72-595: Kingstonian Football Club is an English semi-professional football club based in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames , south west London which currently plays in the Isthmian League South Central Division. The club was founded in 1885 by YMCA , named Kingston & Surbiton YMCA, and began competing properly in 1893 in the Surrey Junior Cup. There was a split before the start of
144-597: A change of fortunes for Kingstonian. Before the 1920–1921 season it seemed they had lost their ground after confusion over their desire to renew the rent. This meant that Leyland Motors had been given exclusive use but an agreement was reached to allow for a groundshare with Leyland Motors, who took over the fixtures of the Kingstonian Reserve team who had signed up for the Southern Suburban League. The following season Kingstonian were successful in purchasing
216-401: A definite supremacy of the two clubs, and in 1913–1914 won three trophies including the Southern Suburban League and Surrey Senior Cup. The rivalry between these two clubs was intense and to some extent the competition helped both clubs with their standard of football and improvements to facilities. However, there were occasions in which this rivalry spilled over into more serious incidents. Over
288-429: A factory base at nearby Ham . The club managed to negotiate a ground-sharing arrangement and were eventually able to buy the land, but the issue impacted their performance. Kingstonian remained at Richmond Road for most of the 20th century, it thus being referred to as the club's 'traditional home'. The club's record home attendance of 8,960 was attained there in 1955 in a match against Bishop Auckland. The maintenance of
360-743: A final move to Thorpe Road which was virtually on the site of the Richmond Road ground that was to become their home for much of the Twentieth Century. The club continued to compete in the East and West Surrey League and also had a one-season foray into the London League in 1903 alongside the East and West Surrey League but the "experiment" backfired with fixture congestion and selection difficulties caused by having too many games and Kingston upon Thames withdrew from
432-595: A financially favourable 25-year sub-tenancy agreement with AFC Wimbledon, with customary break clauses. The clubs operated a ground-sharing arrangement, with Kingstonian receiving preferentially cheap rental terms. In 2015, AFC Wimbledon sold Kingsmeadow to Chelsea to help finance their plans to move back to a new stadium in Wimbledon. Chelsea's intention was to use Kingsmeadow as a base for their own youth and women's teams, and were unwilling to accommodate Kingstonian. The sale proved detrimental to Kingstonian, unable to play in
504-433: A full-time professional athlete . As a result, semi-professional players frequently have (or seek) full-time employment elsewhere. A semi-pro player or team could also be one that represents a place of employment that only the employees are allowed to play on. In this case, it is considered semi-pro because their employer pays them, but for their regular job, not for playing on the company's team. The semi-professional status
576-474: A ground where the new owners did not want them. and the club was forced to relocate as a result, starting a groundshare with Leatherhead F.C. at their ground at Fetcham Grove for the 2017–18 season. The following season they moved again to King George's Field in Tolworth , sharing with Corinthian-Casuals Kingstonian reached agreement with Tooting & Mitcham United to play at their Imperial Fields stadium for
648-730: A period of decline for the club, and despite becoming professional in 1975, they were relegated to Division One in 1979. In 1985 Kingstonian were once again promoted to the Isthmian League, finishing second. In 1987, 20 years without silverware was ended by the Ks winning the London Senior Cup. Kingstonian won the Isthmian League in 1998 and the FA Trophy in 1999 and 2000 at Wembley Stadium under manager Geoff Chapple , and then managed to reach
720-464: A profit. While this did not save Kingstonian from relegation that year, the 2005–06 season saw Kingstonian Football Club revitalised. They only narrowly missed out on the promotion playoffs and finished their season by beating AFC Wimbledon in the final of the Surrey Senior Cup at Woking 's ground 1-0. Changes continued during mid-2006 with Mark Anderson and Malcolm Winwright taking charge of
792-530: A result of severe overspending in the chase for success, saw a sharp downturn in the club's fortunes between 2001 and 2005, and in 2003 the then manager Kim Harris said that the owner, property developer Rajesh Khosla, was "raping us" after Khosla sold the Kingsmeadow ground for £2 million in personal profit. However, in February 2005 Khosla stepped down as chairman, selling the club to Jimmy Cochrane, whilst making
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#1733085369071864-448: A rugby club. This influenced their decision to create a club to play "Football under Association rules". The new club played their first fixture on 28 November 1885 losing 3–1 to Surbiton Hill with home games played at Bushy Park before moving to the Spring grove the following season. Over the two years the club played only friendly matches against other football teams in the region. In 1887
