Epsom’s six races; five handicaps and a fillies’ maiden

Horses racing Image: Credit Paul. CC BY 2.0

Epsom Racecourse presents its latest meeting on Thursday evening, which consists of six races; five handicaps and a fillies’ maiden. 

Read on for a full preview of the Epsom card, courtesy of Racing TV, who have the very latest horse racing free bets offers.

The first race at the track – which is the UK’s cheapest Grade One racecourse, according to the Racing Post Price Index – is a mile and a half three-year-olds’ handicap (5.50). A competitive affair, this is a tough race to call. Stormy Monday is well proven over the trip, while Only One Blue and Nobleman look likely to enjoy the extra couple of furlongs, stepping up in trip for the first time. Newmarket trainer Harry Eustace is having a very good season and, therefore, his runner Vulcan Way is of some interest, but Sir Mark Prescott’s Bosphorus Rose should be able to finish strongly here and win for a bang in-form yard. 

A two-year-old fillies’ maiden is next, run over seven furlongs (6.25). From a field of nine, four are newcomers, all with useful pedigrees. Ollie Sangster’s Court Of Stars and Eve Johnson Houghton’s Mystic Moment set the standard on form, both having picked up places, but the former looks to have the most potential on paper and ought to be today’s winner. 

Next is a seven furlong handicap (7.00). Both Daisy Roots and Finbar’s Lad seek to make it back-to-back wins, although the latter does carry a five-pound penalty having won at Chelmsford only nine days ago. Course and distance winner G’Daay comes here in a good strain of form, having placed on both of his last starts, and is given a chance by the handicapper in remaining on the same mark. With a seven-pound claimer in the saddle, this could be his day. 

Race four is a six-furlong handicap (7.35). Harry Eustace’s Kisskodi seeks a hat-trick, having won his last two starts at Leicester and Brighton. With rider Jack Nicholls’ seven-pounds in hand, they could go well again, but this might be a tall order for a three-year-old up against older, hardened handicappers. 11-year-old Muscika has a good record at this track and is back down to a workable mark, so should be right there at the finish. 

The penultimate race is a handicap run over the extended mile (8.10). Orbaan carries a penalty having won last Friday at Beverley, so this may prove to be too much of an ask. Golden Circet looks promising equipped with a visor for the first time, back down in trip from 10 furlongs last time, while Virtue Patience looks well primed for a win here. Rab Havlin won on the gelding in March and rides again for Amanda Perrett, whose stable is doing very well at present. 

Finally, a mile and a quarter three-year-olds’ handicap rounds off the evening’s racing (8.45). James Fanshawe’s Inquisition comes here hoping to complete a hat-trick and might be able to do so, with rider Fred Daly’s seven-pound claim counteracting the six-pound penalty the filly carries here. Pergola, Without Burlington and Marmalade Kid make their handicap debuts here, but this does look like quite an ask. 

Epsom selections – Thursday:

5.50 – Bosphorus Rose

6.25 – Court Of Stars

7.00 – G’Daay

7.35 – Muscika 

8.10 – Virtue Patience

8.45 – Inquisitio

Image: Horses racing Image: Credit Paul. CC BY 2.0




10th July 2025

Community Council News

Public Meeting to Debate Epsom and Ewell’s government future

Public Meeting to Debate Epsom and Ewell’s government future

8 July 2025

A public debate later this month will ask whether Epsom and Ewell Borough Council could soon be abolished — and whether such a decision might happen without any vote or … Read More

Arts Culture

Epsom choir range in all musical directions

Epsom choir range in all musical directions

8 July 2025

On Saturday 28th June, the Epsom Chamber Choir presented an eclectic programme of music inspired by Shakespeare’s songs and sonnets. Ranging from small-scale madrigals to the beautiful melodies of Bernstein’s … Read More

Environment News

Fly-tipping in Epsom and Ewell part of national problem

Fly-tipping in Epsom and Ewell part of national problem

8 July 2025

Organised criminal gangs are increasingly using fake waste removal companies to dump lorry-loads of rubbish across the UK — and Surrey is not immune. According to the Department for Environment, … Read More

Community Council Education

SENDing Pupils to Epsom’s Mainstream Schools?

SENDing Pupils to Epsom’s Mainstream Schools?

