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Nickname(s) | Gold and Blue, Surrey, International Surrey | ||
---|---|---|---|
Association | International Surrey Football | ||
Confederation | World Unity Football Alliance | ||
Head coach | Matthew Nash | ||
FIFA code | SRY | ||
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First international | |||
![]() ![]() (Rotherhithe, Southwark; 6 May, 2018) | |||
Biggest win | |||
![]() ![]() (Woking, Surrey; 15 May, 2022) | |||
Biggest defeat | |||
![]() ![]() (Aldershot, Hampshire; 13 March, 2019) | |||
Website | International Surrey Football |
The Surrey Men's County Football Team, is a football team that represents the English county of Surrey. They are affiliated with WUFA, and therefore compete in the WUFA Men's World Unity Cup and WUFA Men's European Unity Cup. They are not affiliated with FIFA or UEFA, and therefore cannot compete for the FIFA World Cup or the UEFA European Championships. International Surrey Football is not affiliated with ConIFA and therefore cannot compete in ConIFA World Football Cup or ConIFA European Football Cup.[1]
Surrey does not have an official home stadium and plays at various venues throughout the region, and their training headquarters is at Merrist Wood College, Worplesdon near Guildford. The team's current manager is Matthew Nash. Surrey's first match, a 3-1 win over Barawa, was played on 6 May 2018 at the St. Paul's Sports Ground, in Rotherhithe, Southwark. International Surrey Football covers the county of Surrey before 1888 which includes much of modern-day South West London.
History
editFormed in 2014, the County of Surrey representative football team was created by the then called Surrey Independent Football Association (SIFA), later renamed in 2015 as International Surrey Football (ISF) in order to provide predominantly non-league footballers with the opportunity to compete in non-FIFA football. As opposed to the Surrey team that competes in the FA Inter-League Cup that only comprises of players from the Surrey Elite Intermediate Football League. The team was initially founded as a single senior men's team with International Surrey Football outlining ambitions to expand into youth and women's teams in the future.
International Surrey Football debuted against Barawa on 6 May 2018, almost 4 years after the team was originally founded, winning the game 3-1 with goals from Malachi Thomas, Leavan Sullivan and Jarvis Nutt.[2] Surrey initially announced in late 2018 their first game of 2019 would be a home against the Chagos Islands national football team at Merstham Football Club, this was later changed with the announcement of an away game on 13th March 2019 against the Army Football Association representative team at the Aldershot Military Stadium in neighbouring Hampshire, the first time Surrey would have played a Football Association affiliated County FA.[3] The game saw Surrey suffer their first loss and their largest so far in the team's history as the organised military side forcing a 6-0 victory over the Blue and Gold.[4]
In March 2019, ahead of their fixture against the Army Football Association, International Surrey Football reached an agreement with the AFA which would see Army FA registered match officials being assigned to Surrey fixtures for the first time, the deal is expected to be introduced for the first time in Surrey's home opener against the Chagos Islands at Merstham Football Club on 28 April, this move was done to tackle issues relating to the appointment of Surrey County FA affiliated match officials. However, it later transpired that due to Surrey's unaffiliated status, the Army FA were not able to supply match officials due to the regulations in the AFA's handbook.
