dorking F.C. in 1953. A 200-seat stand was built on one side of the pitch around 1956, with a covered standing area built on the other. Another covered standing area was installed behind one goal, with the other end left open.[https://web.archive.org/web/20090116015650/http://www.pyramidpassion.co.uk/html/dorking.html Dorking] Pyramid Passion However, they were forced to leave the ground in 2013 after it was shut down for failing to meet health and safety requirements."Return to Meadowbank", Groundtastic, Autumn 2018, pp28–33 Prior to Dorking Wanderers moving to the ground, it was upgraded to include a 300-seat stand, two covered standing areas and a 3G pitch as it was converted to a community sports facility at a cost of £5m. The Surrey County Football Association also moved their headquarters to Meadowbank when it reopened.

In February 2020 the club announced that planning permission had been granted to upgrade Meadowbank Stadium to grade B status. In July 2020 the stadium passed the grade B status assessment. By September 2020 work had been completed on a new seated stand and a new covered terrace both at the east end of the ground, taking Meadowbank's official capacity to 3,000.{{Cite web |url=https://www.dorkingwanderers.com/meadowbankstadium.html |title=Meadowbank Stadium |access-date=7 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200207125333/https://www.dorkingwanderers.com/meadowbankstadium.html |archive-date=7 February 2020 |url-status=dead}} In March 2023 an uncovered 1,200-capacity terrace was opened at the west end of the ground.

{{updated|3 April 2025.}}{{Cite news|title=First Team Squad|url=https://www.dorkingwanderers.com/first-team|publisher=Dorking Wanderers Official Site|access-date=24 September 2018|archive-date=24 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210124174134/https://www.dorkingwanderers.com/first-team|url-status=live}}{{Cite news |title=23/24 FIRST TEAM SQUAD NUMBERS CONFIRMED |url=https://www.dorkingwanderers.com/post/23-24-first-team-squad-numbers-confirmed |publisher=Dorking Wanderers F.C. |access-date=4 August 2023 |date=4 August 2023}}

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{{Fs player|no=1|nat=ENG|pos=GK|name=Harrison Foulkes}}

{{Fs player|no=2|nat=SCO|pos=DF|name=Brennan Camp}}

{{Fs player|no=4|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Dan Pybus}}

{{Fs player|no=5|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Tony Craig}}

{{Fs player|no=6|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Niall McManus}}

{{Fs player|no=7|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Jimmy Muitt}}

{{Fs player|no=8|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Matt Briggs}}

{{Fs player|no=9|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=Jason Prior}}

{{Fs player|no=10|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=Alfie Rutherford}}

{{Fs player|no=11|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=James McShane}}

{{Fs player|no=12|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Callum Kennedy}}

{{Fs player|no=15|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Jack Saunders}}

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{{Fs player|no=16|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Charlie Carter|other=captain}}

{{Fs player|no=17|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Josh Taylor}}

{{Fs player|no=18|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Luke Moore}}

{{Fs player|no=20|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Dan Gallagher}}

{{Fs player|no=21|nat=ENG|pos=GK|name=Magnus Norman}}

{{Fs player|no=24|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Jordan Norville-Williams}}

{{Fs player|no=27|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Rob Milsom}}

{{Fs player|no=28|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Jack Young|other=on loan from Wycombe Wanderers}}

{{Fs player|no=33|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Hayden Gale}}

{{Fs player|no=35|nat=WAL|pos=MF|name=Morgan Williams|other=on loan from AFC Wimbledon}}

{{Fs player|no=37|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=George Francomb}}

{{Fs player|no=39|nat=IRL|pos=FW|name=Rhys Murphy}}

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{{Fs player|no=3|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Bobby-Joe Taylor|other=at Walton & Hersham}}

{{Fs player|no=22|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Barry Fuller|other=at Ashford United}}

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{{Fs player|no=42|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=Theo Alexandrou|other=at Wingate & Finchley}}

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• Players to have featured in a match-day squad for Dorking Wanderers this season.

{{updated|26 February 2025}}

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{{Fs player|no=23|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=Josh Hebert}}

{{Fs player|no=26|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Jay Richardson|other=dual-registered with Steyning Town}}

{{Fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Joel Brown|other=dual-registered with Moneyfields}}

{{Fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Lucas Elliot}}

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{{Fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Neo Wooster|other=dual-registered with Lancing}}

{{Fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=Mason Myles}}

{{Fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=Ollie Rawlins|other=dual-registered with Steyning Town}}

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• National League South
• Play-off winners 2021–22
• Isthmian League
• Premier Division champions 2018–19
• Southern Combination
• Division Three champions 2010–11
• West Sussex League
• Premier Division champions 2006–07
• Division Two North champions 2003–04
• Division Four North champions 2000–01
• Surrey Senior Cup
• Winners 2021–22

• Best FA Cup performance: Fourth qualifying round, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24
• Best FA Trophy performance: Fifth round, 2022–23
• Best FA Vase performance: Second qualifying round, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15
• Record attendance: 3,732 vs Woking, National League, 7 April 2023{{cite web |url=https://www.dorkingwanderers.com/post/cards-come-out-on-top-in-surrey-derby |title=Cards come out on top in Surrey derby |publisher=Dorking Wanderers F.C. |date=7 April 2023 |access-date=9 April 2023 |archive-date=9 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230409224505/https://www.dorkingwanderers.com/post/cards-come-out-on-top-in-surrey-derby |url-status=live }}

• {{c|Dorking Wanderers F.C. players}}

{{notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

{{commons category}}

• [http://www.dorkingwanderers.com/ Official website]
• [http://www.meadowbankdorking.co.uk/ Meadowbank]

{{Football Conference}}

{{Southern Combination League}}

{{Mole Valley}}

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Category:Football clubs in England

Category:Football clubs in Surrey

Category:Association football clubs established in 1999

Category:1999 establishments in England

Category:Crawley and District Football League

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Category:Southern Combination Football League

Category:Isthmian League clubs

Category:Dorking

Category:National League (English football) clubs