North London awaits as Dulwich travel to the Harry Abrahams Stadium to take on the twin threat of Wingate and Finchley.

Though the Blues in their current incarnation may be a young name in the Isthmian League, they have a proud history, tracing their roots back to the formation of Finchley Football Club back in 1874 making the club one of the oldest in the country. Founded by Pa Jackson, who also was instrumental in the creation of the Corinthians, The London Football Association as well as later serving as secretary of the FA, the club joined Division Two of the London League in 1902, and after finishing fourth in 1903/04, Finchley were promoted to Division One. League reorganisation saw them placed in Division One B for the 1909/10 season, after which they left the league. Finchley returned to Division One for the 1910/11 season, but left in 1912 to become founder members of the Athenian League.

In 1914, Finchley re-joined the London League, playing in the Amateur Division, but did not return after World War I until 1923/24, when they were placed in the Premier Division. In 1929, the club re-joined the Athenian League, but returned to the London League after a single season. Finchley were Premier Division champions in 1936/37, and returned to the Athenian League for the 1939/40 season, which was abandoned after the break out of World War II.

After the cessation of hostilities, the club re-joined the Athenian League. Finchley reached the first round of the FA Cup for the first time in 1946/47, losing 5-0 at Port Vale. In 1952/53 Finchley reached the first round again, where they defeated Kidderminster Harriers 1-0. In the second round they beat Crystal Palace 3-1 at home, before losing 2-0 at Shrewsbury Town in the third round. The following season they were Athenian League champions, and reached the first round of the FA Cup again, losing 3-1 at home to Southend United.

When the league added more divisions in 1963 Finchley were placed in the Premier Division, where they remained until being relegated to Division One at the end of the 1969/70 season. In 1973 they transferred to Division Two of the Isthmian League. In 1980/81 they finished bottom of a (renamed) Division One, and were relegated to Division Two. Finchley were placed in Division Two North after restructuring in 1984, and after finishing second in 1984/85, were promoted to Division One. However, they were relegated back to Division Two North after finishing bottom of Division One in 1986/87.

Unfortunately, financial problems had wracked the old club for some time and in 1991 Finchley took the decision to merge with Wingate in order to preserve the club.

Wingate Football Club had formed in the aftermath of World War II by Maurice Rebak, Harry Sadow, Frank Davis, George Hyams and Asher Rebak, who aimed to create a Jewish club with the aim of fighting anti-Semitism. It was named in honour of Orde Wingate, who had been involved in training the Haganah, the precursor to the Israeli Defence Forces. Wingate began life playing in the Middlesex Senior League, before, in 1952 joining the Premier Division of the London League, where they remained for ten years until moving to the Delphian League in 1962.

Wingate’s first season in their new league saw the league programme abandoned due to the big freeze of 1963, the most severe winter of the 20th Century with little sporting activity from late December until the thaw began in early March. Even the sea froze for a mile out at Herne Bay! An emergency competition was hurried arranged, with Wingate finishing seventh out of eight clubs. At the end of the season, the league merged with and became Division Two of the Athenian League. During their time in the Athenian League Wingate, as the preeminent Jewish Football Club in the country had the honour of representing Great Britain in the Maccabiah Games, a multi sports event often referred to as the “Jewish Olympics”.

In 1972, Wingate found themselves homeless as their Hall Lane ground was demolished to make way for an extension of the M1 motorway, becoming tenants of Finchley at Summers Lane.

Three years later the club merged with Leyton FC to form Leyton-Wingate, moving to play at the formers’ stadium behind the Hare and Hounds pub on Lea Bridge Road in east London. The partnership lasted less than a decade before a parting of the ways, a wise decision given Leyton later problems and eventual collapse into oblivion.

Whilst Leyton-Wingate kept the name a “new” Wingate was established in the 80’s taking their place in Division One of the Herts County League. They won the division at the first attempt, and were promoted to the Premier Division. In 1989 they joined Division One of the South Midlands League, and after finishing second in their first season, were promoted to the Premier Division. After one season in the Premier Division they merged with Finchley to form Wingate & Finchley. The new club took Wingate's place in the South Midlands League, with Finchley's Summers Lane their home now renamed the Harry Abrahams Stadium in honour of a long-term Wingate supporter.

By 2003 the club had gained a place in the Isthmian League Division One North and with their financial worries behind began to rebuild once more, always threatening but not quite achieving until 2009-10 when they qualified for the playoffs only to lose 3-2 to Enfield Town in dingdong semi-final. This was but the precursor for a remarkable season of success, unprecedented in living memory, as the Blues captured a remarkable treble and all in the space of a few days. At the end of March they found themselves in the Isthmian League Cup final facing Dulwich Hamlet. Withstanding an early Hamlet onslaught, the Blues held their nerve and broke Hamlet hearts just before the interval as Leon Smith’s pace unlocked the defence before an unselfish pass set up David Laird for a simple opener. Ahmet Rifat’s second half goal secured the trophy, though the fact the man of the match award went to Blues ‘keeper Gavin King, playing with a broken hand, did much to point to the chances the Hamlet had.

More was to follow as Hendon were convincingly beaten 3-1 in the London Senior Cup final before the playoffs beckoned after consistency in the league saw the club match their previous 3rd place league finish and earn a second shot at the playoffs. In the semi-final Harlow Town were beaten 4-2 after extra time, and promotion to the Premier Division was won thanks to last gasp goal, two minutes from the end of extra time, as Brentwood Town were beaten 3-2.

A steady first season in the echelons of the League belied the turmoil that was to follow in 2012/13 campaign, A slow start to the season led to the departure of manager David Norman in November, his replacement former Northwood supremo Gary Meakin. Flirting with relegation all season, the Blues survived by the skin of their teeth as a critical 3-2 wing over promotion chasing Lowestoft Town on the last Thursday of the season secured survival. However it was not enough to secure the future of Meakin who departed in the summer with Norman returning.

Though the current season got off to a flying start with a 4-0 demolition of Carshalton Athletic, things soon took a turn for the worse, six games without a win and just three points garner before a 2-1 victory away to struggling Thamesmead Town steadied the ship if only for an instant. The next three league games all ended in defeat whilst the FA Cup dream lasted only until a replay as they lost out 4-3 away to Biggleswade Town.

October provided much relief, the Blues winning both league games away to Harrow and at home to Bognor Regis, in a bizarre game of two own goals and a red card for the visitors. Progression was achieved in both the Middlesex Senior Cup and the FA Trophy, Hampton & Richmond and Hitchin Town the respective victims. The only blot on the month came Robert Dyas Cup where the Blues exited at the hands of Witham Town, albeit only in the lottery of a penalty shootout.

Unfortunately the club’s progress in the FA Trophy came to end at the start of November, beaten away to Daventry Town in a replay but back-to-back league wins over East Thurrock (4-3 at home) and Enfield Town (3-0 away) helped lift the club into a position of security as they put a bit of daylight between themselves and the basement boys. However, of late, a run of one point from nine has reawakened fears a 1-1 draw with Cray Wanderers followed by on the road defeats at Margate and title challengers AFC Hornchurch.

This afternoon’s game kicks off at 3.00 pm at The Harry Abrahams Stadium, Summers Lane, Finchley
London, N12 0PD

Full directions to the ground can be found here

ADMISSION PRICES

• Adults - £10
• Concessions (OAP, student, unemployed) - £5
• U16 - £3
• U12 - FREE

Supporting ID required for concessions or full price admission will be charged

Correct change would be appreciated in order to speed admission. Many thanks!

Programmes £2.00