In April 2019, ahead of Surrey's game against the Chagos Islands, the ISF announced the creation of the International Surrey Referee Association to create a pool of qualified referees that could officiate Surrey men's and women's games. Surrey suffered an unfortunate loss against the Chagos Islands, with both Surrey manager, Liam Parrington, and player/assistance manager, Ben Ewing, unavailable, the coachless Surrey involving many players playing their second game in as many days following the end of the club league season the day before and limited substitutions, mean Surrey struggled to find the energy to challenge Chagos in the second half despite a strong performance and debut goals from Nathanial Williams, assisted from Jay Jones, and a first touch volley outside the Chagos penalty area by Liam Roberts.[5] On 29 April 2019, the day following the Chagos loss, International Surrey Football announced Liam, who was unavailable to coach, would be stepping down as Surrey manager but remaining as a coach, and that they would begin searching for a new manager.[6]
Over June, a number of new appointments were made, initially the appointment of Cameron Bishop to the role of Director of Men's Football[7], and later the appointment of new, senior men's manager Matt Dilger.[8] Surrey played their first game since Matt Dilger's appointment at an end of year friendly against the Chagos Islands, played at Crawley, Sussex, the team saw a number of previously capped players return, as well as a number of uncapped players. Surrey enjoyed a largely comfortable 4-1 win against the Chagossians to avenge their tight loss earlier in the year. Surrey's 2020 fixture plans fell into disarray due to the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic, resulting in Surrey to postpone all men and women's fixtures as well as the 2020 Southern Frontier Cup. [9] In September Surrey manager Matt Dilger resigned from the role citing personal circumstances after managing only one Surrey fixture due to the canceled fixtures and was swiftly replaced by Matthew Nash in early October 2020.[10][11]
On 2 April 2021, International Surrey Football announced that the team would be preparing to returning to play with a 2-week training camp held at Merrist Wood College before playing a series of games at the time unannounced.[12] This was followed by Surrey hosting the first game since the formation of the World Unity Football Alliance in a friendly against the Chagos Islands.[13] This was followed by ISF hosting its first mini-tournament, a 2 round knockout, the WUFA World Series: Surrey Stage along with Barawa, the Chagos Islands and non-WUFA team Maghreb. [14][15]
International Surrey Football finished 3rd in the tournament, losing the semi-final against the Chagos Islands, before beating non-WUFA side, Maghreb in the third place playoff.
Team Image
editKit and Crest
editSurrey plays in a yellow and blue kit, home with a two-toned yellow chequered shirt, and a full navy blue away kit. Colours and style are taken from the flag of Surrey. The Surrey badge, updated ahead of 2019, features a red deer, an iconic animal in Surrey replacing a less representative spiral pattern.
In January 2019 Surrey adopted a blue and yellow striped "tiger" kit inspired by the recently unveiled UANL Tigres third kit, this was noticed by local Mexican media and attracted local media attention for the connection Surrey and Liga MX sides. [16] In April 2020 during the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic International Surrey Football released a limited edition blackout shirt in support of the Campaign Against Living Miserably, with a portion of revenue from each shirt sale being donated to the suicide prevention charity.[17]
On 24 July 2020, Surrey announced Hope & Glory Sportswear as the supplier of their 2021 Men's kit.[18] On 1 January, 2021, Surrey revealed their first shirt under their #NotBlueandGold campaign, launching 3 separate shirts to raise money for charitable causes over 2021, their first shirt was a blackout shirt as an updated version of their 2020 blackout shirt, again in support of mental health charity CALM.[19]
Supplier and Sponsors
editHome Stadium
editThe Surrey County Football Association own and operate the Meadowbank Stadium in Dorking, Mole Valley, which is home to Dorking Wanderers Football Club and serves as a venue for the Surrey FA's various county cup finals as well as being available to the local community to hire as well, effectively serving as Surrey's de jure home venue. Prior to the completion of the Meadowbank Stadium, Surrey County Cups were held at various across the county with the Surrey Senior Cup being played most recently at grounds such as Gander Green Lane, Imber Court, Kingsmeadow and Kingfield.[20]
On April 2nd, International Surrey Football announced that Merrist Wood College would host a 2-week training camp for both men's and women's teams, facilitated due to the college's sponsorship of Surrey's women's team, and would host several games for both teams.[21] The decision to base both teams at the further education college as part of their return to play, would allow the college to serve as ISF's base, comparable to The Football Association's St George's Park National Football Centre, for the purpose of training and preparing for tournaments, but other sites in Surrey may still be used.
