Club - Danson Albion Football Club
Founded - 2006
League - Woolwich & Eltham Alliance
Affiliated FA - London FA

Email: dansonalbionfc@googlemail.com
Home Ground - The Co-Op Ground, New Eltham
Training Venue - Blackheath Rugby Club, Well Hall (click for map)
Sponsor - The Nags Head, Welling (Alex Kane) (click for map)
A Team Kit - Red and Black Shirts, Black Shorts, Red Socks
B Team Kit - White Shirt, Black Shorts, White Socks
Change Kit - Black & Red Shirt, Black Shorts, Black Socks

Club Chairman - Josh Waddell

Danson Albion 'A' Manager - Josh Waddell
Danson Albion 'B' Manager- Tom Jarman

Danson Albion 'A' Secretary - Josh Waddell
Danson Albion 'B' Secretary - Tom Jarman

Danson Albion 'A' Treasurer - Nas Harris
Danson Albion 'B' Treasurer - Tom Jarman

Danson Albion 'A' Captain - Matt Longville
Danson Albion 'B' Captain - Dan Jarman

History

Danson Albion were formed in 2006 with Josh Waddell, Joe Pearce, Matt Longville and Dave Kersey initially setting the club up, and joined the London & Kent Border Football League Inter One Division (3/6). Recruiting former school friends, Albion built a solid squad and with funds raised through sponsorship from the Nags Head pub in Welling and fundraising activities, Danson located a new home ground at the Meridian, Charlton.

Danson's first season was eventful, Gavin Lilley was named club captain and things looked rosey in the early goings with Nas Harris looking a real find up front as Danson started their first ever league campaign unbeaten in their first four with Waddell at the helm. However, just as Albion begun to talk of promotion, the teams form alongside the weather and subsequent quality of pitches, quickly diminished. A record 6-0 home defeat lead to action as Lilley stepped down as captain to be replaced by Standen and Waddell seeking a new more experienced manager, goalkeeper Jack Stephen also departed leaving Albion without a ull time 'keeper for the second half of the season. Gary Preston became the new manager in 2007 and despite a slow start Albion begun to settle again and picked up towards the end of the season leading to a mid table finish.

In their first close season the teams success was made apparent as Tom Clench decided to embark on an adventure Waddell undertook twelve months previouslyand set up Danson Albion Reserves who joined the LKB in Junior One (5/6). Meanwhile, the now 'first team' were pushed up a division to Senior One (2/6) despite an average opening campaign. Both teams got off to the worst possible start in their new divisions, however things begun to pick up and they joined each other for training at Trinity School on a Thursday night, a new training base after one year at Danson YC. Clench's Reserves endured a similar debut campaign to the original team, fluctuating form leading to a mid table finish, a patform to build on, especially given how Preston's side performed in their second season. Despite the slow start Albion won 9 from 10 games in the winter of 2007 and went on to finish 3rd in Senior One despite being tipped to struggle at the start of the year. Albion also enjoyed success in the cup competitions progressing to the Mary Wiltshire Shield Quarter Final and Invitation Cup Final where an amazing comeback was squashed by defeat in a penalty shootout to deny the club it's first piece of silverware.

The wind of change continued in the summer of 2008 with Gary Preston leaving the club and Albion having to seek pastures new as Meridian ended the partnership with the club, relocating to Eltham Town's Co-Op Ground. Waddell re-took the hotseat of the teams 'LKB' side who were pushed into the top division where they would compete amongst the league's elite. Whilst they again failed to get their hands on silverware, Albion held their own in the division finishing mid table and winning more games then they lost. Meanwhile Clench took his team across to the Woolwich & Eltham League and dropped the reserves tag, entering Division 1 (3/5). Clench's personal aspirations lead to him handing the reigns to Michael Barry and later Andy Semaine as Albion struggled to find consistency. A fine result and performance in the last game of the season saw the team avoid relegation and give themselves an opportunity to push on in 2009/10.

The summer of 2009 saw further changes as Dave Kersey took over as manager of the W&E team hoping to bring the teams closer together and provide a sound platform for success as many players were registered to both teams. Albion begun to train at Blackheath Rugby Club's Well Hall on Tuesday nights and had high hopes for the season ahead. However the LKB team lost 4 of their first 5 games including a first round knockout in their debut in the Sunday Junior Cup at the hand of Legends. Albion struggled for numbers throughout the season with the 10 of Cairns, Waddell, Pike, Hawkes, Newman, Wayment, Longville, Standen, Neill and Harris playing almost every minute of each game. Albion had performed well in the early stages of the MWS shield progressing through three rounds 1-0, 5-0 and 6-1 but were left demoralised after a quarter final knockout to FC Delavaran as they bid to go all the way to the final. League form did pick up however and they went on to record their highest ever finish. Kersey's debut managerial campaign with the B team did not go as planned as they finished bottom pf the league and were relegated with just one league win.

Trevor Jones had begun to stamp his authority on the Reserve team towards the end of the 2009/10 season and in the summer of 2010 took the reigns as Kersey moved back to the newly named 'A' team who joined the Woolwich & Eltham League entering the Senior Division. The 'B' team would take part in Division 2. The A team endured a difficult start to their debut W&E season losing 4 of their first 6 league games and three of their summer recruits in the process leaving little squad competition. They picked up at the start of the year winning 8 of 9 games and hoped for a mircalupous turn around to challenge for the title after fine wins at Red Star and Bostall but were deariled by a narrow loss in the Red Star reverse fixture that saw their hopes go up in smoke and the team end the season on a whimper to finish 4th. The B team also finished 4th in the respective division but in the Len Wareham Divison 2 cup made their way to the final where they faced Sporting St George A at Thamesmead Town. And Jones men were victorious after a 0-0 draw, the team captained by Dan Jarman, lifted the clubs first piece of silverware after a penalty shootout with Silley making telling saves and Hewitt finishing the decisive penalty.

Looking ahead to 2011/12 the B team will step back up to Division 1 whilst Waddell's A team will hope this is finally their year.

DAFC!