AFC Croydon Athletic are a grassroots, supporter-founded football club based in Thornton Heath (in the London Borough of Croydon). This team was formed from fans of the original Croydon Athletic, which folded after the 2011-12 season.
In 2023, local stars Stormzy and Wilfried Zaha purchased the club alongside Danny Young, the former head of care for Crystal Palace FC. Stormzy is a rapper born in Thornton Heath, known for his hit singles Shut Up, Vossi Bop and Blinded By Your Grace. Stormzy also headlined Glastonbury back in 2019.
Zaha was Crystal Palace’s star player for over 10 years. After starting in the academy, he later became the club's highest-ever Premier League goal-scorer. The purchase of Croydon Athletic from these stars showed their dedication to supporting the local grassroots football scene.
For many football fans, owning their local football club would rank amongst their biggest dreams and aspirations. That's why video games such as Football Manager are so popular. People can take on the role of managing a football team through a realistic virtual experience. Alternatively, fans can immerse themselves in other football-related titles such as Top Eleven or Big Football Bonus, which can be played with an online slots bonus and casino welcome offer.
For these stars, that dream became reality when they took ownership of their local club in 2023. Three years on, let's take a look at how AFC Croydon Athletic have been performing under the new ownership, and what tactics they have adopted under current manager Danny Kedwell.
How Have the Team Performed?
The Team currently play in the Isthmian League South East Division, which mainly consists of semi-professional football clubs. In the 2023-24 season, the year of the new ownership, they won the Premier Division South play-offs.
They most recently had their greatest run in the FA Cup, where they made it to the Second qualifying round during the 2025-26 season. The season before this, they achieved their greatest-ever FA Trophy performance, reaching the second qualifying round in the 2024-25 season.
As of April 2025, the team is currently second in the division, in a prime position to be in the play-offs for promotion to the Isthmian League Premier Division.
It seems that some of the team's greatest achievements have come following the ownership of Stormzy, Zaha and Young, showcasing how investment in local football clubs can generate success, not only for the team but for the community as well.
Investment in the club creates job opportunities for people from Croydon, and sponsorships with brands such as Wingstop have allowed for upgraded facilities and better training equipment.
Manager Analysis
Manager Danny Kedwell is a former professional footballer who currently has an over 55 win percentage with AFC Croydon Athletic. According to training videos, the teams focus on high-tempo football, with intense preparation before matches.
Players have been quoted as saying that they want to ‘impose their personalities’ on the pitch to take control of games and generate results.