936-463: A sporting club than a religious organization. As non YMCA members were not allowed to serve on the committee this would have meant Carn also resigning his duties with the club. The members decided however to sever links with YMCA which allowed Carn to continue. At the same time the club also moved to a ground in Oil Mill Lane (modern day Villiers Road). At the club's annual general meeting in 1890,
1008-564: Is a semi-professional football club based in West Molesey , Surrey, England. They are currently members of the Combined Counties League Division One and play at Walton Road. The original Molesey club was established by former Corinthian player James Jenkinson Knox in autumn 1892 under the name Hampton Court and East Molesey Association Football Club. Their first match was played on 24 September against Barnes , with
1080-587: Is not universal throughout the world and depends on each country's labour code and each sports organization's specific regulations. The San Francisco Olympic Club fielded an American football team in 1890. That year, the Olympic Club was accused by a rival club of enticing athletes to jump to its ranks with offers of jobs. An investigation by the Amateur Athletic Union ruled that the Olympics' practice
1152-447: Is prohibitive, semi-pro football is common at the adult levels, in the outdoor or indoor variety , providing an outlet for players who have used up their NCAA eligibility and have no further use for maintaining amateur status. As a sport that normally plays only one game per week, American football is especially suited for semi-pro play and commonly known as "working man's" football; meaning the players have regular jobs and play football on
1224-675: The 1995–96 season and then to Division Two in 1998–99 . Further league reorganisation in 2002 led to the club becoming members of Division One South, before being placed in Division One in 2004 and then back in Division One South in 2006 as the league was restructured. In 2007–08 Molesey finished bottom of Division One South and were relegated to the Premier Division of the Combined Counties League . In 2012–13 they won
1296-553: The Scottish Premiership , with most teams below the second-level Scottish Championship being semi-professional. Historically, English rugby league and rugby union have had one full-time professional division, with semi-professional divisions at the next level down. The second tier of union, the RFU Championship , became fully professional beginning with the 2009–10 season. Molesey F.C. Molesey Football Club
1368-604: The Southern Combination Challenge Cup in 1990–91. In 1992–93 the club were Division One runners-up and were promoted to the Premier Division. The 1993–94 season saw them reach the first round of the FA Cup for the first time, losing 4–0 at home to Bath City ; the club also won the Southern Combination Challenge Cup for a second time. They were relegated back to Division One at the end of
1440-484: The 1908–09 season which damaged the club, the two clubs were named Old Kingstonians and Kingston upon Thames A.F.C. After period of quiet during World War I , the two clubs re-united and joined the Athenian League in 1919, named Kingstonian. In 1929, their application to join the Isthmian League was accepted, and they have competed there to the present day. The club, nicknamed the Ks or the K's, spent three seasons at
1512-410: The 2000 final was the last ever FA Trophy final at the old Wembley before the current stadium was built. Semi-professional Semi-professional sports are sports in which athletes are not participating on a full-time basis, but still receive some payment. Semi-professionals are not amateur because they receive regular payment from their team, but generally at a considerably lower rate than
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#17330853690711584-549: The 2022–23 season. In February 2024 it was announced that, starting with the 2024/25 season , Kingstonian would be groundsharing with Raynes Park Vale at Prince George's Playing Fields, Grand Drive for at least two seasons. As of 30 May 2024 Kingstonian's first final came in 1896, when they came second in the Surrey Junior Cup. A notably prolific spell for the club came in the 1930s, when they won seven, and came runners up in two competitions. The dual FA Trophy victories in 1998–99 , 1999–2000 were both at Wembley Stadium, and
1656-489: The First Team members and the "A" Team members. This reached a head after elections for representation on the committee that ran the club. This resulted in treasurer David Judd forming Old Kingstonians F.C. and taking much of the first team with him to a new ground at Norbiton. Kingston upon Thames continued to compete on the old ground at Thorpe Road, and were made up of the former members of the "A" team as well as two members of
1728-706: The Kingston & District League, winning it in 1939–40 and 1940–41. West Molesey Old Boys was formed in 1927 and entered the Kingston & District League, going on to win the league in 1933–34. After winning the Teck Cup in 1934–35, they moved up to the Surrey Intermediate League in 1936 and won the Surrey Intermediate Charity Cup in 1937–38. In 1946 Molesey United and West Molesey Old Boys merged to form Molesey Football Club. The new club joined
