Corinthian-Casuals Football Club was formed in 1939 following the merger of the two great amateur sides bearing those names. The Corinthians were founded in 1882. N.L. “Pa” Jackson, who was then Assistant Honorary Secretary of the Football Association, aimed to develop a club side capable of bolstering England's national team and challenging Scotland at international level. A meeting was held at Jackson’s offices in London’s Paternoster Row on September 12th 1882 and thus was the club born. The name 'Corinthian' came from a suggestion by England international, H.A. Swepstone, which was accepted unanimously. In the recently published history of the club, “Play Up Corinth,” author Rob Cavallini explains “the most likely explanation for this choice … is the word’s long forgotten meaning – ‘man of fashion and pleasure,’ which captures the whole essence of the playing membership and their sporting ideology.” The Casuals were formed in 1883 by a group of old boys from England's prominent public schools and rapidly became a strong force in the amateur game, providing Corinthians with many of their first team players. In 1905 they became founding members of the Isthmian League, won the AFA Senior Cup in 1907 and the FA Amateur Cup in 1936. Click on the buttons below to read the histories of these two great amateur clubs: |
Corinthian-Casuals
The newly amalgamated Corinthian-Casuals Football Club had played only one game before World War II broke out and the league was suspended. Remarkably, the team made the decision to tour France in the spring of 1940 as part of a Red Cross party, however they were forced to return home in haste when the German offensive was launched on May 10th. Come the recommencement of football in 1945, the new club proudly took Casuals' old place in the Isthmian League, where it would remain for another 39 years. It was decided that they would wear the famous chocolate and pink colours of the Casuals for their home matches, and Corinthian white away.
In 1954, the club beat Epsom 2-0 to win the Surrey Senior Cup. Two years later in 1956, they reached the FA Amateur Cup Final, drawing 1-1 with Bishop Auckland at a packed Wembley Stadium. However the legendary north-eastern club won the replay at Middlesbrough 4-1. A year later, another good run in the FA Amateur Cup saw Corinthian-Casuals reach the semi-final where they eventually succumbed to Wycombe Wanderers at Highbury. After this high point, the club slipped into a long decline, a rare moment of success seeing them reach the FA Cup 1st Round in 1965/66, where Watford won 5-1.
The 1973/74 season was a historic milestone; heralding the FA's decision to abolish official 'Amateur' status. As if in empathy with the end of the amateur era, Corinthian-Casuals steadfastly refused to accept the new 'semi-professionalism' and were relegated, for the first time in their history, into Isthmian League Division 2. Further relegation followed after a third bottom finish in four years. Then, in 1984, new ground-sharing rules summarily introduced by the Isthmian League saw the club unceremoniously thrown out of the league after 65 years of continuous membership (and in spite of a 5th place finish!) simply because the club’s long nomadic history meant it shared a ground and thus did not have one of its own (imagine that today!!). Ironically, the year this occurred was the club's best in quite a while. Casuals reached the 1st Round of the FA Cup, holding Bristol City to a goalless draw at Champion Hill, before losing 4-0 in the replay. The club also made it to the 5th Round of the FA Vase, the replacement competition for the FA Amateur Cup.
In 1954, the club beat Epsom 2-0 to win the Surrey Senior Cup. Two years later in 1956, they reached the FA Amateur Cup Final, drawing 1-1 with Bishop Auckland at a packed Wembley Stadium. However the legendary north-eastern club won the replay at Middlesbrough 4-1. A year later, another good run in the FA Amateur Cup saw Corinthian-Casuals reach the semi-final where they eventually succumbed to Wycombe Wanderers at Highbury. After this high point, the club slipped into a long decline, a rare moment of success seeing them reach the FA Cup 1st Round in 1965/66, where Watford won 5-1.
The 1973/74 season was a historic milestone; heralding the FA's decision to abolish official 'Amateur' status. As if in empathy with the end of the amateur era, Corinthian-Casuals steadfastly refused to accept the new 'semi-professionalism' and were relegated, for the first time in their history, into Isthmian League Division 2. Further relegation followed after a third bottom finish in four years. Then, in 1984, new ground-sharing rules summarily introduced by the Isthmian League saw the club unceremoniously thrown out of the league after 65 years of continuous membership (and in spite of a 5th place finish!) simply because the club’s long nomadic history meant it shared a ground and thus did not have one of its own (imagine that today!!). Ironically, the year this occurred was the club's best in quite a while. Casuals reached the 1st Round of the FA Cup, holding Bristol City to a goalless draw at Champion Hill, before losing 4-0 in the replay. The club also made it to the 5th Round of the FA Vase, the replacement competition for the FA Amateur Cup.
