1965-66 was to mark a real low point in the Club’s history, as the 1^st XI were relegated to Division 3 for the very first time. After harbouring hopes of getting back to their "rightful place" amongst the SAL elite in Division 1, it was a bitterly disappointing outcome. The season had started brightly enough running Epsom close (2-1) in the Surrey Senior Cup. Even their customary appearance in the AFA Surrey Senior Cup Final did little to lift the gloom. Wins against Economicals 6-2, Old Salesians 3-3 & 1-0, Merton 0-0 & 2-1 and SAL Div 1 runners up West Wickham 3-2 were enough to see them into the final at Bank of England Sports Ground against Borough Polytechnic where they drew 2-2 after extra time. In the replay at Civil Service Sports Ground they lost 2-1 with an unfamiliar line-up due to illness.

The "A"s were the most successful side in the Club, finishing 3^rd in Division 1. By February they had only lost once and still had an interest in the AFA Minor Cup. However, being knocked out by eventual winners Leicester University coincided with a dip in league results.

For the first time, an Old Sweats match was arranged on Old Sweats Day. The teams on 2^nd October 1965 were:

Old Sweats: Cliff Dudley, Frank Sutherland, Tony Huc, Dave Simpson, Len Williams, Frank Shepherd, Jack Steward, George Ireland, Horry Walter, Francis Mattos, Bill Gatherer

New Sweats: Stan Brown, Brian Burchett, Bert Castle, Bill Collins, R Daniels, George Mattos, Brian O’Donohoe, Dennis Philpott, Ron Shoebridge, Peter Tudball, Clem Vertue, Les Wellman

In 1965, former Club Hon. Secretary and President Shelton Cox was elected President of the Amateur Football Alliance – the highest office in Amateur Football. This was recognition for the sterling work he had done in promoting the Amateur ideals throughout his life – which can be traced back through his early editorials in The Club News in the late 1920s.