1800-633: The League Cup the following season and were losing finalists in 1963–64 and 1971–72. They remained in the Spartan League until joining Division Two of the Athenian League in 1973. In 1977 the club moved leagues again, this time joining Division Two of the Isthmian League . League reorganisation saw Molesey placed in Division Two South in 1984, where they remained until finishing as runners-up in 1989–90 , earning promotion to Division One. They won
1872-547: The London League after one season. In 1905–1906 season, the club won the newly renamed West Surrey League , a feat which was replicated in 1906–1907 season. In addition the 1906–1907 season saw them finish runners up in the Surrey Senior Cup which was lost to Clapham F.C. 3–1. The newfound success in Surrey amateur football was soon lost when the club split before the start of the 1908–09 season after increasing tensions between
1944-569: The Metropolitan League which had been set up for wartime football and also played in the London Senior Cup (losing to Walthamstow Grange) and were entered for the FA Amateur Cup. However. despite resisting political pressure, attendances dropped and in December 1914 the club announced that it was ceasing activities. In 1919 football returned in Kingston. The war had dimmed the rivalry between
2016-562: The Premier Division, 15 years after their promotion to that level. The team's current crest contains the motto Palmam Qui Meruit Ferat , the motto of Lord Nelson which translates as "Let he who has earned it carry the palm", and is inscribed on the Britannia Monument . Kingstonian's home kit is red and white hooped shirts, black shorts and red socks. Their away kit is yellow shirts, shorts, and socks. The early precursors to Kingstonian F.C. played home matches at various locations around
2088-467: The Richmond Road ground, although the groundshare arrangement with Leyland Motors continued. They had a more successful spell from 1923 up to the outbreak of World War II , winning the league in 1924, and in 1926 with a record number of points. The club progressed to several finals of the London and Surrey Senior Cups. In 1929, Kingstonian were successful in their application to join the Isthmian League after
2160-486: The Southern Combination Challenge Cup again. They won the Premier Division title in 2014–15 and were promoted back to Division One South of the Isthmian League, as well as winning the Southern Combination Challenge Cup, a trophy they retained the following season. Following league reorganisation, the club were placed in the South Central Division in 2018. The 2018–19 season saw them finish second-from-bottom of
2232-609: The Surrey Intermediate League and won the league in their first season. After moving to their new ground on Walton Road, they moved up to the Surrey Senior League in 1953. After winning the Surrey Senior Charity Cup in 1956–57, the club were league champions in 1957–58. In 1959 they transferred to the Spartan League , finishing as runners-up in the league and losing the League Cup final in 1959–60. The club won
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2304-457: The United States, where college ice hockey dominates at that age group; the junior leagues in the United States generally operate as fully amateur teams to maintain the players' eligibility to play in college. Lower-end minor leagues and more obscure sports often operate at a semi-professional level due to cost concerns. Because the cost of running a fully professional American football team
2376-481: The West Surrey League. Kingston upon Thames did however again try a failed "experiment" by re-entering two first teams in both the Southern Suburban League and West Surrey League for the 1910–1911 season but again this resulted in selection problems and was dropped at the end of the season. At the start of the 1911–1912 season Old Kingstonians also moved to the Southern Suburban League where both teams stayed until
2448-479: The administrators to a property developer, Rajesh Khosla, who was also by then owner of the club. The fans of AFC Wimbledon , who at that point were already sub-tenants at Kingsmeadow, raised £2.4 million to enable them to buy the lease from Khosla in June 2003, with a view to making Kingsmeadow their home in the short term until their intended move to a site in Wimbledon became more feasible for them. Kingstonian secured
2520-659: The attendant scholarships , in maintaining amateur status (unlike the Amateur Athletic Union, the NCAA forbade any sort of compensation outside of scholarships, including job offers tied to their playing, until 2020). Eligibility for participation in the Olympics in some sports is still dependent upon maintaining a purely amateur status (although far less so than was previously the case), and such athletes may be supported by government money, business sponsorships, and other systems. At
2592-551: The championship playoffs with a 100 win over Godalming Federation. They also won the Surrey Junior Cup and the Surrey Junior Charity Cup. Molesey then moved up to Division One of the Southern Suburban League . However, the cost of travelling led to the club resigning from the league after a single season, dropping into the Kingston & District League. The remainder of the 1920s was a successful period for
2664-584: The club again reached the FA Cup Third Qualifying Round, losing 3–2 to a last minute goal against Eastbourne Borough . The league campaign saw the club make late challenge for the play-offs falling short in the last couple of weeks of the season. In his second season, the 2015-16 campaign saw the Ks lift their first cup in ten years, winning the Isthmian League Cup with a 5–0 victory over Faversham Town . The 2016–17 season started poorly with
