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CAFC vs AFC Whyteleafe – Preview

Carshalton Athletic kick off their 2025–26 preparations with a pre-season trip to Church Road this Saturday, where they’ll take on an AFC Whyteleafe side on the rise.

Robin’s Review

Welcome back, Robins faithful!

Hope you’ve enjoyed the break from all things Carshalton Athletic—although if you’re anything like us, you’re already itching to get back into the action. Well, the wait is nearly over. Pre-season is here, and with it, the first steps toward what promises to be an exciting 2025–26 campaign.

Normally, this section would look back at the previous week, checking in on league standings and recent results. But with the first pre-season friendly just around the corner, we’re shifting focus to what lies ahead.

Carshalton signed off the 2024–25 season in emphatic style, dispatching Dartford FC 4–1 and effectively ending their faint title hopes. The Robins finished a strong seventh in the Isthmian Premier, collecting 70 points—six clear of Hashtag United and just three shy of Chichester City, who narrowly missed out on the playoffs.

There’s a real reason for optimism. Had a couple more results gone our way, Peter Adeniyi’s side could have found themselves in the top five—a spot many would argue we richly deserved. A three-match winning streak to close out the season made it four wins in our final six, placing us fifth in the league form table over that stretch. And let’s not forget our impressive showing against higher-tier Dorking Wanderers in the Surrey Senior Cup semi-final, where many felt we were the better side.

It’s been a busy summer at Colston Avenue. Most notably, we’ve installed a brand-new, state-of-the-art 3G pitch—a real statement of ambition, and something that needs to be seen to be believed. On the squad front, we’ve announced a number of key retentions, with Nabeel Ghannam, Josh Shonibare, and Luke Read all returning for the new campaign. While we’ve bid a fond farewell to club legend Paris Hamilton-Downes, we’ve also made our intent clear by securing the services of Bryan Ifeanyi, David Smith, and Fabio Saraiva on new deals.

The building blocks are in place. The energy is back. And we can’t wait to see you all this Saturday as we kick off the journey once again.

Up the Robins!

AFC Whyteleafe: A Phoenix on the Rise

It’s been a whirlwind few years for AFC Whyteleafe, who welcome the Robins this pre-season, riding the momentum of one of the most remarkable ascents in recent non-league history. The Surrey-based side have soared up four divisions in just four seasons, capping their meteoric rise with promotion to the Isthmian League South East Division (Step 4) for the 2024–25 campaign.

Until just recently, the Leafe were under the stewardship of Kelly Waters—a figure many supporters affectionately dubbed “the wizard of Whyteleafe.” Waters officially stepped down on Sunday, 1 June, departing on the highest of highs after masterminding the club’s fairytale journey from the grassroots to Step 4.

Appointed at the club’s inception in 2020, Waters took the reins of a phoenix club reborn from the ashes of the original Whyteleafe FC, which folded earlier that year. As chairman, co-manager, and driving force behind the rebuild, he led the Leafe from Step 8’s Surrey South Eastern Combination through title after title, including an immediate triumph in both the Southern Counties East League Division One and the Combined Counties Premier South.

The 2023–24 season delivered yet another twist in the tale. Whyteleafe finished third with an impressive 95 points—just behind Jersey Bulls and Redhill, who each tallied 96. But in a dramatic turn of events, both rivals were deducted three points for fielding ineligible players, handing Whyteleafe the title on a thrilling final ruling.

And their fairy tale didn’t end there. On May 11, they stepped out at Wembley Stadium for the FA Vase Final, narrowly losing 2–1 to Whitstable Town—a historic day that capped off a truly unforgettable campaign.

As Carshalton Athletic prepare to visit Church Road for this early pre-season test, they’ll face not just a competitive side, but a club brimming with belief, pride, and an extraordinary story. From grassroots resurrection to Wembley and Step 4, Whyteleafe’s rise is nothing short of inspirational.

Team News

Carshalton Athletic

As confirmed on the club website, several key players have been retained ahead of the new campaign, with a number also putting pen to paper on fresh contracts.

