On paper, AFC Croydon Athletic’s game at Camberley Town in the Combined Counties League on 9 April seemed a pretty unremarkable affair.
So unremarkable, in fact, only 43 paying spectators bothered turning up to watch the midweek match in English football’s ninth tier.
Yet among those inside Krooner Park that night was Wilfried Zaha, who has become accustomed to playing in front of crowds of 50,000 since joining Turkish giants Galatasaray.
As co-owner of non-league AFC Croydon Athletic, former Crystal Palace star Zaha takes his responsibilities seriously.
“Wilf had a few days off so decided to fly over and watch us at Camberley,” Rams manager Jermaine McGlashan says.
“He came into the changing room to wish us well before the game and it was great for the boys to see him.”
Zaha’s presence inspired the team nicknamed the Rams to a 5-1 win.
When they defeated Knaphill in the play-off final in May to win promotion to the Isthmian League South East Division, music superstar Stormzy was in the dressing room celebrating with players and staff.
Rapper Stormzy – real name Michael Omari – has won three Brit awards, headlined Glastonbury, persuaded Usain Bolt and Jose Mourinho to star in a music video and is close friends with Zaha, in part because of their connections with Croydon.
In June 2023, it was announced they had bought their “childhood hometown football club” along with Danny Young, former head of player care at nearby Crystal Palace.
“Wilf and Stormzy don’t just stand on the sidelines and watch,” Brandon Pierrick, AFC Croydon Athletic’s captain, adds. “They come into the dressing room and are part of the squad and the camaraderie.”
On Saturday, the Rams beat Guildford City in the extra preliminary round of the FA Cup.
“We have a target on our back because of our high-profile owners,” says McGlashan who, like Zaha and Stormzy, grew up in Croydon.