8 July 2025

The national conversation around how best to educate children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) has intensified, following proposals by Labour’s Stephen Kinnock to increase the number of SEND … Read More

Local History

Epsom’s infamous murders

Epsom’s infamous murders

8 July 2025

Epsom has witnessed several notable murder cases throughout the 20th century. These incidents, though tragic, have become part of the town’s history. Epsom is best known for its racing heritage, Georgian … Read More

Business News

King’s Award for Epsom based business

King’s Award for Epsom based business

7 July 2025

Penta Consulting, an Epsom-based provider of global technology talent and managed solutions, has been awarded the King’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade 2025, one of the most distinguished honours … Read More

Community Environment Volunteers

Volunteers Tackle Plastic Waste in Epsom Town Centre

Volunteers Tackle Plastic Waste in Epsom Town Centre

7 July 2025

Plastic waste is a global menace that often ends up closer to home than we think. According to recent studies, the average person could be consuming up to five grams … Read More

Community Education

Epsom and Ewell Town-Twinning Association presents Cyril Frazer Awards for 2025

Epsom and Ewell Town-Twinning Association presents Cyril Frazer Awards for 2025

3 July 2025

The Epsom and Ewell Town-Twinning Association recently presented its annual Cyril Frazer Awards to this year’s winners: Sarah Carpenter of Southfield Primary School, and the joint runners-up, Siobhan Cornell and … Read More

Council Council constitution Letters

Parishing Epsom and Ewell is unholy?

Parishing Epsom and Ewell is unholy?

2 July 2025

I enjoyed your write-up of the latest meeting of Epsom and Ewell Borough Council, where you asked “Will the doomed Epsom and Ewell Borough Council rise from the ashes in … Read More

Arts Council Local History

Anti-slavery Parliamentarian portrait purchase

Anti-slavery Parliamentarian portrait purchase

2 July 2025

Runnymede Borough Council has agreed to release thousands of pounds to help buy a “significantly important” oil painting for its museum. The painting is an oil on canva




Public Meeting to Debate Epsom and Ewell’s government future

Surrey and Epsom Councils

A public debate later this month will ask whether Epsom and Ewell Borough Council could soon be abolished — and whether such a decision might happen without any vote or public consultation.

The event, titled “Here Today, Gone Tomorrow? Devolution Explained”, will take place at 7.00pm on Wednesday 23rd July 2025 at St Joseph’s Catholic Church St Margaret Dr, Epsom KT18 7JQ. It is free to attend and open to all residents and businesses.

The meeting is organised by Rotary Connections, a local initiative of the Rotary Club aiming to bring together businesses, civic groups, and the wider community.

The panel will include local councillors:

Eber Kington – Residents Association and Surrey County Council and former long-serving Councillor on EEBC.

Bernie Muir, deputy chair of Surrey County Council, Conservative, who also serves on Epsom and Ewell Borough.

Steven McCormick – Residents Association serving both EEBC and Surrey County Council.

The discussion will be chaired by Lionel Blackman, local solicitor and a director of the Epsom and Ewell Times.

The debate comes amid growing speculation over local government reorganisation in Surrey. Proposals in recent years have raised the prospect of scrapping all district and borough councils in favour of one or more large unitary authorities. Such a move would end the independence of Epsom and Ewell Borough Council, which has served the community since 1937.

Supporters of unitary reform claim it could bring savings and efficiency. Opponents argue it risks reducing local accountability and weakening the borough’s unique identity.

After initial addresses from each speaker organisers say the meeting will follow a “Question Time” format, allowing the public to pose questions directly to councillors on what these changes might mean for services, representation, and the future shape of local democracy.

Entry is free.

Related reports:

Will the doomed Epsom and Ewell Borough Council rise from the ashes in other forms?

Two unitaries will save money says Surrey leader

Epsom and Ewell Considers New Community Councils as Local Government Shake-Up Looms

Epsom and Ewell Borough Council out – Community Council’s in?

and many more – search “local government reorganisation”.




Epsom choir range in all musical directions

Epsom Chamber Choir

On Saturday 28th June, the Epsom Chamber Choir presented an eclectic programme of music inspired by Shakespeare’s songs and sonnets. Ranging from small-scale madrigals to the beautiful melodies of Bernstein’s West Side Story, relaxed jazz from George Shearing, and an uplifting setting of Whitacre’s Leonardo Dreams of His Flying Machine, with everything in between, there truly was music for everyone.

Encouraged by the generous acoustics of St Martin’s Church, Epsom, the choir was in good voice despite the heat of the evening. The programme structure combined more contemporary music interspersed with madrigals (sung mainly two to a part), giving most of the choir an opportunity to shine. While some of the small groups were more successful in mastering the “art” of the madrigal—especially in the performance of Fair Phyllis—this music nevertheless offered both vocal and musical contrast.

