The club is delighted to confirm that football prodigy Andy Gribben from Martin County High School and W&H America in Florida has committed to play for Walton & Hersham FC from 2026 onward.

In an unprecedented move for the soccer scene on Florida’s Treasure Coast, W&H America and Martin County High School football player Andy Gribben has committed to playing for Walton & Hersham FC in England upon turning 18.

Andy is no stranger to Walton-on-Thames, having flown over to trial with the W&H U18 side last July, aged just 15. Following an impressive trial, an offer was made to Andy to move to England as a student and join the club upon turning 18, with his decision to commit to the club coming on February 25th.

The connection between Walton & Hersham FC in England and the Treasure Coast soccer scene has been forged in the last nine months through the tireless work of Florida-native Christopher Corey, a co-owner and board member at Walton & Hersham. The work to link together the Walton-on-Thames and Florida scenes has culminated in the creation of W&H America, a youth soccer club based in Palm City FL, as well as the formation of the soon-to-launch Florida-based Walton & Hersham Football Academy.

Andy has featured as a standout player for W&H America in recent months, displaying a technical understanding of the game and maturity beyond his years. Joining Walton & Hersham FC at 18 will represent a significant milestone in Andy’s promising football career, and will crucially give him the opportunity to work his way up the vaunted English pyramid pathway – a pathway that simply does not exist in American soccer. Known as a box-to-box midfielder, Andy has consistently produced promising performances that bode well for stepping up to a much higher level of football, earning accolades and admiration from coaches in the US and England alike.

Walton & Hersham FC Head Coach Billy Rowley was exceptionally complimentary of Andy Gribben’s playing style from the first trial session. “Andy has a fluid playing style that is pleasing on the eye, and we are confident that he can grow into a magnificent player for us here in England if he continues to develop at his current rate. We are a possession-based team, and it is clear that he receives and distributes the ball well with both feet.”

W&H America President, Richard Creber, was similarly complimentary of Andy, drawing attention to his dedication and hard work. “It’s not every day that you come across a player with Andy Gribben’s level of talent and commitment. We are immensely proud of his achievements and look forward to his continued development here in the States, until he is able to continue his journey in England upon turning 18.”

Andy expressed his excitement about the upcoming journey, stating, “There is still a bit of shock. The
opportunity to take a big step toward playing for Walton & Hersham someday is beyond exciting. In this
moment, I am just so grateful to my family, friends, teammates, and coaches who have helped me grow as a player and person. On the soccer side, I am eager to continue learning and developing for my ultimate goal of becoming a standout First Team player in England.

The move to Walton & Hersham FC not only signifies a remarkable achievement for Andy but also highlights the growing recognition of American talent on the global soccer stage. The young star will continue to train and develop his skills at W&H America, before officially joining Walton & Hersham FC upon reaching the age of 18.

We are delighted to have secured Andy’s commitment to the club and look forward to welcoming him over again in the near future for his next visit.