2736-546: The club as they won the league and the Teck Cup four times, the Surrey Junior Charity Cup in three consecutive seasons (1926–27 to 1928–29), the Chambers Cup twice and the League Cup once. In the 1933 the club moved up to the Central Division of the Surrey Intermediate League. In 1939 another merger saw Molesey and Molesey Athletic of the Kingston & District League amalgamate to form Molesey United. The new club played in
2808-486: The club at a lower Junior level than the first team. It also somewhat justified their opinion that the first team had been holding back progress at the club. Gradually however Old Kingstonians improved, winning the West Surrey League in 1910, followed by the Surrey Senior Cup in both 1911 and 1914 and the Southern Suburban League in the two seasons before the war. By the start of World War One, Old Kingstonians held
2880-458: The club changed its name to Saxons FC and opened up its membership to players who were not also members of YMCA. The club however maintained its links to YMCA and only allowed YMCA members to serve on the decision making committee. In the Summer of 1888 William Carn, the founder of the club, resigned from YMCA after tensions developed where YMCA were concerned that the organization was becoming more like
2952-511: The club just outside the relegation zone with six games remaining. Tommy Williams was replaced as manager by former Billericay Town man Craig Edwards. He led the club to a 16th-place finish after a five match unbeaten run to end the season. Ks left the Kingsmeadow Stadium at the end of the season and moved to Fetcham Grove to groundshare with Leatherhead . Edwards resigned in October 2017 and
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3024-603: The club, installing Stuart McIntyre as successor to Ian McDonald in the role of head coach. However, McIntyre's stay in the role was brief and "unsuccessful", with he himself being replaced by Alan Dowson at the start of 2007. Under Dowson the club was promoted back to the Isthmian Premier in 2009. However, after the 2013–14 Isthmian League in which Kingstonian finished second but missed out on promotion, on 11 May 2014 Dowson resigned, being replaced by Tommy Williams. With former Ks midfielder Tommy Williams installed as manager,
3096-399: The club. In 1955, Kingstonian's heaviest ever home defeat, 12–3, was recorded at the hands of Bishop Auckland FC in front of the club's record attendance of 8,960. In the 1959–60 season, the Ks had their first Wembley Stadium appearance in the FA Amateur Cup final, which was lost to Hendon F.C. 2–1. In 1963, Kingstonian won the double; the Surrey and London Senior Cup . The 1970s were
3168-595: The division, resulting in relegation to the Premier Division of the Combined Counties League. In 2021 league reorganisation led to the club being placed in the Premier Division South. They finished bottom of the division in 2021–22 and were relegated to Division One. The Molesey of the inter-war era originally played at the Royal Oak Ground, before relocating to Hurst Park in 1927, at which point
3240-418: The duration of the war and no further games were played until 1945. Depleted of the majority of their pre-war players, Kingstonian came last in the first league after the war in 1945–1946 season, and had to resort to fundraising to gather money to renovate both the stadium and the changing rooms. In 1949, the all-time top goalscorer Johnny Whing arrived at the club, and was top scorer in nine different seasons for
3312-447: The first team who chose to stay. Judd's team became known as the "OKs", the "Rupert's" or the "Juddites" while the Kingston upon Thames team was known as "The Boys" or simply "The Town club". Initially Kingston upon Thames had the upper hand both in league and cup success and in matches between the two clubs. To some extent this justified the belief of the former "A" Team members that they were the better team despite effectively representing
3384-584: The fourth round of the FA Cup in 2001. Entering the competition at the Fourth Qualifying Round, they beat Devizes Town before beating two Football League clubs – Brentford and Southend United , either side of a win over fellow Conference team Southport – on their way to the FA Cup fourth round, where they were drawn with Bristol City before succumbing to a late winner in the replay, losing 1–0. Relegation and, moreover, financial problems as
3456-553: The highest level of non-league football, 1998–99 , 1999–2000 and 2000–01 , and have won the FA Trophy twice, in consecutive seasons, in 1999 and 2000 . The club is currently without a home ground , and from 2024 will groundshare with Raynes Park Vale at Prince George's Playing Fields in Raynes Park . They have twice previously had their own stadium, Richmond Road from 1902 to 1988 and Kingsmeadow from 1989 to 2017. After Kingstonian went into administration in 2001, Kingsmeadow
3528-521: The league but lost the Surrey Junior Cup 2–1 in the final, to Chertsey F.C. after a replay. They spent two years in the Kingston and District league, coming runners up to Brentford 'A' Team in their second season before moving into the East and West Surrey League at the start of the 1898–1899 season. The club also underwent several ground changes during this period and from 1898 to 1899 season spent 3 years at Dinton Road before one season playing at Lower Marsh Lane in 1901–1902 season. In 1902–1903 they made
