Wingate and Finchley

Wingate and Finchley FC is a non-league football club based in the north London borough of Finchley that were formed in 1991 by an amalgamation of Finchley FC, who were formed in 1874 as one of the oldest clubs in London, and Wingate FC  who were formed in 1948.  

Finchley had enjoyed a proud history until it harder times towards the end of their single entity existence. After becoming founder members of the Athenian League in 1912 they were crowned champions in 1953-54 as well as finishing runners-up on a couple of occasions.

The club moved to the new Division Two of the Isthmian League in 1973-74 and enjoyed a promotion but also suffered a relegation before the merger came about. 

Wingate FC were named after Orde Wingate and were a Jewish club. Their original home ground was demolished in 1970 for the M1 motorway to be built. It had been used by England for training during the 1966 World Cup. Wingate moved to East London to become Leyton Wingate FC from 1975 to 1991.

In 1991 the club merged with Finchley FC and moved into their Summers Lane home, which was later re-christened the Harry Abrahams Stadium after a lifelong Wingate patron. After finishing runners up in the South Midlands League of 1994-95, the club were promoted to the Isthmian League.

In 1999 The Blues were promoted from Division Three, but went straight back down. Following league re-organisation the club were promoted to Division One North in 2002-03. Owing to a restructuring of non league football, Wingate & Finchley were moved to the Southern League Eastern Division in 2004. 

However, they returned back to the Isthmian League for the 2006-07 campaign.

In 2009-10 the team lost out in the play offs to Enfield Town, but that was put right the following season as Harlow Town and then Brentwood Town were defeated to seal promotion. A fine campaign was concluded with triumphs in the London Senior Cup and Isthmian League Cup under the stewardship of manager David Norman.

Norman introduced several youth players into the first team before his departure early in the 2012-13 season. Gary Meakin arrived from Northwood to take over, with Wingate surviving relegation on the final day of the season.

The club escaped relegation the following season. They were saved by the resignation of Worksop Town from the Northern Premier League. Wingate & Finchley were reprieved by virtue of having the best record of all the relegated sides in the pyramid at step three.

Norman returned as Director of Football with Daniel Neilsen being appointed as Head Coach. The youth team began to gain results, with the stream continuing of players progressing to the first team. 

At the end of the 2014-15 campaign Norman departed once again. He was replaced in his role by Simon Lane who lasted until January 2016 to be replaced by former Northern Ireland international Keith Rowland.

Rowland took the side to the play-offs in 2016-17 where Bognor Regis Town proved too strong in the semi-final and then seventh place the following season before his departure in October 2018 with Nicky Shorey and Glen Little taking his place. Little was soon left in sole charge before being replaced before the end of the 2018-19 campaign by Steve Clark.

The team narrowly avoided relegation that season before Spencer Knight arrived as manager in September 2019 to settle the ship. Another relegation battle was averted as the season ended early owing to the outbreak of coronavirus.

Wingate & Finchley FC will compete in the Isthmian League Premier Division in the 2019-20 season.

My visits

My first call to Summers Lane came during my time as a student in Borehamwood in 1983, when the ground was occupied by Finchley FC. I had decided I'd learn far more from a day out visiting grounds than I would attempting to decipher impossible mathematical calculations in the classroom.

It was dark by the time I arrived but the floodlights were on as the team were training. I was most impressed by the art deco Main Stand which doubled on the other side as a stand for the adjoining rugby ground. There was a low cover at the other side of the pitch with hard flat standing making up the rest of the ground.

Wingate & Finchley 4 Newmarket Town 1 (Tuesday 19 September 2000) FA Cup First Qualifying Round Replay (att: approx 100)

I chose this game as I could get a bus to near the ground after work and a couple of beers at Lord's and a bus also took me back to Willesden afterwards. The stand was even more impressive as money had obviously been spent on the ground, with the pitch moved across nearer to it. 

The clubhouse underneath was extremely plush. Where the space had been made by the pitch moving, the club had installed some floodlit all weather pitches to bring in extra revenue. A small new Jack Fisk Stand had been erected to offer shelter to standing fans. 