As ever, manager Peter Adeniyi is keeping his cards close to his chest—so don’t be surprised if a few new faces make their way into the squad over the coming weeks. Pre-season often brings opportunities for trialists to impress, and with the 2025–26 season fast approaching, competition for places is well and truly underway.

AFC Whyteleafe

AFC Whyteleafe have been active in the transfer market ahead of their debut season at Step 4, adding both experience and flair to an already impressive squad.

Among the new arrivals is Deshane Dalling, a dynamic midfielder who brings pedigree from spells at QPR, Lewes, Phoenix Sports, and Rayners Lane. Joining him is Eniola Hassan, a highly rated young forward with previous stints at Cray Wanderers, Glebe, and Bearsted—a player tipped by many to make a big impact this season.

Also returning to Church Road is a familiar face for Robins fans: Dominic Vose, who featured for Carshalton until midway through last season. Since then, he’s been lighting up the Baller League, and now returns to more familiar territory with the Leafe.

On the departure front, the club bid a fond farewell to long-serving forward Aaron Watkins—a talismanic presence who notched 57 goals in 98 appearances, including three hat-tricks. Watkins joined the club three seasons ago when Whyteleafe were languishing near the bottom of Step 6. Leaving a Step 5 contender to help rebuild the Phoenix club, he was the first of several ex-Leafe players to return and lay the foundations for the club’s rise. His contribution—both on and off the pitch—won’t be forgotten.

Expect to see the new signings in action during pre-season, along with the bulk of last season’s squad, the majority of whom have been retained for the club’s next big chapter.

Pre-Match Analysis

As Carshalton prepare to make the short trip to Church Road, they’ll be facing a side riding high on momentum and goals.

AFC Whyteleafe stormed to promotion from Step 5 last season thanks in large part to their free-scoring attack, which produced an eye-watering 107 goals—more than any other side in their division. That firepower put them four clear of runners-up Jersey Bulls and highlighted their attacking intent throughout the campaign.

However, it wasn’t all one-way traffic. Defensively, Whyteleafe conceded 39 goals, which, while still solid, ranked them fourth-best in the league, behind Jersey (22), Redhill (29), and Cobham (37). A closer look at their home form shows they had the third-best home record, though 22 of those goals came at Church Road, suggesting they’re not impenetrable on their own turf.

What makes Whyteleafe’s rise even more noteworthy is the ambition and investment behind the project. The squad features several players with experience as high as Step 3, giving them a level of pedigree not always seen at this stage of the season. For a club that was in Step 6 just a few seasons ago, their upward trajectory is as fast as it is impressive.

Carshalton will need to be sharp—particularly at the back—to deal with a side that thrives in transition and isn’t afraid to commit numbers forward. But with quality in their own ranks and the fitness levels rising, this pre-season encounter promises to be a valuable test for Peter Adeniyi’s men.

Key Player – The Whyteleafe Pirlo

Whyteleafe’s midfield maestro heads into the new season off the back of a truly remarkable campaign—one that saw him claim the Golden Boot alongside both the Fans’ and Players’ Player of the Season awards. Nicknamed the Whyteleafe Pirlo, he racked up an astonishing 24 goals in just 20 appearances, pulling the strings in midfield while delivering in front of goal. His influence was just as vital in cup competition, netting four times in the FA Vase, including a brace in the semi-final first leg against Andover New Street and Whyteleafe’s opener at Wembley in the final. A match-winner with vision, composure, and a knack for the spectacular—Carshalton will need to keep him quiet.

New Era at Church Road – Welcome Adam Flemming

AFC Whyteleafe begin the 2025–26 season under new leadership, with Adam Flemming taking the reins as Head Coach following the departure of Junior James and the end of Kelly Waters’ historic tenure. Flemming brings with him a wealth of experience at this level, having previously held head coach roles at Barking, Glebe, and Sevenoaks Town. Known for his tactical nous and ability to develop players, he now steps into one of non-league’s most exciting projects. The club also bid a heartfelt thank you to Junior “JR” James, who played a vital role in Whyteleafe’s incredible rise last season.