AT the recent annual general meeting of Old Dorkinian FC it was unanimously agreed to retitle the club Dorkinians FC.

The change indicates the huge strides the club has made since the introduction of 10 junior sides as it grows from strength to strength in its 80 years existence.

The club dates back to 1897 when former pupils of the Dorking High School for Boys asked Dorking Town if they could play as their reserve squad in the Redhill & District League. In their first season, they won the championship and eventually became the nucleus of Dorking's first XI, which put the town on the football map by winning the Surrey Junior Cup in 1902.

As more and more former pupils of the school wanted to play, the Old Dorkinian Association was formed in 1909 and sponsored an inaugural challenge match between the town club and other Old Dorkinians in the area.

The continued expansion of the Old Boy's League, which was founded in 1907, and the Secondary School Old Boy's League, founded in 1919, encouraged a group of OD's to apply for membership of the Old Boy's League which was officially approved in 1930.

The OD's prospered in the league with the continued support of Dorking County School.

However, the advent of comprehensive education in 1976 led to many former Old Boy's clubs finding relations with their successor schools becoming increasingly tenuous, which forced them to consider becoming open to all.

This new impetus encouraged OD's to establish a youth section which has now developed into 10 teams between the ages of U8 to U16s, playing as Dorkinians in the Horsham & District League. In order to unite with the senior teams, the club believed the way forward was for all sides to the ditch the Old and play under the same name.

With their continued expansion, the club welcomes new players of all ages, including those at senior level. Any senior players interested in joining the club should contact club secretary James Whitmarsh on 07912466120, and juniors should contact James Bray on 01306740616.

Training for the senior players is held at Westhumble Playing Fields on Thursday evenings.