A similar construction, The Ackerman Stand had been installed behind the far goal. Everything was neat and tidy. 'The Blues' produced a very polished display on the beautifully manicured turf to blow away 'The Jockeys' and move into the next round.

October 2007

I decided to add my photo collection when I was out and about on a wet autumn afternoon in 2007. The ground was open and it looked just as well as on my previous visit.

Wingate & Finchley 1 Enfield Town 2 (Tuesday 29^th December 2015) Isthmian League Premier Division (att: 405)

Having finished my spell of night shifts I was delighted to find an attractive fixture to round off my 2015 live football. To my amazement, I’d even talked my Middlesex supporting pal Jim Wilson into going with me, probably as he lived locally.

My journey involved a tube ride and three bus rides, including an interesting journey between Edgware and Mill Hill East. I could imagine it being even more so in daylight. It took just over an hour to reach The Joiners pub in Ballards Lane.

It proved to be a poor choice of watering holes, especially after the sheer magnificence of the St Albans pubs the previous day. A young lad behind the counter was more suited to a refreshment kiosk at the KC Stadium, such was his lacking in gorm. I was served an ‘off’ pint of Wainwright’s Bitter. 

When I went back to change it, he had to shout for his bosses; two lasses who were just about old enough to be served. Dirty glasses filled nearly every table, some of which had clearly been unoccupied for a while. My replacement pint of Rocking Rudolf was just about drinkable, at a push. I went onto Fosters when my pal arrived.

The 382, which went past the ground wasn’t due for 25 minutes when we left the pub, so we took the next service up Ballards Lane, and alighted at the Granville Road stop, before walking ten minutes to the ground.

We passed a remarkable sight of a bloke trying to watch through a hedge for free while listening to his radio on his headphones before we paid our £10 admission fee. The programmes were all gone on our arrival.

There was a very good crowd in attendance for the local derby, with the vast majority shouting for Enfield. We stood towards the entrance end down the side as the blood and thunder fast paced match progressed on an immaculate playing service.

After ten minutes Wingate’s Marc Weatherstone took umbrage to a foul from Stan Muguo. A full scale melee broke out. Referee Dave Bushell did very well to just show three yellow cards. Challenges continued to go in, but things gradually calmed down.

The game was scrappy, and ideally requiring someone to put their foot on the ball in the middle of the park. It was all too frenetic. On thirty seven minutes the home side took the lead as former Town forward Billy Healy fortuitously converted a cross to the delight of the small home posse behind the goal when the Enfield keeper Nathan McDonald punched the ball against his head and into the net.

Enfield spurned a glorious chance to equalise shortly after as Bobby Devyne robbed Wingate’s Weatherstone to tee up Tayshan Hayden-Smith, but he was crowded out by a mixture of home defenders and the goalkeeper Bobby Smith. The hard working Harry Ottaway had a glancing header saved by Smith before the half time whistle.

By then we had moved to the terrace the other side of the tunnel where I bumped into Andy the Town turnstile operator and some of his humorous pals. We beat a retreat to the bar before the crowd to enjoy some refreshment. While there was no real ale on tap, there were a selection of bottles.

After taking a snap of the programme cover we joined Andy and his mates for the second half. It was obvious that there was plenty of local pride at stake and Town’s players were determined to send their fans home happy.

Ottaway had a one on one opportunity blocked by Smith, and although the visitors piled on pressure, The Blues were dangerous on the counter attack. Substitute Corey Whitely played a part in the leveller just before the hour mark as he passed to Devyne who finished with aplomb across Smith into the far corner.

Wingate & Finchley had a couple of near misses and Healy went close once again. It was pretty decent fare all round. Ten minutes from time Devyne had a goal correctly chalked off for offside.

Just as the board went up to signify four minutes of stoppage time, a fine Enfield move saw Ottaway play in defender Claudiu Vilcu who fired home in front of the mass ranks of visiting supporters.

