CAFC Women vs AFC Croydon Athletic – Preview
Carshalton Athletic Women continue their preparations for the new season on Sunday when they welcome AFC Croydon Athletic to Colston Avenue for a pre-season friendly.
The match provides another valuable opportunity for the Robins to build fitness, develop match sharpness, and continue integrating the squad ahead of the new campaign.
Supporters are encouraged to come along and back the team as preparations for the season gather pace.
Carshalton Athletic
Carshalton Athletic Women head into their third season since the team’s formation in 2024, looking to build on two hugely successful campaigns.
Managed by Aaron Lamont from the outset, the Robins enjoyed an impressive debut season in 2024/25, finishing second in the league after recording 13 wins, one draw and just two defeats. That success was capped off with the club’s first piece of silverware, as they defeated Croydon FC 4-1 in the Surrey Divisional Cup Final at Meadowbank.
The 2025/26 campaign saw the side reach even greater heights. The Robins won 16 of their 18 league matches, suffering just two defeats, while producing a number of emphatic double-digit victories along the way. Despite another outstanding league campaign, they narrowly missed out on the title to Dorking Wanderers U23s.
Cup success followed once again, however, as Carshalton defended the Surrey Divisional Cup. Victories over Sutton United Reserves and eventual league champions Dorking Wanderers U23s secured their place in the final, where they produced a dominant performance to beat Milford & Witley 6-1 and retain the trophy.
With additional promotion places potentially available, the Robins faced an anxious wait at the end of the season. Their patience was rewarded in June when promotion was officially confirmed, meaning Carshalton Athletic Women will compete at Tier 6 for the first time in the club’s history, taking their place in the London & South East Regional Women’s Football League Division One North.
There has also been a change in the dugout ahead of the new campaign. After two highly successful years in charge, Aaron Lamont stepped down as first-team manager to become assistant manager at Tier 5 side Farnham Town, where he has linked up with former AFC Wimbledon manager Kevin Foster following Foster’s recent appointment.
Lamont’s departure created a vacancy at Colston Avenue, with club captain Georgie Edwards stepping into the role of first-team manager. Edwards is expected to continue playing while combining her on-field responsibilities with her new position in the dugout, as the Robins prepare for another exciting chapter in what promises to be a landmark season for the club.
The Season Ahead
After finishing runners-up in the Surrey Premier Division last season, the Robins faced an anxious wait to discover whether they had done enough to earn promotion to Tier 6 of the English football pyramid.
The league allocations were released in June, and a superb record of 16 wins and just two defeats from 18 league games proved enough to secure promotion to the London & South East Regional Division One North.
The Robins will compete alongside 11 other clubs: Actonians Reserves, Camden Town, Clapton Community, Dulwich Hamlet Reserves, Ebbsfleet United, Hackney, Herne Bay, Maidstone United, Sport London e Benfica, Tooting Bec and AFC Greenwich Borough.
The new season gets underway on Sunday 16 August with a trip to Herne Bay, before the Robins return to Colston Avenue the following weekend for their first home fixture against AFC Greenwich Borough.
The Robins will also compete in several cup competitions, including the FA Cup. They will enter the competition at the First Qualifying Round stage, with ties scheduled to be played on Sunday 6 September.
With a host of new opponents to face and new grounds to visit, the 2026–27 campaign promises to be an exciting one as the Robins look to establish themselves at Tier 6 and continue their impressive progress.
AFC Croydon Athletic
After a solid fifth-place finish in the Greater London Football League last season, AFC Croydon will be aiming to take another step forward in the 2026/27 campaign.
The Rams enjoyed a competitive season, winning eight, drawing three and losing seven of their league fixtures in a division that featured the likes of Leyton Orient and Tooting Bec. Along the way, Croydon picked up victories over Islington Borough, Tooting Bec, London Academicals and Comets, while completing league doubles against both AFC Leyton and Sporting Duet.
With last season’s top two, Leyton Orient and Tooting Bec, now promoted, Croydon will believe they have a genuine opportunity to challenge for promotion themselves. Sunday’s meeting with Carshalton provides an early opportunity to measure where the Rams stand as they begin their 2026/27 league campaign.
Team News
The summer has been a busy period for the club, with new First Team Manager Georgie Edwards working hard to assemble her squad ahead of the 2026/27 campaign. A showcase fixture was held at Colston Avenue in June, while pre-season training is now well underway.
Defenders Maisie Ward and Morgan Parnell featured in Carshalton’s opening pre-season friendly against Ashmount Leigh and are both expected to play key roles in Edwards’ plans for the upcoming season.
There have also been a number of departures. After an impressive campaign at Colston Avenue, Kenza Gueriani has joined fellow Tier 6 side Leatherhead.
Midfielder Xaidan Gooding, who spent last season on loan at Carshalton, has stepped up to Tier 5 after signing for Farnham Town. She is joined at Farnham by Leanne Bell, where the pair will reunite with former Carshalton manager Aaron Lamont, who has taken on the role of assistant manager.
Pre-Match Analysis
After a long break, Sunday offers the Robins a welcome return to Colston Avenue as they continue preparations for the new campaign against AFC Croydon.
Manager Georgie Edwards will be looking for another positive step from her side, with pre-season results taking a back seat to performances and progress. The fixture provides another valuable opportunity to build match sharpness, increase fitness levels and continue developing the understanding between new and returning players.
Edwards will also be hoping to see her team put into practice the work that has been done on the training ground, with an emphasis on maintaining possession, pressing with intensity and showing confidence in the final third.
With the season edging ever closer, the Robins boss will want to see her side continue building momentum, while giving players the chance to stake their claim for a place in the starting XI. A strong, disciplined display in front of the home supporters would provide another encouraging platform as preparations enter their final stages.
Match Details
Date: Sunday 26th July 2026
Opposition: AFC Croydon Athletic
Competition: Friendly
Venue: Colston Avenue, SM5 2PW
Kickoff: 2:30pm
Admission: FREE ENTRY