3600-599: The new club winning 14–5. They were renamed the Molesey Football Club in 1896, but following Knox's death a series of clubs emerged, including Molesey Athletic and Molesey St Mary's, before Molesey St Paul's was formed in 1905. The club absorbed Molesey Football Club in 1911 and became Molesey & St Paul's United, before being renamed Molesey Football Club. The club joined the Surrey Junior League in 1920 and won Section 3 in their first season, going on to win
3672-590: The normal duties of the company's employees, though highly competitive teams often evolved into "sponsored" squads which trained for sports full-time and only nominally worked in the factory. The National Industrial Basketball League evolved out of these company-branded basketball teams. By the 1940s, baseball split off into separate truly amateur softball teams, sometimes sponsored by employers, and an expanded system of fully professionalized minor leagues whose lower ranks included many former industrial players. There are many benefits, such as collegiate eligibility and
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#17330853690713744-549: The outbreak of World War One. At the outbreak of the First World War, Kingston upon Thames FC immediately cancelled all football. However Old Kingstonians did attempt to continue playing despite heavy political pressure to stop. The club had joined the Athenian League and played two games before the league was cancelled. They also played three rounds in the FA Cup qualifying stages before losing to Redhill. They then joined
3816-515: The period of the split several appeals had been made by both clubs concerning eligibility of players in matches between the two sides, and in two cases the result of the game was overturned. In the 1913–1914 season the Surrey Charity Shield match between the two clubs saw a number of incidents involving players and spectators and this led to the Surrey FA taking responsibility for the running of
3888-509: The remainder of the site redeveloped for housing. After a season and a half ground-sharing at Hampton F.C. 's Beveree ground, Kingstonian opened its new Kingsmeadow Stadium (on the site of the old Norbiton Sports Ground owned by Kingston Council ) in August 1989. After Kingstonian entered administration to avoid bankruptcy and lost the Kingsmeadow lease in October 2001. It was assigned in April 2002 by
3960-404: The replay with warning notices posted at the ground and a large police presence. An FA enquiry into incidents at the first game led to one of the witnesses being attacked on their return to Kingston after giving evidence. Both teams competed in the West Surrey League in 1908–1909 but in 1909–1910 season Kingston upon Thames FC moved into the Southern Suburban League with Old Kingstonians remaining in
4032-475: The rugby ground in Richmond Road. The split in 1908–09 between Kingston upon Thames A.F.C. and Old Kingstonians led to the breakaway group Old Kingstonians playing at Norbiton Sports Ground, Kingston upon Thames A.F.C. remaining at Richmond Road. Reunited after World War I , the club continued to play at Richmond Road but, in 1920, the site's owners, the Dysarts , leased the site to Leyland Motors , then establishing
4104-407: The same time, professional sports have become such a massive and remunerative business that even many low-level feeder teams can afford to have fully professional athletes. In Canada, semi-professionalism is prevalent in junior ice hockey , in which the top level players (most of whom are teenagers still in, or just out of, high school) are paid at a semi-professional level. This is not the case in
4176-542: The secretary at the time, William G. Carn, proposed that the name became "one more identified with the town". His proposal was successful, and the club became Kingston Wanderers F.C. in the 1890–91 season. The club's first season as Kingston Wanderers also heralded a change of home ground to the Fairfield Recreation Ground. In the Summer of 1893, the association clubs of Kingston considered a proposal to amalgamate and produce one larger club that would represent
4248-579: The short summer seasons and low salaries require players to hold jobs in the offseason to make ends meet. There are several hundred semi-professional football teams at non-League level. The bottom division of the English Football League (the fourth tier of the English football league system ) has traditionally been the cut-off point between professional ("full-time") and semi-professional ("part-time") in English football . However, many teams in
4320-416: The site increasingly became more than the club's income could support and parts of the site were sold off for redevelopment; the 'Kingstonian petrol station' occupying much of the Richmond Road frontage since 1956, and the former running track and reserve pitch redeveloped for housing in the 1970s. The club eventually sold the site and moved out of Richmond Road in 1988. The stadium was demolished after 1989 and
