Metropolitan Police Football Club is a football club based in East Molesey, Surrey, England. Originally made up of players from the Metropolitan Police, the rule requiring players to be employees of the service was removed when the Commissioner refused to sanction time off for playing. However, the club is still part-funded by a police staff lottery. They are currently members of the and play at Imber Court, the base of the Met Police Sports and Social Club.
The club was established in 1919 as a team for officers and civilian staff of the Metropolitan Police. After playing friendlies for nine years and winning the Middlesex Senior Cup in 1927âÂÂ28, they joined Division One East of the Spartan League in 1928, with the reserves joining Division Two East. Both teams won their division in their first season in the league. The reserves then left the league, with the first team placed in the Premier Division amidst league reorganisation, going on to win the title in the 1929âÂÂ30 season. In 1931âÂÂ32 they reached the first round of the FA Cup but lost 9âÂÂ0 at Northampton Town. The following season saw them win the Surrey Senior Cup, beating Dulwich Hamlet 2âÂÂ1 in the final. The club were FA Amateur Cup semi-finalists in 1933âÂÂ34, losing 2âÂÂ0 to Dulwich Hamlet. The following season saw them finish as runners-up in the Premier Division.
Metropolitan Police were Spartan League champions again in 1936âÂÂ37 and 1938âÂÂ39. When the league restarted after World War II, they were placed in the Central Division for the 1945âÂÂ46 season, winning the title without losing a match. Placed in the Premier Division the following season, the club won the league title in 1946âÂÂ47 and were runners-up in 1947âÂÂ48. They won back-to-back titles in 1953âÂÂ54 and 1954âÂÂ55. In 1960 the club transferred to the Metropolitan League, finishing bottom of the league in 1961âÂÂ62. They won the League Cup in 1968âÂÂ69, and when the league folded in 1971, they transferred to Division One South of the Southern League, where they remained until moving to Division Two of the Isthmian League in 1977. They were Division Two runners-up in 1977âÂÂ78, earning promotion to Division One. In 1984âÂÂ85 the club reached the first round of the FA Cup, losing 3âÂÂ0 at home to Dartford.
At the end of the 1984âÂÂ85 season Metropolitan Police were relegated to Division Two South. Although they were promoted back to Division One after finishing as runners-up in the division in 1987âÂÂ88, the club were relegated to Division Two at the end of the 1990âÂÂ91 season. Another FA Cup first round appearance in 1993âÂÂ94 ended in a 2âÂÂ0 defeat at home to Crawley Town. Amidst league reorganisation, the club were moved into Division One South in 2002, before being placed in Division One in 2004. A fifth-placed finish in 2004âÂÂ05 saw them qualify for the promotion play-offs, but they lost 4âÂÂ3 on penalties to Bromley in the semi-finals after a 1âÂÂ1 draw. The club finished fourth in the division the following season, but lost in the play-off semi-finals again, defeated 1âÂÂ0 by Dover Athletic.
More league reorganisation saw Metropolitan Police placed in Division One South in 2006. They finished fourth in 2007âÂÂ08, losing 2âÂÂ0 to Cray Wanderers in the play-off semi-finals. Another fourth-placed finish in 2008âÂÂ09 was followed by a 1âÂÂ0 win against Fleet Town in the play-off semi-finals before a 1âÂÂ0 loss to Cray Wanderers in the final. They won the London Senior Cup in 2009âÂÂ10, beating AFC Wimbledon in the final on penalties. In 2010âÂÂ11 the club won Division One South, earning promotion to the Premier Division. A fourth FA Cup first round appearance in 2012âÂÂ13 saw the club drawn at home to Crawley Town again, this time losing 2âÂÂ1. In 2014âÂÂ15 they finished fifth, going on to lose 2âÂÂ1 to Hendon in the play-off semi-finals. The club also won the Surrey Senior Cup, beating Merstham 2âÂÂ0 in the final.
At the end of the 2017âÂÂ18 season Metropolitan Police were transferred to the Premier South division of the Southern League as part of the restructuring of the non-League pyramid. The following season saw them reach the first round of the FA Cup again, losing 2âÂÂ0 to Newport County. They also won the Surrey Senior Cup, and finished third in the Premier Division South. In the play-offs they defeated Salisbury 3âÂÂ2 in the semi-finals, and went on to win the final against Poole Town 1âÂÂ0, qualifying for the super play-off final against Tonbridge Angels, which they lost 3âÂÂ2 after extra time. Despite finishing eighth in the Premier Division South in 2022âÂÂ23, the club were voluntarily relegated to the South Central Division of the Isthmian League.
The club have played at Imber Court since their establishment. The site was purchased by the Metropolitan Police Service in 1919, with a clubhouse opened in 1920. A grandstand was opened in 1923 and doubled in size to accommodate 672 spectators in 1934. Floodlights were erected in 1971 and the ground was enclosed in 1973. Terracing was installed on three sides of the pitch in 1984, with a cover added to the Mounted Branch End in 1988. In 1994 the original stand was demolished and replaced with a 300-seat stand, which was opened with a commemorative match against the Army.
When playing at home, the players come out to the tune of "I Fought the Law" by The Clash.