Media Coverage
editFrom 2019 selected games had audio commentary coverage provided by sponsors CW Sport Radio. Plans for video recording of Surrey's debut game by sponsor DE Photo was prevented due to unsuitable infrastructure at the ground to accommodate the necessary equipment, an alternative plan to launch an online-based channel providing live and pre-recorded match coverage, producing highlight clips as well as exclusive training and trials content, was launched in the start of 2020, called Surrey Football TV (SFTV), later rebranded as WatchISF, the channel planned to provide exclusive coverage of International Surrey Football. However, due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the full footage from Surrey's 4-1 win over the Chagos Islands was initially the only footage available.[22]
Personnel
editCurrent Technical Staff
editPosition | Name |
---|---|
President | Matthew Nash |
Vice-President | Honorary Role |
General Secretary | [ Witheld ] |
Manager | Matthew Nash |
Coaches Record
editFixtures and Results
editWin Draw Loss
2018
edit6 May Friendly | Surrey | 3–1 | Barawa | Rotherhithe, Southwark |
16:30 BST | Thomas Sullivan Nutt |
Eshun | Stadium: St. Paul's Sports Ground Attendance: ~20 (Appoximate) |
2019
edit13 March Friendly | Army FA | 6-0 | Surrey | Aldershot, Hampshire |
19:30 GMT | Report | Stadium: Aldershot Military Stadium Attendance: 22 |
28 April Friendly | Surrey | 2-3 | Chagos Islands | Merstham, Reigate and Banstead |
15:00 GMT | Williams 34' Roberts 74' |
??? 23' 64' 76' | Stadium: Specsavers Stadium Attendance: 50 |
22 December Friendly | Chagos Islands | 1-4 | Surrey | Crawley, Sussex |
15:30 GMT | Harcombe OG TBC Williams |
Stadium: Broadfield 3G |
2020
edit17 May Charity Match | Surrey | Cancelled | Hampshire XI | Farnham, Waverley |
BST | Stadium: Memorial Ground | |||
Note: The match was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe. |
23 May 2021 Southern Frontier Cup | Surrey | Cancelled | TBC | Whyteleafe, Tandridge |
BST | Stadium: Church Road | |||
Note: The match was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe. |
24 May 2021 Southern Frontier Cup | Surrey | Cancelled | TBC | Whyteleafe, Tandridge |
BST | Stadium: Church Road | |||
Note: The match was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe. |
2021
edit9 May Friendly | Surrey | 2 - 3 | Chagos Islands | Worplesdon, Guildford |
13:00 BST | Tayo Ajayi | Stadium: Merrist Wood College Attendance: Behind Closed Doors |
16 May 2021 WUFA World Series - Surrey Stage | Surrey | 1 - 3 | Chagos Islands | Worplesdon, Guildford |
12:00 BST | Tiago Andrade | Stadium: Merrist Wood College Attendance: Behind Closed Doors |
23 May 2021 WUFA World Series - Surrey Stage | Surrey | 2 - 1 | Maghreb | Worplesdon, Guildford |
12:00 BST | Tayo Ajayi | Stadium: Merrist Wood College Attendance: Behind Closed Doors |
2022
edit26 April Club Friendly | AFC Whyteleafe | 4 - 1 | Surrey | Whyteleafe, Tandridge |
20:15 BST | 9' Tiago Andrade | Stadium: Church Road Attendance: 45 |
8 May Friendly | Surrey | 5 - 2 | Matabeleland | Merstham, Reigate and Banstead |
15:00 BST | Tiago Andrade 29' 74' 84' Chad Goulter 34' Ricardo Fernandes 76' |
51' Mathwasa 90' Nduna |
Stadium: Moatside Attendance: 57 |
15 May Charity Match | Surrey | 5 - 0 | Hampshire | Old Woking, Woking |
15:00 BST | Tiago Andrade Jordan Brooks Ricardo Fernandes Nyam McLeod |
Stadium: Woking College Attendance: 17 |
22 May Friendly | Surrey | 2 - 2 | Chagos Islands | Dorking, Mole Valley |
15:30 BST | Tayo Ajayi | Stadium: Meadowbank Attendance: 25 |
2023
edit23 April Friendly | Surrey | 6 - 2 | Wanderers F.C. | Farleigh, Tandridge |
15:00 BST | Stadium: Parsonage Field |
30 April Friendly | Surrey | 4 - 2 | London Japanese | Farleigh, Tandridge |
15:00 BST | Stadium: Parsonage Field |
7 May Friendly | Surrey | 11 - 1 | London Thai | Dorking, Mole Valley |
15:30 BST | Stadium: Meadowbank |
20 May Friendly | Surrey | 1 - 3 | Matabeleland | Dorking, Mole Valley |
15:00 BST | Stadium: Meadowbank Attendance: 31 |
29 May Friendly | Surrey | 9 - 0 | Bangladeshi Select XI | Dorking, Mole Valley |