The West Side Story medley (along with the arrangement of Summertime) provided a joyous start to the concert, with excellent choir diction and lovely solo singing. The four Shakespeare songs by the Finnish composer Jaakko Mäntyjärvi (born 1963) were more challenging for both the audience and the choir. Requiring an exceptionally high standard of performance, the choir, as always, was assured, although tuning and balance suffered a little at times.

In contrast, the performance of Whitacre’s Leonardo Dreams of His Flying Machine was masterful—sung with conviction, passion, and finesse. Bravo, Epsom Chamber Choir!

The second half had a lighter feel, with some meaningful arrangements, including Billy Joel’s And So It Goes (arranged by Bob Chilcott), all of which were sung beautifully. The concert concluded with the five Songs and Sonnets from Shakespeare by George Shearing, which gave the choir a chance to “let their hair down.” Clearly, they enjoyed these pieces, as did the audience, supported by excellent piano accompaniment from Stephen Ridge.

For this concert, Tristan Weymes replaced ECC’s principal conductor, Jack Apperley, and his calm and sensitive approach was appreciated by all.

Congratulations to the Epsom Chamber Choir for a joyous summer evening of Shakespeare-inspired music.
So, “if music be the food of love, sing on!”

—Michael Stevenson MA FTCL GTCL ARCO

Photo credit Paul McCan




Leslie Pinckney Simpson

Leslie Pinckney Simpson died peacefully on 26th June 2025, aged 92, after a short illness.

He will be greatly missed by his wife Audrey and his nephews and nieces. Funeral to be held on Monday 28th July at 11.45, at Randalls Park Crematorium, Leatherhead.

No flowers, donations to the Princess Alice Hospice




King’s Award for Epsom based business

Paul Clark, Founder and Executive Chairman of Penta Consulting meeting His Majesty the King at Windsor Castle

Penta Consulting, an Epsom-based provider of global technology talent and managed solutions, has been awarded the King’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade 2025, one of the most distinguished honours for UK businesses.

The award recognises Penta’s exceptional growth in international markets and its proven ability to deliver secure, compliant, and scalable solutions across the globe. This prestigious recognition places Penta among a select group of British companies demonstrating innovation, resilience, and commercial success on the international stage. Winners of the award were invited to a royal reception at Windsor Castle and gain the right to use the official award emblem for five years.

“This award is a testament to our people, our partnerships, and our passion for delivering results for our clients,” said Paul Clark, Executive Chairman and Founder of Penta Consulting. “It reflects our team’s dedication to delivering with expertise, integrity, and a global outlook.”

Penta Consulting CEO Aminash Patel added:

“This has been our best year on record and we’re in a great position to keep this momentum. We’re proud of being recognised for our international business, but we also do everything we can to make an impact locally. We support Epsom Pantry, a local food bank, the Jigsaw Trust, and many other local causes. We’re on an exciting trajectory, so we’d encourage anyone interested in technology job opportunities to continue to check our website.”

The King’s Award win comes as the latest recognition in an incredibly successful year for the Surrey business. Penta Consulting has also been recognised with several other accolades in the first half of 2025:

  • Sunday Times Top 100 – recognising Britain’s fastest-growing companies
  • Sunday Times Best Places to Work – medium-sized business category
  • London Chamber of Commerce and Industry SME Business Awards – Best International Business and Overall Winner

About the King’s Awards

The King’s Awards for Enterprise were previously known as The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise, and were renamed two years ago to reflect His Majesty The King’s desire to continue the legacy of HM Queen Elizabeth II by recognising outstanding UK businesses.


About Penta Consulting

Penta Consulting delivers bespoke technology resource solutions to the global ICT industry. With 12 international offices, the company supports over 1,000 technical resources across more than 80 countries. Specialising in digital transformation, cloud, and AI, Penta’s core services include Professional Services, Managed Solutions, and Managed Resource for leading global technology brands.

Image:  Paul Clark, Founder and Executive Chairman of Penta Consulting meeting His Majesty the King at Windsor Castle




Epsom and Ewell Town-Twinning Association presents Cyril Frazer Awards for 2025

The Mayor of Epsom and Ewell, Cllr Robert Leach, presenting the Cyril Frazer Award to Olivia Gioffredo from Epsom College.