4392-503: The table on New Year's Day to escaping relegation by a single place. New manager Hayden Bird joined the club in 2019, only for the 2019–20 season to be curtailed by the COVID-19 pandemic . In that season's FA Cup the Ks reached the first round for the first time since 2000–01, where they defeated Macclesfield Town 4–0 at Moss Rose , before losing 2–0 at home to AFC Fylde in the second round. The 2023–24 season saw Kingstonian relegated from
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#17330853690714464-410: The teams, and they re-united as Kingstonian F.C. Their first match after unification was on 6 September 1919 competing in the Athenian League against Southall F.C. However, the season was plagued with issues regarding their home ground at Richmond Road and a finish in the bottom half of the league meant the team were forced to apply to re-enter the league. Their application was successful, and heralded
4536-422: The top levels, as finances depend on promotion and relegation both of parent male teams and of the female teams themselves. Full professionalism for women is still in the planning stages; top female players often depend on other sources of income (such as coaching and physical training), and many attend university or college while playing. In Scottish football , semi-professional teams compete at all levels below
4608-526: The top non-League competition, the National League , have become "full-time" professional clubs in an effort to achieve League status. Many former League clubs also remain as fully professional teams following relegation to the lower leagues at least for as long as they retain a large enough average attendance to generate the income needed to pay the players. Women's football in England is semi-professional at
4680-522: The town including Oil Mill Lane (now Villiers Road) and the Fairfield, near Kingston town centre. In 1891 they participated in a tournament at the rugby club ground in Richmond Road , later to become their home. In 1898 the club moved to their first private enclosed ground at Dinton Road, next to Kingston Barracks , moving again at the turn of the century to Lower Marsh Lane in 1902, specifically to part of
4752-538: The weekends. In the 20th century the term "semi-pro football league" refer to higher level amateur leagues, though the players do not get paid, the leagues and the games are run in a somewhat professional manner. The National Lacrosse League , whose teams also typically play only one game per week, pays a salary that is enough to be considered fully professional, but players also are able to pursue outside employment to supplement their income. The lowest levels of organized baseball are also effectively semi-professional, as
4824-577: The whole town. Because many of the clubs had already arranged fixtures for the coming season it was only Kingston Wanderers who moved forward with the plan, although several other clubs were to amalgamate with them in future seasons. On 13 September 1893, the club changed its name to Kingston upon Thames A.F.C. They entered the Surrey Junior Cup affiliated to the Surrey Football Association . The first competitive match in Kingston's history
4896-673: The withdrawal of Civil Service F.C. In 1933, Kingstonian won the FA Amateur Cup , they won the League in 1934 and 1937, and the club won the Surrey Senior Cup in 1935 and 1939. "Competitive Amateur Football" was called off in September 1939 for World War II and Kingstonian were to play only one game at the start of the 1939/1940 season. Their ground was requisitioned by the Civil Defence for
4968-408: Was bought by AFC Wimbledon two years later, who allowed Kingstonian to stay. With AFC Wimbledon looking to move to a new ground, Kingsmeadow was sold to Chelsea in 2016, who stipulated that Kingstonian could not remain there. Kingstonian was formed in autumn 1885, under the name Kingston & Surbiton YMCA. In the period, rugby was the dominant sport in the town, but YMCA was unable to support
5040-413: Was in November 1893 and resulted in a loss, after a replayed game, to Hampton Court & East Molesey . When Kingston upon Thames ventured into the Surrey Senior Cup in 1894, the heaviest loss of the club to date was recorded, a 12–0 loss to Weybridge F.C. The club re-entered the Surrey Junior Cup and in 1896 joined the Kingston & District League as founder members. In their first season, they won
5112-675: Was not actually professionalism but only a "semi" form of it, inventing the term "semi-pro". Although the Amateur Athletic Union did not like the idea very much, it decided that clubs could indeed offer employment without losing their amateur status or compromising the athlete. In North America, semi-professional athletes and teams were far more common in the early and mid-20th century than they are today. Large blue-collar employers such as factories and shipyards often fielded baseball and basketball teams, with players receiving full-time salaries comparable to other employees. In theory, such players split their work week between athletic training and
5184-423: Was replaced by former Whyteleafe manager Leigh Dynan. At the beginning of the 2018–19 season, Kingstonian moved back to the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames and started a ground share with Corinthian-Casuals at King George's Field. A difficult season saw Ks have three managers, as Leigh Dynan was replaced by Dean Brennan and then very quickly by stand-in manager Kim Harris - the Ks moved from second place in
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