[Published in the Surrey Advertiser newspaper, 29 December 2023]

The name Dial Square was enshrined in history when the Premier League giants, now known simply as Arsenal changed their name from Dial Square FC to Royal Arsenal on Christmas Day 1886, just two weeks after the club's first match.

Fast forward to 2020, and Surrey’s own Dial Square Football Club has been writing history of its own and is vying for the same success as their north London counterparts – to win the league.

Despite playing 12 levels below their footballing elite, Chertsey-based Dial Square are gunning for their third consecutive promotion. And while there is no legal tie between Arsenal and the reborn Dial Square, the nostalgic name and sentiment is once again being celebrated by hundreds of die-hard Arsenal fans who want to see the non-League side progress up the football pyramid.

After being appointed first team manager on December 28 last year, Steve Brown is tasked with that job. A year on, he already has an inkling of the pressure that Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is under to win silverware following Dial Square’s great start to their 2023/24 campaign. However, the former Frimley Green boss has already recruited well and hit the ground running.

As 2023 draws to a close, Dial top the Surrey County Intermediate League (Western) Premier Division table. They have also progressed to the quarter-finals of the Surrey County Intermediate Cup and the Premier Challenge (League) Cup. Moreover, they have scored an impressive 65 goals in just 14 competitive games.

Brown said: “When I joined Dial Square last year, the intention was always to get promoted from step 9, which we did, and then again from step 8 this season.

“The club is ambitious, which was part of the attraction, so the aim this season was to assemble a squad that could get Dial promoted and compete at the next level.

“I felt we needed a different type of player this season, so we only retained a handful of players from last season.

“We haven’t changed our approach; we still like to get the ball down and play exciting football, which is why we tend to perform better against clubs a couple of levels above us. However, sometimes it’s just about grinding out a result.

With just one defeat in 14 matches, Brown has been impressed by the togetherness of his squad, noting the welcome absence of any egos, coupled with players’ ability to take on instructions and what’s required of them.

“If you have a good squad of players that listen and you have good facilities and people around you, you’re well placed to succeed,” explained Brown.

“The plan was always to recruit a young crop of players who were eager to go on a journey and grow with the club. As it stands, three quarters of the squad are under 24, which is testament to their contribution but also their willingness to learn from the experienced players.

“In addition, the support that we’ve received from fans and the club’s management committee has been superb.

"We probably have more resources available than any other club I know at our level and maybe even one or two levels above. And when you factor in growing attendances and the heightened visibility of the club, it creates a buzz that others want to be part of, so roll on 2024."

Dial’s next league fixture is against Laleham & Kempton at Alwyns Lane at 2pm on January 6.

To find out more about the exploits of Dial Square, go to www.dialsquarefc.com

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