The Epsom and Ewell Town-Twinning Association recently presented its annual Cyril Frazer Awards to this year’s winners: Sarah Carpenter of Southfield Primary School, and the joint runners-up, Siobhan Cornell and Jo Johnstone from the French and Music departments at Wallace Fields Junior School, and Olivia Gioffredo from Epsom College.

The prizes were awarded at the Twinning Association’s AGM held at Epsom Town Hall on 24 June, by the Mayor of Epsom and Ewell, and Honorary President of the Association, Cllr Robert Leach.

Sarah Carpenter, who was unfortunately not able to attend due to family illness, will receive a grant of £500 to help support French visits and learning activities planned by Southfield Park School, while the joint runners-up will each receive £250 to support their work in the fields of French education and musical study. Olivia is a talented young composer and performer, who treated the AGM to a rendition in French of one of her own songs.

Epsom and Ewell Town-Twinning Association Secretary, Diana Deavin, said:
“The Association’s committee was extremely impressed by the quality of this year’s submissions, and in particular by the energy and passion of the teachers at these schools. This is reflected in the fact that this year we decided to make a total award of £1000, double the amount normally presented.”

The Cyril Frazer Award was established by the Twinning Association as a memorial to Cyril Frazer, who died in 2016. He was Mayor of Epsom and Ewell when it was first twinned with Chantilly in 1995 and was a founding member of the Association. As well as Twinning, one of his other great passions was singing, and he was a keen member of the Epsom Male Voice Choir.

Both elements of Cyril’s life are reflected in the requirements for the award, which is available to individuals and groups within the borough who meet some or all of the following criteria:

  • Applicants live or study in the borough
  • The award meets a special need, such as mental or physical health
  • It benefits young people
  • It has cultural or educational value
  • It is music or performing-arts related
  • It furthers friendships or links with Chantilly
  • It supports a key twinning or community event

The Mayor of Epsom and Ewell, Cllr Robert Leach, presenting the Cyril Frazer Award to Olivia Gioffredo from Epsom College.




Parishing Epsom and Ewell is unholy?

Letter to the Editor

I enjoyed your write-up of the latest meeting of Epsom and Ewell Borough Council, where you asked “Will the doomed Epsom and Ewell Borough Council rise from the ashes in other forms?” I would however suggest that the intention of the Residents Association (RA) clique that runs the council is to seek to continue its own existence as a relevant political force.

The RA has run the council since its creation and as Cllr Robert Leach (now the mayor) recently observed, feels that its dominant position means that it can do as it likes. Epsom and Ewell Borough Council Faces Scrutiny Over Constitutional Reforms › Epsom & Ewell Times

With the anticipated abolition of Epsom and Ewell as a borough council and effective merger with three or more neighbouring boroughs, the RA can see that its stranglehold will be broken. Its representatives may well be elected to a new unitary council, but they will likely be in a minority.

The paper at last week’s meeting that proposed what is called a Community Governance Review noted that “Epsom & Ewell Borough Council is one of the few District Councils within Surrey that is unparished”, meaning that there are no civil parishes or parish or other community councils.

Having been in charge for all these decades, the RA may wish to explain why this is the case. The answer to the why now question is obvious – to give the RA another host body to move to when its current host expires. Not that the RA clique doesn’t already have its fingers in a lot of pies locally.

There is also the why not now question, which the administration has skipped past. The report from last week notes that statutory guidance advises councils like Epsom and Ewell to avoid starting a community governance review if a review of local electoral arrangements is being, or is about to be, undertaken – i.e. the current situation.

Your article cites me as one of the councillors at the meeting who expressed doubts about whether information being given to residents will allow them to make an informed decision. I was specifically concerned that residents will only be consulted on the RA’s preference for new councils, despite recognition in the report that the government recently expressed a preference for the establishment of Neighbourhood Area Committees, which would operate within the auspices of a new authority.

Clearly these have been rejected as not suiting the RA’s purposes. For now we have to accept that the RA clique that runs the council can do what it likes, including spending £300,000 of desperately short funds on a process framed around its need to perpetuate its own relevance.

Cllr Chris Ames (Labour Court Ward)




3rd July 2025

Football Sports

Why Does No One Care About Epsom & Ewell Football Club?

Why Does No One Care About Epsom & Ewell Football Club?

1 July 2025

By most measures, Epsom & Ewell Football Club should be one of the borough’s proudest institutions. Founded in 1918, steeped in history, and once a beacon of non-league ambition, it’s … Read More

Health News

Epsom Hospital workers to strike for equality?

