AFC Croydon Athletic are already celebrating one trophy in the silverware cabinet and the prospect of at least one more as they get ready for the final few games of the season.

For the second year running the U16s have tasted cup success securing a trophy after a penalty shoot-out following a 1-1 draw against Whyteleafe at Chipstead FC last month, writes Paul Smith.  

Last season, as U15s they won the Tandridge League Cup and this has been followed up with victory in the U16 version this season.   

 The game was a cagey affair and they trailed before Zain Walker equalised for the Young Rams.   With no further scoring in extra time it went to the lottery of  penalties but they remained focussed and Ryan Ba scored the winning spot kick to secure the cup.   

They are also still looking for league success and currently sit in second place behind Croydon Kinetic and a place above Whyteleafe.   A final fixture, against Whyteleafe, could still be crucial depending on other results.

 There is another cup final to look forward to as the U21s are through to their league cup final which will be played on Tuesday May 8 at Cobham FC against Sutton Common Rovers U21.   

The first team’s season finished at the end of April culminating in a disappointing finish firmly in mid-table.   

Having led the league back in September and spent most of the season in the top six a run of results at the end of the campaign has seen them drop to 11th place.  

 The summer period is always a busy period for any football club and it will be no different at AFC Croydon Athletic.   Work will soon get underway on the pitch and ground to get it up to scratch for the new season.  

 It is always a race against time as the closed season is very short.   The third week of June will see the first team squad reporting back for pre-season training and the new season kicks off again on the first Saturday in August.

In addition to the repairs on the stadium itself there is also plans to grow the club.   

Next season there will be teams at a variety of age groups playing as AFC Croydon Athletic and more information on this will be disclosed over the next few weeks and will be covered in next month’s Chronicle.

* There will also be cup finals taking place at Mayfield Stadium, the ground that AFC Croydon Athletic call home in Thornton Heath, on both May 13 and 20. 

The ground plays host to the Croydon Municipal Sunday Football League cup finals with two matches taking place on each day.   This is the third season that the league has chosen the stadium to host the finals and they will be well worth seeing.   The first games get underway at 11am.