Socrates and Corinthians
In 1988, Corinthian-Casuals were invited to Brazil by Sao Paulo Athletic Club (SPAC) to help celebrate their centenary. SPAC had been the club of former Corinthian Charles Miller, the man credited with introducing football to Brazil. It was Corinthian's visit to Sao Paulo for a game against SPAC during their Brazilian tour in 1910 that had led to the formation of Sport Club Corinthians Paulista.
To celebrate the club's first tour of Brazil since the First World War, Corinthian-Casuals also played a Corinthians Paulista XI in a match at the majestic Pacembeu Stadium, which was billed as "a father and son reunion" which the sons duly won 1-0. The goal was scored by none other than Brazilian legend Socrates (left), who played much of the second half for the visitors in the famous Chocolate and Pink.
It is a tribute to the historic significance of this event that Corinthians Paulista and Brazil legends Rivelino and Wladimir also played in the match. A YouTube video of the game, which was televised live in Brazil on Globo TV can be found at the bottom of this page.
The Spartan League Years
1988 was a truly historic year as the club, in addition to touring Brazil, finally secured its first ever home ground, taking over the lease at King George's Field from the crippled Tolworth FC. A colossal effort from the club's members helped to transform the ground - installing turnstiles, terracing and seating, as well as completing the construction of the clubhouse. A runners-up berth in 1993 and winning the League Cup in 1995 were the highlights of the Spartan League era, before the club switched to the Combined Counties League in 1996. This was a greatly improved experience. In the first season, a runners-up spot was achieved to at last win back our place in the Isthmian League.
In 2000/01, a 5th place finish - the team’s best finish for many years - saw them miss promotion by a meagre three points, whilst the Reserves won the Suburban League South and London Intermediate Cup.
In May 2001, the club toured Brazil again, winning the Sao Paulo Athletic Invitation Cup. Victories were achieved over Paulistano and Sao Paulo AC, though SC Corinthians Paulista’s U21’s inflicted a 2-0 defeat.
The next season saw the reorganization of the Isthmian League, with a top 6 finish guaranteeing a place in the new Division 1 South. Despite being in the running for much of the season, a late slump saw the Corinthian-Casuals slip to finish in 10th place. However, thanks to some astute thinking, the ground had been improved anyway, gaining a “Grade B” award. Thus, due to circumstances elsewhere, the promotion places sank to as low as 11th and the club got to play its highest level of football since 1978.
RETURN TO THE ISTHMIAN LEAGUE
Season 2006/07 saw regime change, Brian Adamson was appointed as new manager and hopes were lifted towards an improvement in fortunes. The season was certainly a tale of two halves, with the club eventually finishing second from bottom with more points than they had achieved since 2004/05, a somewhat pleasing 34. The team were very young, the majority without Isthmian level experience, and needed to gain that experience quickly. Up until December, it looked like the team would never get above 10 points. Luck did not seem to be on their side, frequently losing by a single goal. But they played exciting football, all with a speed and passion that had not been seen for several years at the Tolworth ground. With the arrival of the New Year, fortunes changed and the team produced a run of seven games without defeat. They continued with mixed fortunes, right up to the final game of the season. Here they needed to beat Leatherhead to get off the bottom of the table to be in with any hope of avoiding relegation. The 3-1 victory achieved just that, thanks also to the late merger of Hayes & Yeading.
While the 1st XI were finding Lady Luck a little fickle with her favours, the Reserves were steadily working their way up the Suburban Premier table. They showed strong nerves when beating Sutton United in the Champions Cup semi-final 2nd Leg, coming from behind to win 2-1 on aggregate. And then in the final, when they beat Waltham Forest 4-2 on penalties, following two hours of football and as many goals apiece. Their second trophy came from a rematch of the previous season's London FA Intermediate Cup final. This time the Reserves held their nerve to beat Metrogas 5-4 on penalties.
In 2008 the club enjoyed the momentous honour of celebrating 125 years of football with a commemorative match at Wembley Stadium. After staying up on merit for four consecutive seasons it is clear that the hard work, vision and dedication of management team, Brian Adamson, Kim Harris and Keith Holloway, was beginning to pay dividends.
The 2010/11 season was the most memorable for many years as the club lifted the Surrey Senior Cup for the first time in 57 years when Leatherhead were defeated 2-0 in the final at Gander Green Lane. This triumph was a fitting tribute to Brian Adamson who stood down as manager at the end of the season to be replaced by Matt Howard.