Epsom Hospital workers to strike for equality?

1 July 2025

More than 200 essential hospital cleaners and porters could strike over NHS equality at a Surrey Hospital Trust. Approximately 258 NHS facilities workers at St Helier and Epsom Hospital Trust … Read More

Education Environment News

Are paper bottles the solution asks Surrey Uni

Are paper bottles the solution asks Surrey Uni

1 July 2025

There are few excuses left for polluting our environment with plastics – and the UK can lead the charge towards a more circular future, say researchers from the University of … Read More

Arts Culture

The Royal Marines Band Collingwood at Epsom Playhouse

The Royal Marines Band Collingwood at Epsom Playhouse

28 June 2025

Organised by Cllr Dr Graham Jones MBE (Lieutenant Colonel (retired) (RA Cuddington) the renowned Royal Marines Band Collingwood made a triumphant performance at the Epsom Playhouse on Friday night, delivering … Read More

News

Will the doomed Epsom and Ewell Borough Council rise from the ashes in other forms?

Will the doomed Epsom and Ewell Borough Council rise from the ashes in other forms?

27 June 2025

Epsom, 26 June 2025 — Epsom & Ewell Borough Council has taken a significant step towards reshaping local governance in response to the wider reorganisation of local government in Surrey, … Read More

Community Education News

Epsom and Ewell parents taking on the child smartphone challenge

Epsom and Ewell parents taking on the child smartphone challenge

27 June 2025

Local parents are joining a national movement to delay children’s exposure to smartphones, with a sold-out event next week highlighting local concerns. Epsom & Ewell’s Smartphone Free Childhood (SFC) group … Read More

Arts Business News

Netflix to mainstream in Surrey

Netflix to mainstream in Surrey

27 June 2025

A Surrey film studio used by Netflix, the streaming giant behind hit shows such as Stranger Things, Bridgerton and Adolescence, will be made permanent after full planning permission was granted. … Read More

Housing News Planning

110-Home Scheme at Langley Vale Sparks Green Belt Fears

110-Home Scheme at Langley Vale Sparks Green Belt Fears

27 June 2025

A neighbour has spoken out against early proposals by developer Fairfax to build up to 110 new homes on farmland at Langley Bottom Farm in Langley Vale, describing the plans … Read More

Arts Community Culture

Epsom Picturehouse blossoms with Pride

Epsom Picturehouse blossoms with Pride

27 June 2025

Picturehouse Epsom is proud to announce a powerful new partnership with Blossom LGBT to launch OUT — a year-round celebration of LGBTQ+ cinema. Together, we’re amplifying queer voices on screen … Read More

News Policing

Student overdose leads to policy change

Student overdose leads to policy change

27 June 2025

A university student from Surrey could have been saved from an overdose if police had left a voicemail for her parents, an inquest jury has found. Despite needing to find … Read More

News

Two unitaries will save money says Surrey leader

Two unitaries will save money says Surrey leader

27 June 2025

Splitting Surrey into two could fill the ever-widening gap for council funding, County Council leader Tim Oliver claims. In a cabinet meeting yesterday (June 26), the Surrey leader and councillor … Read More

Council Environment

Epsom & Ewell Biodiversity Action Plan’s five-year review ratified

Epsom & Ewell Biodiversity Action Plan’s five-year review ratified

27 June 2025

Epsom & Ewell Borough Council’s Environment Committee has formally endorsed the progress made on its Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) 2020–2030, following a scheduled five-year review presented at its meeting on … Read More

Council Finances

Epsom and Ewell Council Tax Arrears Top £1.8 Million

Epsom and Ewell Council Tax Arrears Top £1.8 Million

27 June 2025

Council tax arrears in Epsom and Ewell have reached £1.8 million, according to new figures from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities. The amount contributes to a record … Read More

Business Education

Ewell students cruise to new careers

Ewell students cruise to new careers

27 June 2025

Cruise industry giants have teamed up with three colleges to highlight the sector as an exciting, rewarding career pathway for school leavers. This included 12 Travel and Tourism students at … Read More




Why Does No One Care About Epsom & Ewell Football Club?

An imagined Epsom and Ewell stadium.

By most measures, Epsom & Ewell Football Club should be one of the borough’s proudest institutions. Founded in 1918, steeped in history, and once a beacon of non-league ambition, it’s a club that has worn its local colours with pride for over a century. And yet, in 2024, it plays its home matches outside the borough, in front of modest crowds, with little official support, and almost no recognition from those it nominally represents. How did it come to this?


