Timeline

Croydon Korfball Club and British korfball in key dates. For the full narrative and league tables, see History.

  • 1902
    Korfball invented

    Dutch school teacher Nico Broekhusen creates korfball so boys and girls could play together on equal terms. The sport spreads from the Netherlands.

  • 1933
    International Korfball Federation

    The IKF is founded, helping the sport grow across the globe.

  • 1946
    Croydon Korfball Club founded

    After a visit to Holland, C. H. "Wally" Walbancke, with Albert Milhado and John Rae, found the club at a Croydon youth club. Croydon and Wandsworth were the first UK clubs able to field teams.

  • 1948
    London League formed

    Six teams (two each from Wandsworth, Croydon and Mitcham) contest the first London league; Wandsworth win the first two seasons.

  • 1954–55
    Croydon’s first league title

    The club wins the London League for the first time. A triumphal sonnet is written to celebrate the victory.

  • 1957–58
    BKA Cup introduced

    The BKA Cup is launched; Croydon lose to eventual winners Mitcham in the semi-final. A long Croydon–Mitcham rivalry is under way.

  • 1961
    8-a-side "micro korfball"

    The modern 8-a-side, 2-zone game is first played in the UK (replacing 12-a-side, 3-zone). Micro korfball leagues take off in the early 1970s.

  • 1975
    Kent league

    Kent becomes the second area to run its own league, as the sport spreads beyond London.

  • 1977
    First indoor league

    Indoor league starts alongside the outdoor league, with outdoor play suspended in the worst winter months.

  • 1980s
    Junior programme expanded

    The club grows its youth offering. University korfball also takes off, with the British Student Korfball Association formed in 1990.

  • 1985
    Korfball at the World Games

    The sport is included in the World Games multi-sport programme.

  • 1987
    BKA National League

    National League begins from the top two divisions of the London league plus Kwiek, Kingfisher and Guildford.

  • 1989–94
    Regional associations

    Norfolk (1989), Central England (1990), British Student (1990), South West (1993, joined BKA 1994). Korfball established across England.

  • 1995–96
    League and Cup double — Golden Jubilee

    Croydon win both the National League and the BKA Cup in the club’s 50th anniversary season.

  • 2000s
    League success

    Croydon win the BKA Cup in 2000–01. The decade sees strong competition from Invicta, Mitcham and Trojans in league and cup.

  • 2015
    Juniors programme into overdrive

    A major push on junior korfball: more age groups, training and competition. The club becomes a leading centre for youth korfball in London and the South East.

  • 2024
    Juniors success drives club forward

    Years of hard work on Juniors pays off with dozens of our youngsters graduating and pushing through the ranks, propelling the club to league success.

  • 2026
    80th Birthday Celebration

    The club marks 80 years since its founding in 1946 — still the oldest korfball club in the UK.

Timeline drawn from CKC archives and BKA history. For full league and cup results see History.