15:00 BST | Stadium: Meadowbank |
4 June Friendly | Surrey | 3 - 2 | Sport London E Benfica | Rotherhithe, Southwark |
13:30 BST | Stadium: St Paul's Sports Ground |
10 June Friendly | Surrey | 2 - 1 | Alexandra Knights | Rotherhithe, Southwark |
15:30 BST | Stadium: St Paul's Sports Ground |
2024
edit12 May Friendly | Surrey | 2 - 0 | Wanderers F.C. | Rotherhithe, Southwark |
16:00 BST | 7' Ajayi 80' Best |
Stadium: St Paul's Sports Ground |
19 May Friendly | Surrey | 6 - 2 | London Japanese | Rotherhithe, Southwark |
13:15 BST | Stadium: St Paul's Sports Ground |
26 May Friendly | Surrey | 6 - 0 | London Thai | Rotherhithe, Southwark |
13:15 BST | Stadium: St Paul's Sports Ground |
2 June Friendly | One Nation | Unknown | Surrey | Dorking, Mole Valley |
15:30 BST | Stadium: Meadowbank |
9 June Friendly | Surrey | 4 - 2 | Chagos BIOT | Dorking, Mole Valley |
15:30 BST | Stadium: Meadowbank |
22 June Friendly | Surrey | 1 - 4 | Equinoccial FC | Rotherhithe, Southwark |
12:00 BST | Stadium: St Paul's Sports Ground |
29 June Friendly | Surrey | 7 - 1 | Athenians | Rotherhithe, Southwark |
12:00 BST | Stadium: St Paul's Sports Ground |
Selected International Opponents
editOpponents | Matches | Win | Draw | Loss | GF | GA |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Army FA | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 |
Barawa | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
Chagos BIOT | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
Chagos Islands | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 11 | 12 |
Hampshire | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
Maghreb | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
Matabeleland | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 5 |
Competitive record
editWUFA World Series
editWUFA World Series | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Position | P | W | D | L | GF | GC | |
2021 | 3rd | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | |
Total | 1/1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ https://www.thenonleaguefootballpaper.com/latest-news/440486/surrey-boys-are-flying-the-flag/
- ^ http://www.tlfg.uk/2018/04/tlfg-30-april-7-may-2018.html
- ^ http://www.tlfg.uk/2019/03/tlfg-11-17-march-2019.html
- ^ https://theterracetraveller.wordpress.com/2019/03/13/returning-to-british-army/
- ^ https://theterracetraveller.wordpress.com/2019/04/28/travelling-to-international-surrey-football/
- ^ https://www.intsurreyfootball.co.uk/post/liam-parrington-to-step-down-as-surrey-manager
- ^ https://intsurreyfootball.co.uk/post/cameron-bishop-joins-surrey-as-director-of-men-s-football
- ^ https://www.intsurreyfootball.co.uk/post/surrey-appoints-matt-dilger-as-men-s-manager
- ^ https://intsurreyfootball.co.uk/2020/03/20/statement-covid-19-20-03-2020/
- ^ https://intsurreyfootball.co.uk/2020/09/17/matt-dilger-steps-down-as-surrey-mens-manager/
- ^ https://intsurreyfootball.co.uk/2020/10/06/matthew-nash-appointed-surrey-mens-manager/
- ^ https://intsurreyfootball.co.uk/2021/04/02/surrey-launches-training-camp-ahead-of-return-to-play/
- ^ https://intsurreyfootball.co.uk/2021/04/05/continue-where-you-left-off-surrey-to-host-chagos-islands-in-first-ever-wufa-game/
- ^ https://intsurreyfootball.co.uk/2021/04/06/wufa-world-series-coming-to-surrey/
- ^ https://intsurreyfootball.co.uk/2021/04/07/2021-wufa-world-series-surry-participating-teams/
- ^ http://www.elhorizonte.mx/deportes/amor-a-primera-vista-tercer-jersey-de-tigres-impacta-en-inglaterra/2409442
- ^ https://intsurreyfootball.co.uk/2020/04/20/surrey-teams-up-with-hope-&-glory-in-support-of-calm/
- ^ https://intsurreyfootball.co.uk/2020/07/24/surrey-partners-with-hope-glory-sportswear-for-2021-mens-kit/
- ^ https://intsurreyfootball.co.uk/2021/01/01/surrey-launches-second-blackout-shirt-in-aid-of-calm/
- ^ https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/dorking-wanderers-meadowbank-stadium-finally-14876179
- ^ https://intsurreyfootball.co.uk/2021/04/02/surrey-launches-training-camp-ahead-of-return-to-play/
- ^ https://www.youtube.com/@watchisf
External links
edit