Croydon Athletic resign from Ryman Football League

CROYDON ATHLETIC have today officially withdrawn from the Ryman Football League.


Folkestone Invicta were the last team to face the Rams in Ryman League Division One South when Neil Cugley’s side came away from Mayfield Road with a 2-1 victory on 3 December 2011.

Croydon Athletic claimed only three wins and three draws from their 19 league games - and their last seven league games were postponed by the League.
 
On 8 December 2011 club officials attended a hearing at The Football Association in respect of charges that relate to breaches of regulations in the 2009-10 season.  Those charges were admitted but club officials, who were not in charge at the time, sought a personal hearing.

After full consideration the Independent Regulatory Commission upheld the charges and levied the club a fine of £7,500 and the club slipped to the foot of the Ryman League Division One South table following a ten point penalty.

The charges related to the payment of players under written contract during the 2009-10 season.

Today, The Thornton Heath based club issued the following statement on their club website:

“The Owner has today instructed the Football Club to write to the Ryman Isthmian Football League to indicate our intention to resign as a member club with immediate effect.

“The Football Club regret that this has happened and apologise to their fellow Ryman League Clubs for any inconvenience caused by circumstances beyond the control of the management committee.”

The club joined the Isthmian League in 1997 in Division Three.  It remained in the bottom tier until 2002 when the club won the Championship, scoring 138 goals in 42 games in the process.

Since then it has been playing in either Division One or Division One South, apart from the 2010-11 season which saw the club play in the Premier Division, finishing in 21^st place.

The statement added: “The Football Club thanks the many players, officials, volunteers and supporters who have been part of the Football Club since it was formed in 1986 and who have given tirelessly to it over that time.”

A statement issued by the Isthmian Football League tonight added: “The League has now received an email from Croydon Athletic Football Club which will enable the Board to make a decision about the club.

“This will be considered at the Board meeting to be held on 26 January and a further announcement will be made after that meeting.”

Visit Croydon Athletic’s website: www.croydonathletic.net  

Visit the Ryman League website: www.isthmian.co.uk