AFC Whyteleafe

Club Overview

AFC Whyteleafe, known as the Leafe, are a community club from Whyteleafe in Surrey, formed in 2021 after the original Whyteleafe FC folded. Founded by Kelly Waters, the new club began in grassroots football and achieved a remarkable rise through the English pyramid, including successive league titles, an FA Vase final at Wembley and promotion to the Isthmian Premier Division for 2026/27.

The rise has brought a major practical challenge: the historic Church Road ground is not currently suitable for the first team’s Step 3 requirements. The senior side therefore plays at Flamingo Park in Chislehurst, sharing with Cray Wanderers, while training and youth football remain at Church Road. The club has said it hopes to return to Whyteleafe when circumstances allow.

Quick Facts

  • Club: AFC Whyteleafe
  • Founded: 2021
  • Nickname: The Leafe
  • Historic home: Church Road, Whyteleafe
  • 2026/27 first-team ground: Flamingo Park
  • Ground address: Flamingo Park Sports Ground, A20/Sidcup Bypass, Chislehurst, BR7 6HL
  • League: Isthmian League Premier Division, 2026/27
  • Step: 3
  • Official website: afcwhyteleafe.com

Stadium Guide: Flamingo Park

For 2026/27, AFC Whyteleafe’s first team plays at Flamingo Park, home of Cray Wanderers. The club’s statement describes a 2,500-capacity venue with a new 299-seat stand, a dedicated fan zone with a large screen and a 3G pitch. The ground is just off the A20 at Chislehurst.

This is a temporary but important arrangement for the club’s first season at Step 3. AFC Whyteleafe have stressed that training and all youth teams will remain at Church Road, preserving the club’s local base while the senior side uses a ground designed for the higher level.

Getting there: use the club’s official Find Us guide for the current address and directions. Confirm tickets, parking, accessible facilities and visiting-supporter arrangements for each match before travelling.

Club History

A new club after the 2021 closure

The original Whyteleafe FC folded in 2021. Founder Kelly Waters set about creating a successor club, with the aim of keeping football alive for the community. AFC Whyteleafe was assembled in a short period, secured a return to Church Road and entered the Surrey South Eastern Combination at Step 8. The new organisation’s starting point was modest, but it quickly developed a competitive team and a clear identity.

Early progress and a place in the pyramid

In 2021/22, the club finished runners-up in its first season and was awarded a place at Step 6. The following campaign established AFC Whyteleafe in the Southern Counties East League Division One. The club’s progress was not just a continuation of the former club’s history: it was a new organisation building its own record, team and community support after the original side’s collapse.

Successive titles and the Wembley final

AFC Whyteleafe won the Southern Counties East League Division One title in 2023/24. In 2024/25, they claimed the Combined Counties League Premier Division South championship and reached the FA Vase final at Wembley Stadium. Their final against Whitstable Town went to extra time, with Whitstable winning 2–1. Although the trophy eluded them, reaching Wembley was a landmark moment for the young club and its supporters.

Promotion to Step 3

The 2025/26 season brought another promotion. Competing in the Isthmian League South East Division at Step 4, the Leafe secured a play-off place and won two away ties, against Jersey Bulls and AFC Croydon Athletic, to reach Step 3 for 2026/27. The club describes this as a rise through five levels in five seasons, an exceptional run for a newly formed non-league side.

A new home for a new level

In May 2026, the club announced that it would move its first-team home matches to Flamingo Park because Church Road could not support the demands of Step 3 football at that time. The decision was not presented as an abandonment of Whyteleafe: youth teams and training continue at Church Road, and the club has expressed a hope of returning when it becomes possible. The groundshare represents a practical decision intended to help the club survive and continue to progress.

Honours and Milestones

  • Southern Counties East League Division One: champions, 2023/24.
  • Combined Counties League Premier Division South: champions, 2024/25.
  • Isthmian League South East Division play-offs: winners, 2025/26.
  • FA Vase: runners-up, 2024/25, after reaching the final at Wembley.
  • 2021/22 debut season: runners-up in the Surrey South Eastern Combination, followed by entry at Step 6.
  • 2026/27: first season at Step 3 in the Isthmian Premier Division.

Club Records and Memorable Moments

  • Five-season rise: from grassroots Step 8 football in 2021/22 to Step 3 for 2026/27.
  • Wembley appearance: the 2024/25 FA Vase final against Whitstable Town.
  • Back-to-back league titles: Southern Counties East Division One in 2023/24 and Combined Counties Premier South in 2024/25.
  • Play-off achievement: away wins over Jersey Bulls and AFC Croydon Athletic secured promotion in 2025/26.

As a recently formed club, AFC Whyteleafe’s record belongs to the new organisation. Historical achievements of the former Whyteleafe FC should not automatically be attributed to the current club.

Famous Players and Club Figures

Founder Kelly Waters has been central to the club’s creation and rise, building a new organisation after the former club folded. The first-team squads that won successive promotions and reached Wembley have made the club’s early years memorable, while volunteers and supporters have helped sustain the club through rapid growth and the move away from Church Road. For current players and staff, consult the club’s official squad and news pages, which are updated during the season.

Rivalries and Regional Context

AFC Whyteleafe’s Surrey roots connect them to clubs across Surrey, south London and Kent. The play-off wins over Jersey Bulls and AFC Croydon Athletic were key competitive moments in the 2025/26 promotion campaign. Sharing Flamingo Park with Cray Wanderers creates a new ground connection, but the clubs remain separate organisations. The 2026/27 Isthmian Premier fixture list will shape the Leafe’s developing Step 3 rivalries.

Matchday Guide

  • For first-team fixtures in 2026/27, use Flamingo Park, not Church Road, as the venue.
  • Check the club’s website and ticket links for fixture confirmation, admission and any changes.
  • Use the official directions page for the Flamingo Park address and travel advice.
  • Youth fixtures and training remain at Church Road, so confirm the venue for those activities separately.
  • Check parking and accessibility details before travelling; arrangements may differ by event.

NonLeagueReview

AFC Whyteleafe’s rise from a newly formed Step 8 side to the Isthmian Premier Division in five seasons is one of the most remarkable recent stories in non-league football. The Wembley FA Vase final, consecutive league titles and the move to Flamingo Park show both the rewards and the practical pressures that can come with rapid promotion. NonLeagueReview covers stories like this through ground reviews, matchday coverage, interviews and news from across Steps 1–7.

Sources and Further Information

League allocation and stadium arrangements reflect the club’s published 2026/27 information. Confirm matchday details with AFC Whyteleafe before travelling.