In 2015 Corinthian-Casuals returned to Brazil to take on SC Corinthians Paulista's First XI for the first time in an historic match organised to celebrate the the opening of the Brazilian club's brand new stadium, Arena Corinthians, and to commemorate the centenary of the Corinthian tour which had been abandoned due to the outbreak of World War One.
Predictably, the Sao Paulo team came out on top, eventually winning 3-0 in front of 40,000 spectators, but Casuals were welcomed as heroes by the locals in a truly memorable tour which was superbly documented in the BT Sports film 'Brothers In Football'.
Predictably, the Sao Paulo team came out on top, eventually winning 3-0 in front of 40,000 spectators, but Casuals were welcomed as heroes by the locals in a truly memorable tour which was superbly documented in the BT Sports film 'Brothers In Football'.
A NEW ERA
James Bracken's arrival as Manager at the start of the 2015/16 season heralded the start of an exciting new era at Corinthian Casuals and the club only missed out on a spot in the play-offs due to a controversial points deduction. However, the following season saw the club reach the play-off Final, drawing 0-0 at Dorking Wanderers only to be cruelly denied promotion following a penalty shoot-out.
Despite the disappointment, James led Corinth to their second consecutive play-off Final in 2017/18. Sadly, once more the team were to fall at the last hurdle, losing the Final in yet another penalty shoot-out. However, due to Thurrock's resignation from the League, Corinthian-Casuals earned promotion to Step 3 as the losing Finalist with the best points-per-game average over the season. Casuals entered the Isthmian Premier Division 2018/19 season with excitement and anticipation and successfully retained their position in the League .
In the summer of 2019, The club made its first foray into Europe for many years, participating in the inaugural Egri Erbstein Tournament in Hungary. Thus, 115 years after the Corinthians first toured Europe, the team returned to Budapest - the site of their first ever game on the continent.
The occasion was celebrated by the UK Ambassador to Hungary, Iain Lindsay, OBE, who hosted a reception at the Embassy in the club's honour.
After beating Budapest Atletikai Klub (BAK) in the semi-final, Casuals triumphed 1-0 over Testveriseg SE with a last minute winner in the final to lift the trophy in Budapest.
The 2021-22 season would be James' last as he moved on to challenges new. Following the departures of Tony Reid and Justin Fevrier in 2022-23 and relegation to the Isthmian League South Central Division, Corinthian-Casuals legend Andy Gray was appointed Manager and took over the helm from interim Manager Brian Adamson at the start of the 2023-24 season. Sadly, Andy was unable to convert his love for the club into results on the field and, with the team languishing in the relegation places at Christmas, the decision was made to replace him. Former Dulwich Hamlet and Hastings Utd manager Paul Barnes was appointed First Team Manager at the end of December but was unable to avoid another relegation.
Former Corinthian-Casuals Captain Mu Maan was appointed Manager for the 2024-25 season and the club began life in the Combined Counties Premier League with renewed hope and a talented new squad strengthened by the return of some familiar faces.
HONOURS
1953-54 Surrey Senior Cup Winners
1955-56 FA Amateur Cup Finalists
1956-57 London Senior Cup Finalists
1964-65 FA Cup 1st Round
1983-84 FA Cup 1st Round
1984-85 Spartan League Senior Division Champions
1994-95 Spartan League Cup Winners
2010-11 Surrey Senior Cup Winners
2016-17 Isthmian League South Play-off Finalists
2017-18 Promoted to Isthmian League Premier Division
2019 Egri Erbstein Tournament Winners
Former Corinthian-Casuals Captain Mu Maan was appointed Manager for the 2024-25 season and the club began life in the Combined Counties Premier League with renewed hope and a talented new squad strengthened by the return of some familiar faces.
HONOURS
1953-54 Surrey Senior Cup Winners
1955-56 FA Amateur Cup Finalists
1956-57 London Senior Cup Finalists
1964-65 FA Cup 1st Round
1983-84 FA Cup 1st Round
1984-85 Spartan League Senior Division Champions
1994-95 Spartan League Cup Winners
2010-11 Surrey Senior Cup Winners
2016-17 Isthmian League South Play-off Finalists
2017-18 Promoted to Isthmian League Premier Division
2019 Egri Erbstein Tournament Winners
Former President of Corinthian-Casuals Football Club, Jimmy Hill, OBE