From Wembley to Nowhere

The club’s golden era came in the mid-1970s. Under manager Bob Smith, Epsom & Ewell reached the FA Vase final at Wembley in 1975, taking more than 10,000 fans to the twin towers. They lost narrowly to Hoddesdon Town, but the day cemented their status in the non-league elite. Just two years later, they were crowned Athenian League champions, playing stylish football and regularly attracting crowds of several hundred to West Street Ground in Ewell.

That ground, tucked between residential streets, was a symbol of grassroots football. A modest stand, small clubhouse, and rickety fence ringed the pitch — but it was home. Children ran the lines as ball boys, pensioners leaned on the barrier rails, and on Saturday afternoons, you could hear the cheers echo down Ewell High Street.

All that changed in 1993. Pressured by rising costs and development interest, the club sold the West Street Ground, and with it, lost its physical and emotional anchor in the borough. The land was sold for housing. Since then, Epsom & Ewell FC has led a nomadic existence, groundsharing with clubs like Banstead Athletic, Merstham, Leatherhead, Chipstead, and currently Corinthian-Casuals in Tolworth — nearly six miles from the borough boundary.


A Club Without a Borough

It is now 31 years since Epsom & Ewell FC played a competitive fixture in Epsom or Ewell. An entire generation has grown up without ever seeing their town represented in senior men’s football. Few children wear the club’s blue and gold; few adults even realise it still exists.

What happened? And more to the point — where was the borough council?

In the three decades since losing West Street, the club has repeatedly tried to secure land for a new stadium within the borough. Sites have been proposed, explored, and rejected. Discussions about Long Grove, Court Recreation Ground, and even sharing facilities with local colleges have all ended in failure. Most recently, informal talks about part of the Horton area being earmarked for community sports development went nowhere.

Supporters point to the contrasting support other councils give their clubs. Sutton United, for instance, receives backing from Sutton Council, which helped secure funding for facilities upgrades when the club was promoted to the Football League. In Epsom, the silence has been deafening. There has been no public plan, no council-led consultation, no transparent effort to bring the borough’s only senior football club back home.


Struggling for Survival

The club is currently playing in the Combined Counties League Division One — the 10th tier of English football. It exists thanks to a dedicated band of volunteers, a threadbare budget, and the goodwill of its landlords. Crowds rarely exceed 60–70. With no clubhouse revenue, limited sponsorship, and minimal visibility, it’s little wonder the club’s financial situation is precarious.

In 2019, the club formally became a Community Interest Company (CIC), a status intended to attract grants and funding by aligning with social benefit goals. While that has helped underpin youth development and safeguarding policies, it hasn’t solved the central issue: without a home, the club cannot grow.

Even now, Epsom & Ewell FC runs youth teams, junior girls’ sessions, and has engaged in local community coaching schemes. But ask any parent at those sessions where the senior men’s team plays, and many will shrug.


The Missed Potential

What’s so frustrating is how easily this could be different. Epsom is one of the largest towns in the South East without a senior football club playing within its boundaries. The borough’s population is over 80,000, and youth football is thriving — the likes of Epsom Eagles and Ewell Saxons run dozens of sides from U7s to U18s. Local talent is not in short supply. But with no flagship club, no clear pathway, and no local stadium to rally around, that energy is scattered.

The irony is that other non-league clubs across Surrey have built strong community models with much less historical pedigree. Why not Epsom?

Councillors have, over the years, said that land availability, planning complexity, and infrastructure costs make a return difficult. That may be true — but where is the political will? Where is the long-term strategic thinking about using sport to promote community health, pride, and youth engagement?

With millions spent on new housing, green infrastructure, and civic regeneration, a modest community stadium with a few hundred seats, changing rooms, and floodlights should not be an insurmountable dream. Yet for 30 years, it has been exactly that.


Do You Care?

This brings us to the title question: Why does no one care about Epsom & Ewell FC?

Maybe it’s because we’ve forgotten how important sport can be to a town’s identity. Maybe because the club’s quiet survival hasn’t shouted loudly enough. Or maybe we just assumed someone else would fix it.

But the truth is, without meaningful public interest — and without council support — Epsom & Ewell FC will remain a ghost club. It will still play fixtures in Tolworth or elsewhere, cheered on by a few die-hards who remember the old days, while the borough it bears in its name carries on, unaware.

It doesn’t have to be this way.

A Special Correspondent

Image – an imagined modest stadium that could be Epsom and Ewell FC’s.