Many fans make long journeys up and down the country following their teams or on a ground hopping adventure to tick off another football stadium, well, one such football fan made a 1,000 mile + trek from the outreaches of the Arctic Circle in Scandinavia Via Stockholm to watch Dial Square FC who play in Chertsey, Surrey at Step 8 of Non- League on a Tuesday night!
The fans name is Harald Kristiansen and he has been following Dial Square FC for about 3 years and is part of their Scandinavian fan club.
This was Harald's first ever time watching the club and he was rewarded with a 4-1 home win over Ripley Village in the Surrey County Intermediate League Premier Division match, in fact he enjoyed it so much he has decided to stay on for their Cup match this coming Saturday!
Dial Square FC which is a fan owned football club were only formed just over 4 years ago by a group of Arsenal fans who had became disenchanted with elite football and the club they still love. ridiculous tickets prices, corporates taking president over real fans, ridiculous kick off times with games switched to suit the TV companies and a complete disconnect with the club and players.
The name Dial Square goes back to 1886 when a group of workers from the Woolwich Arsenal Armament Factory decided to form a football team.
They called themselves Dial Square as a reference to the sundial atop the entrance to the factory.
On December 11, 1886, Dial Square romped to a 6-0 victory over Eastern Wanderers, the first game in their initial guise and shortly afterwards the name ‘Royal Arsenal’ was adopted.
The current Dial Square FC was reborn on 7th January 2020, after a failed attempt to start life in the Combined Counties Football League One after it was vetoed by the League they began life in the Guilford and Woking Alliance League which is at Step 10 with home games played at Abbey Rangers in Addlestone, Surrey and adopted a burgundy coloured strip inline with the original Dial Square.
Unfortunately in their inaugural season Covid hit which meant the League was suspended and was eventually registered as null and void.
The following first full season in 21/22 saw Dial Square promoted as runners up and they also signed ex Gunner and European Cup Winners Cup winner for Arsenal, Ian Selley who made his debut for them aged of 47!
Dial Square then announced they would be moving home to Chertsey Town FC for the 22/23 season at Step 9 in the Surrey County Intermediate League (West) Division One.
Dial Square then went on to secure a second consecutive promotion in 22/23! and moved up to Step 8 in the Premier Division in the Surrey County intermediate Football League and without tempting fate it looks like a 3rd successive promotion could be well on the cards as they find themselves 7 points clear at the top with a game in hand with 10 games to play.
We've had the pleasure to talk to some of the people behind the club on one of our podcasts last year and we'll definitely be paying a visit to one of their games just like Harald has albeit a much shorter journey!
Harald is also an Arsenal fan but has the same views as the club on what the game has become but the people at Dial Square make it clear that you don't have to have an affinity with The Arsenal and that everyone is welcome and they do get fans from clubs like Chelsea and QPR to name a few who go to their games.
Dial Squares vision and core values are
To source a permanent home ground and develop Dial Square F.C. into a fan-owned National League club, ensuring that football is accessible and enjoyed by all.
To grow the fan-ownership in the club.
To deliver a commercially viable operating model.
To provide an opportunity for supporters to be an integral part of the club.
To nurture and provide a pathway for footballing talent.
To embrace difference across the footballing spectrum.
To ensure fans have a true voice
We sincerely wish Dial Square FC all the best for this season and beyond, because what they stand for completely resonates with what we are all about at Proper Football.
And finally we wish a safe journey back to the Scandinavian Arctic Circle for Harald a football fan who supports a club that 100% appreciates him!
Make sure to follow Dial Square on all their socials and their website which is https://www.dialsquarefc.com/