Malden Vale 1967-1995 

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Malden Vale FC was founded in 1967 by Club Chairman Stephen Pearce. The first decade of their existence was spent in the North Surrey Youth League, Sunday Sportsman League, Sunday Thameside League and Surrey Combination League where a total of 37 honours were obtained in junior and intermediate football.

 

Senior status was gained prior to the 1977-78 season when they were elected into the Surrey Senior League in which they made an immediate impact as both the first and second teams won their respective championships at the first attempt. In the following season, the Surrey Senior League changed its name to the Home Counties League but, along with Cobham, Horley Town and Merstham, Malden Vale decided to switch to the London Spartan League and were admitted into the premier Division in which they found themselves playing among others, Fisher Athletic, Berkhamstead Town, Bracknell Town, Collier Row and Whyteleafe. A credible fifth position was achieved in their first London Spartan season which also included a win over Camberley Town in the final of the Southern Combination Cup.

 

Despite always finishing in the top six during their six seasons in  the London Spartan League, the closest they came to winning the championship was in 1980-81 and 1983-84 when they were runners-up behind Fisher Athletic and Collier Row respectively. However, the club managed to reach the League Cup Final four years in a row: in 1981 (beat Alma Swanley), 1982 (lost to Greenwich Borough), 1983 (lost to Bracknell Town) and 1984 (beat Collier Row).

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At the end of the 1983-4 season, Malden Vale decided to return to the old Surrey Senior league which had changed its name yet again and was now known as the Combined Counties League. The title was again won at the first attempt, with the second team also winning the reserve section. The club also beat Virginia Water, Cove Godalming Town and Southwick on the way to the Concours Challenge Trophy (Combined Counties League Cup Final) which was played on Woking's ground in front of a crowd of over 500; Ash United were duly defeated to give Malden Vale the satisfaction of a league and cup 'double' though it was Southwick, who finished runners-up in the league, who were promoted to the Vauxhall-Opel League. The Concours Challenge Trophy Final was reached again the following season but this time they were beaten by one goal to nil by Chertsey Town.

 

Twelve months later, at the end of the 1988-89 season, Malden Vale came second to BAe Weybridge and this time were able to realise a long-held ambition by being accepted as members of the Vauxhall League. To achieve the necessary 'C' grading, a great deal of hard work was necessary, but it was a memorable moment for the club when they received formal notification that all the requirements had been met and that a place in Division Two (South) was theirs. The season was disappointing , however, in that they only managed 15th position with 46 points from 40 matches; the club once again reached the final of the Southern Combination Cup once again but were beaten 0-2 by Leatherhead.

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The club spent its last five seasons in the Diadora League. At the end of the 1993-94 season, managers Mick Brown and Ged Murphy left the club to join Hendon, unfortunately most of the players went with them. The final season saw Malden Vale at the foot of the table, although a marked improvement came when Steve Smith and Lee Dobinson took over as managers, Malden Vale still finished bottom.

 

For two years Raynes Park and Malden Vale had planned to merge and finally on Saturday the 19th of August 1995 the team played its very first game as Raynes Park Vale in the Combined Counties League, an away match against Farnham Town ended with a 3-3 draw, the result of the first home game on the 26th of August finished with a 3-0 win against Canterbury City in the FA Cup.

 

1995 to Present

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The new merged club immediately joined the Combined Counties Football League and currently play in the league's Premier Division. Step 9 in the national league pyramid.

 

Their best finish was in 1997–98 when they finished in fourth place at step 9. They have participated in both national Cup competitions apart from a brief period at the start of the 2000s. The club's reserve team won the Combined Counties Reserve League in 2002–03 and 2005–06 before it joined the Suburban League for the 2006–07 season. The reserve team was disbanded for financial reasons before re-joining the combined counties reserve league for the 2011-12 season under the management of Terry Tuvey.

 

In the 2012-13 season the reserves achieved the league & cup double. The cup being won with a 2-0 win against Worcester Park Reserves in the final. The Reserves also won the fair Play award in both 2011/12 & 2012/13, the 1st team winning the Premier award in 2011//12. The combined counties league took the decision to disband the reserve league at the end of the 2012/13 season so for the 2013/14 season they have re-joined the Suburban League.

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Midway through 2013/14 Lee Dobinson stepped down as 1st Team Manager to take over as Club Chairman from Fred Stevens. Former AFC Wimbledon Player Gavin Bolger stepped up to take over as 1st team Manager. Gavin Bolger played 107 times for AFC Wimbledon from 2002 to May 2005 scoring 27 goals from midfield. 

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Following the departure of Gavin Bolger in 2021, Josh Gallagher was appointed as manager, in his first season in charge RPVFC finished third in the league and the club had its most successful run in the FA Vase.