| Full name | Dial Square Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Dial | ||
| Founded | 7 January 2020[1][2] | ||
| Ground | Alwyns Lane Chertsey, Surrey, England | ||
| Chairman | Tony Hurley | ||
| Manager | Steve Brown | ||
| League | Surrey County Intermediate League (Western) Premier Division | ||
| Website | Club website | ||
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Dial Square Football Club is an English football club based in Chertsey, Surrey. They play in the Surrey County Intermediate League (Western) Premier Division.
When Arsenal F.C. were founded in 1886, they played their first match as "Dial Square" before becoming Arsenal F.C. and moving to Highbury.[3] In January 2020, Arsenal fan Stuart Morgan - a former director of Cammberley Town F.C. announced the rebirth of Dial Square. The club announced they had agreed a groundshare agreement with Abbey Rangers F.C. in Addlestone, Surrey, for their first season, but stated that their eventual goal would be to move the club to a purpose built ground in Woolwich, where Arsenal were originally founded, and to eventually reach the English Football League.[4]
Despite initial plans to apply for entry into the Combined Counties Football League,[5] they eventually joined the Guildford & Woking Alliance League for their first league campaign in 2020–21.[6] Burgundy was adopted as colour of the club’s home shirt in reference to Arsenal’s original colours, while the sundial and oaks featured in the crest referred to the Royal Oak pub in which Arsenal were originally founded.[3] In April 2021, Dial Square received an increase in membership following protests against the proposed European Super League.[6]
Dial Square played their first season in the Guildford & Woking Alliance League Premier Division (North). The club's first match, played 26 September 2020, was a 0-4 loss to Worplesdon Phoenix,[7] followed a week later by the club's first draw, 4-4 against Virginia Water Development. The club's first goal was scored in this game by Lewis Afflick.[8] The first victory for Dial Square came on 17 October 2020 when George Holland scored in the 90th minute to beat Chertsey Old Salesians, 1-2.[9] Three losses followed before league play was suspended; Dial Square completed their inaugural season having played six, won one, drawn one, and lost four to finish 7th in the final table.[10]
Realignment of divisions within the Guildford & Woking Alliance League saw Dial Square in the Premier Division for 2021-22. The season opened with an emphatic 2-7 win at Farncombe that saw Mark Watkins score the club's first hat trick plus a fourth goal, all in the first half.[11] After a loss at Laleham & Kempton FC, Dial Square went on an eight-game unbeaten run in all competitions before another loss to Laleham & Kempton on 11 December, but lost only once more in the league on their way to a second place finish behind nemesis Laleham & Kempton, having played fourteen, won nine, drawn three, and lost three; this finish earned the club promotion to the Surrey County Intermediate League (Western) Division 1. In the Surrey County FA Saturday Junior Cup, Dial Square won four matches and advanced to the semifinals before losing 1-2 to R.C. Old Boys.[12]
In only its second full season, Dial gained consecutive promotion from Surrey County Immediate Football League (Western) Division One to the Premier Division for the 2023-24 season. The club won nine of its 14 league fixtures, drawing three and losing two to finish runner-up to Laleham & Kempton.
On 8 May 2023, Dial founder, Stuart Morgan, stepped down from his role as CEO.
On 3 April 2022, Dial Square announced it had secured a one-year (with the option to extend) groundshare agreement with Isthmian Football League side, Chertsey Town.
