After 29 years and 761 games in charge (Senior Sat’s only) First Team manager Darren Salmon today officially stepped down (or up depending how you view it) from the role to become club GM and concentrate on other aspects of running the club, most notably future club development and forming a new infrastructure around our youth set up.
Having taken over managing the team when we just a struggling Mitcham & District Sunday side, Darren has overseen the giant strides we have made to reach Step 4 of the non league pyramid.
Initially in 2004 he took us into the Surrey South East Combination before a move to the Middlesex County League. From here we moved to the Combined Counties Division 1, and eventually promotion to the Premier Division. A rare blip in 2011/12 saw the club relegated back to Division 1, but the bounce back was instant as Darren (alongside brother Justin) led the side to runner up spot in Division 1 and promotion.
A couple of seasons of struggle followed before huge progress and a move to Sutton. From 12th in 2016/17; to 3rd and 2nd in successive seasons, ultimately ending in promotion to the Isthmian League for the 2021/22 season where the club has remained ever since.
Darren also led the side to success in both the Combined Counties Cherry Red Records Premier Challenge Cup success in 2018/19 and Southern Combination Challenge Cup success in 2016/17.
After confirming he was stepping down, Darren had this to say “this has been a huge decision but I always felt I’d know when the time is right and right now I have so many balls to juggle something had to change. Additionally it feels right having a great team in waiting, who have really grown to understand the unique structure of our little club. Look forward to seeing everyone in pre-season and I wish the new management team every success they have my full support…”
We also tried to catch up with Darren’s long suffering other half Sharon Streets, but she was unavailable for comment, apparently on the search for mid-season holidays.