AFC Totton
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THE STAGS ARE IN A RICH VEIN of form, with eight wins from their last nine matches in all competitions. So, what better time to come up against the team blessed with the Southern League Premier Division South’s top scorer?
Let’s find out more…
THE BASICS
Buckinghamshire-based Chesham United Football Club was established following the merger of rival clubs Chesham Town and Chesham Generals in 1917. They were successful throughout the 1920s with another purple patch in the mid-30s.
LEAGUE & CUP HISTORY
As members of the Isthmian League in the 80s and 90s, they claimed the Division Two North title in 1986/87 and the Division One Championship in 1990/91. Two seasons later, The Generals were crowned Isthmian League Premier Division Champions and although they were subsequently relegated soon after, they climbed back up to Step 3 by winning Division One again in 1996/97. They have won the Berks & Bucks Senior Cup on 16 occasions, most recently in 2017/18.
FAMOUS EX-PLAYERS & STAFF
Former Liverpool defender Mark Lawrenson was part of that 1992/93 Isthmian Premier League-winning squad. The club was denied promotion to the Football Conference due to ground grading issues, so the Republic of Ireland international decided that was the right time to call time on his playing career.
Zimbabwean goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar, another ex-Anfield legend, made four league appearances for The Generals in 1998, while the club’s former managers include the Southampton-born ex-Tottenham and Glasgow Rangers player Graham Roberts and ex-Watford and AC Milan striker, Luther Blissett.
One-time Southampton defender Fitz Hall was part of the Chesham United squad in the early-2000s, when his manager was Bob Dowie, the brother of ex-Saints striker Iain Dowie.
2023/24 TO DATE
Chesham United were sitting second in the Southern League Premier Division South table until Wednesday night, when Gosport Borough fought back from two goals down at home to Hanwell Town to claim a 94th-minute winner. The Generals have top scorer Ricardo German to thank for firing them into contention for possible promotion, with 18 of their league goals so far this season having come from the former Crawley Town striker.
Chesham won all of their first nine competitive matches coming into the 2023/24 season, with an unexpected 1-2 home defeat to Winchester City put an end to that impressive run which had included six away wins. Since then, their form has been intermittent, with a 5-2 home win over Poole Town on 21 October among the highlights.
Maidstone United of the National League South eliminated them from the Emirates FA Cup First Round Proper, after they had successfully navigated Walton & Hersham, Farnham Town, Margate and Braintree Town – the latter after a Replay – in the Qualifying Rounds. In the Isuzu FA Trophy, they overcame Enfield Town by the odd goal in seven in Third Round Qualifying before losing on penalties to Cray Wanderers in the First Round, after a 3-3 draw.
The Generals come to Totton having just played three consecutive home league games. On 18 November, they beat fellow title challengers Gosport Borough 2-0, then three days later Sholing were on the wrong end of a 2-1 defeat – Ricardo German struck all four of those goals. He also notched the second in last weekend’s 2-0 victory over Basingstoke Town.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS
We have seven meetings on record between AFC Totton and Chesham United. The Generals lead the way in the head-to-head, with four wins to Totton’s two, and one draw. The biggest win from either side was a 0-6 away defeat for The Stags in 2012/13, and Chesham won the last encounter, scoring two goals without reply at Testwood Park in 2013/14. Two years prior, the two teams met in a Southern Premier League Promotion Play-Off Semi-Final, which Totton won 3-2 with goals from Jonathan Davies, Michael Charles and Ryan Moss.
WHERE AND WHEN IS THE GAME?
At the Snows Stadium, Salisbury Road, Totton SO40 2RW on Saturday 02 December. Kick-off is at 3:00pm.
CAN I BUY TICKETS?
Yes, you can – and if you purchase your tickets online in advance, you’ll even save some money!
By Ben Rochey-Adams and Malcolm Tombs (Club Historian)
