Tangerines on Tour: Kingstonian

The football equivalent of a ‘homecoming gig’ the next stop on our tour of the Isthmian League South Central division brings us to our away game at home, with grounds

Historic headlines

The story of Kingstonian over the last three decades is a cautionary tale. As the saying goes: ‘be careful what you wish for’.  In 1997-98, the Ks won the Isthmian League Championship – then at Step 2 – under the management of Geoff Chapple who, twelve months later led Kingstonian to FA Trophy glory, beating Forest Green Rovers in the Final. A year later, in the last Trophy Final played under the old Twin Towers, the Surrey club retained their title thanks to a 3-2 victory over Kettering Town. The following season, Ks got to the Fourth Round Proper of the FA Cup but were relegated from the Conference.

With their finances in a parlous state, Kingstonian went into administration and the club was bought out of administration by Rajesh Khosla, who sold the lease on Kingsmeadow Stadium to AFC Wimbledon. When Wimbledon sold Kingsmeadow to Chelsea FC to fund the construction of a new stadium, Kingstonian were told they would have to leave the ground, which had been built for them in 1989.

The club’s reduced financial circumstances also had on-field consequences. In 2004-05, Kingstonian finished bottom of the Isthmian League Premier Division, and although they won Division One South in 2008-09 to return to Step 3, the Ks have nor returned to the higher echelons of non-League football. Their best season since 2001 saw them finish second in the 2013-14 Isthmian League Premier Division on goal difference, then lose their play-off semi-final at home to AFC Hornchurch.

About the ground

Kingstonian have signed a two-year contract to groundshare the Robert Parker Stadium with us.

Have we played them before?

There have been nine meetings of the clubs. Ashford have won four, Kingstonian have won four and there has been one draw.