Another new face in the Isthmian Premier this term are Dorking Wanderers.
Formed in 1999 and initially playing in the Crawley and District Football League they achieved promotion in their first season to Division Four of the West Sussex League, winning that division at the first attempt. 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 2005–05 saw them promoted to the Premier Division
In 2006–07 Dorking won the West Sussex League's Premier Division, winning the title with a win on the last day of the season and gaining promotion to Division Three of the Sussex County League.
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. However, the league initially denied them entry to the division as their ground was not deemed to meet the requirements. The club appealed against this decision to the Football Association, and after an independent ground grading visit, it was confirmed that the ground reached the necessary standards for Division One football.
Although the team initially struggled in Division One, finishing third-from-bottom in 2012–13, they finished second in 2014–15, earning promotion to Division One South of the Isthmian League.
In Dorking's 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.
Are you keeping up?
I make that seven promotions in 17 years, but it could be more.
Only Concord have come anywhere close to competing with such a meteoric rise through the divisions. From park football to Step 3 in less than two decades.
Their success has been built on strong community foundations and many of their founders still retain links to the club. In fact the Chairman, Mark White, also manages the side.
It would be wrong to draw comparisons between Billericays Tamplin and White though. Any similarities are merely superficial.
White has been hands on from the beginning and there is no room in his tent for Lions, Tigers or clowns. Rather his philosophy has been to build the club step by step with dedication and hard work. It has brought reward and glory for the Surrey side without vast capital resources or personal vanity. His summing up on last seasons efforts prove the point.....
So where does this leave us now? Well, not a bad season eh? Our tenth promotion in 18 years, a brand new academy brimming with talent and ready to start and a new ground on the horizon as part of a united Dorking football scene, after just 2 seasons spent in Ryman South (one as runners-up and one as joint Champions). We are very proud of this.
Hard work brings success and luck, and we will need to step up considerably on all levels to be able to compete at the next step. Ultimately we will continue to progress as much as resources and talent allow us to........A realistic and respectful response to their continuing success.
Their inaugural season in the Isthmian Premier brings with it a move from their aptly named Westhumble ground.
http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/surrey-news/revised-plans-dorking-meadowbank-foo...Sadly, after 127 unbroken years in existence the demise/merger of their rivals Dorking FC, will see the Wanderers having exclusive use of the revamped Meadowbank stadium.
http://www.surreymirror.co.uk/dorking-s-137-year-old-football-club-is-closing-do...As a result of delays in the building work at Meadowbank the Wanderers continue to play at Westhumble. We visit Dorking on the last day of the season...as likely as not the Meadowbank facility should be up and running by then...
http://www.molevalley.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=22181 .....and with the Surrey FA due to headquarter at the ground in early 2018 the future for football in Dorking looks secure.