Marc White is a magnetic figure in the world of football, and his reputation for outspoken, often viral rants on social media only adds to his larger‑than‑life persona. Yet his true claim to fame lies in the remarkable story he wrote for Dorking Wanderers, a club he and a handful of friends founded in 1999.
Twenty‑seven years later, White remains the heart of the operation – serving as chairman, manager and public face of the side. After a recent FA Cup second‑qualifying‑round triumph over Southall FC, White took to the club’s X account to thank supporters, reminding fans that the team’s journey began in the Crawley & District Division 5 (Step 17). That modest starting point underscores a meteoric rise that has cost millions of pounds and produced twelve promotions in just over two decades.
In the 2022/23 season Dorking Wanderers achieved their highest ever league finish, ending 16th in the National League – the closest they have ever come to the English Football League, which remains the ultimate objective. Although the club has since slipped back into the National League South, a fresh wave of investment promises to accelerate the push for promotion. American entrepreneur Frank Villares first entered the Dorking picture in 2024 through the "Rise With Us" share‑sale, which invited fans to buy tiny stakes in the club.
The campaign set a target of £180,013 but ultimately raised £333,180 from 746 investors. Over the summer Villares and his wife Debra Tucker were announced as co‑owners and growth investors.
White told Sky Sports, "Frank and Debra are huge English‑football fans and there’s a massive appetite for the English pyramid in the US – it’s something money can’t simply buy." White explained how the couple came to Dorking after exploring several other clubs. "They’d visited four or five clubs and a deal fell through at the last minute, so I reminded them, ‘Don’t forget, there’s always Dorking Wanderers!’ It felt like a setback turned into a positive turning point. Then they said, ‘We already love Dorking, why are we even looking elsewhere?’" Both investors are in their early forties and, according to White, are now looking for a project that offers both enjoyment and the chance to win.
"Frank even has a picture of the team at Wembley on his vision board," White laughed. "They trust us to run the club, but they also want to be involved.
This is just the beginning." Beyond the Villares‑Tucker duo, a consortium led by former professional ice‑hockey player James Sixsmith also took a shareholding this summer. White praised the new partners, saying, "We want to surround the club with people who want to succeed and win. James shares that mindset, and so do Daryl Cumberland and the rest of the group.
As we climb the divisions, their involvement will only grow." White outlined a bold, long‑term vision: "If we inject another X million, we could reach the Championship, build a stadium, and create a sustainable model. We have big‑picture players who will help not just financially but also with decision‑making and the right growth mindset. The legacy of Dorking Wanderers is to keep progressing – the underdog story of rising from nowhere to somewhere must continue." He acknowledged that the recent investment eases some pressures, but warned that football is an expensive business both on and off the pitch.
"We’re not set for life – not even in a million years – but we can now add resources, especially off‑field. Those off‑field improvements can generate revenue that we can reinvest in the squad. It creates a virtuous cycle: win more games, attract more fans, achieve promotion, and so on." White also highlighted the club’s digital footprint.
The YouTube channel "Bunch of Amateurs," which follows the day‑to‑day life at Dorking, has amassed over 200,000 subscribers and a global audience. "We logged half a billion unique views last year – ten times the average Premier League club. Imagine what that could become with further promotions," he said.
He recounted a recent encounter in Costa Rica where two American fans wearing Dorking shirts recognized him immediately, underscoring the club’s unexpected worldwide reach. Throughout the interview White repeatedly referenced "V2" – the next version of the club. "V1 took us from park fields to where we are today. Everything now is setting up a V2.
We’re better equipped than ever," he explained. The immediate goal is another promotion within the next year or two, followed by a push for a double promotion that would finally see Dorking Wanderers enter the Football League. White admits he does not yet hold the coaching badges required for EFL management, but he is confident the club will address that hurdle.
"We’ll take care of that – the dream is to be there. I’d love it," he said.
The ambition, however, stretches far beyond the English leagues. "We want to be the world’s local club," White declared. He believes Dorking has pioneered relatable, community‑focused content that resonates globally, allowing fans from Mississippi to feel a connection to a small English town.
"Frank tells me he’s stopped countless times in the US and people say, ‘I love Dorking!’ That’s the kind of global reach we want to keep building, and winning will be a big part of that." At present Dorking sit eighth in the National League South, three points shy of leaders Maidstone United, with a crucial away match against Dover Athletic looming. "Standard stuff – stressful, injuries, the usual modern‑football challenges," White said as he packed his bag for a podcast recording. "Dorking are always in the mix, and we’ll be there again." There is little room for nostalgia; the focus remains on the next challenge and the long‑term dream of turning Dorking Wanderers into a club that feels local to anyone, anywhere, while climbing the football pyramid.