We had intended to jump on the bus back to Finchley Central, but once again the service wasn’t due for a while, so we returned to the clubhouse bar. It became apparent we’d made a better choice than watching Leicester City v Manchester City on TV judging by the post match analysis.

Jim had mentioned a pub called The Elephant further up Ballards Lane. It would have been rude not to give it a whirl. It was a decent Fuller’s place with fine Oliver’s Island ale. After a couple of pints it was time for home. I plumped for the less complicated route of the 460 bus to Willesden Green and then a tube home.

I’d ended 2015 with a decent game and night out. Would I manage to get Jim to another game?

Wingate & Finchley 1 Bowers & Pitsea 2 (Sunday 20^th September 2020) Isthmian League Premier Division (Att: 302)

This was what I would describe as a near perfect day off work. It was a beautiful morning as I tackled and completed lots of housework and tasks. Food shopping and a nice walk was rounded off with a nice late breakfast to set me up for the afternoon.

Tickets for the match had been purchased in advance for the discounted price of £10 to save a couple of quid which included a free programme. Once again Jim was to join me along with Steve’s; Barnes and Speller.

The latter got his good lady to provide a lift from Kingsbury across town to North Finchley where we alighted for some pre match refreshments in The Elephant. The lady on the door said that they were full under the current restrictions but chased after us after someone had departed.

The establishment was busy with most punters were watching the Tottenham game on TV. The Hophead was a fine form, as Gary, the best man of Mr Speller joined us, soon regaling us with some entertaining tales as Jim arrived.

Three of us set off for the game, with the two old chums threatening to join us later. We arrived just before kick-off to have our temperatures taken and names ticked off for track and trace.

Wingate & Finchley had been excellent in the build up to the game, with their online ticket sales. I had inadvertently ordered three tickets twice, but they soon refunded my money. The gent who sorted out the problem, Paul Lerman was on the gate.

There was a good crowd inside the Maurice Rebak Stadium. With the game being put back a day for Jewish New Year, which paid dividends and included a decent away following from Essex. We headed to the far side to meet up with regular attending mate Tony Foster passing plentiful bottles of hand sanitiser taped to the perimeter fencing.

It seemed to be an even opening on the immaculate playing surface but the game changed on twenty minutes when referee Jack Bloxham adjudged that the foul from J’Ardell Stirling was worthy of a second yellow card as he sent the defender off for an early use of the showers.

The resulting free kick was dispatched by Quentin Monville. The host keeper Myles Roberts would surely have been disappointed as the ball went in the corner. Despite being a man down the Blues got on top for the rest of the half.

They levelled up three minutes before the interval when Bilal Sayoud controlled at the back post before smashing home into the roof of the goal kept by Bowers goalie Callum Chafer. I saw the goal as Steve and I made my way back round to the main stand.

Another cricketing pal, Dave Roome had messaged me. He’s arrived with his two young lads. After making contact I got in the queue for the bar right on half time. The bottled Timmy Taylor’s Landlord refreshed at the interval, while I was slightly shocked at a pie being £3.50, but if there are blokes willing to pay it…

We had a spell in the majestic stand until the sun was a bit too much for the nippers. It is some way back from the pitch, so the youngsters enjoyed having a ride round on their scooters to being right against the fence seeing the action on the far side.

The ten men had created many good openings but couldn’t apply the finishing touches to low crosses. Inevitably they began to tire slightly towards the end. Powerful Bowers player Max Cornhill, who had impressed me on my visit to the Len Salmon Stadium a few months earlier had begun to get more involved.

A visitors’ cross was expertly nodded down at the back post for Daniel Trendall to smash home the winner five minutes from time. It was very harsh on the home side who had deserved at least a point.

After the game we left Tony while the rest of us headed to the Bohemia, a fine brewpub establishment for further refreshments. There was still no sound or sign from the other Steve, aside from an inquisitive text as to the score an hour earlier.

The home brew Lush was excellent. I had a chat with one of the brewers. The kids seemed happy enough on the table football while the adults yarned with decent music in the background.

Dave took his offspring for bath time to be replaced by our missing duo who had quite evidently given the Elephant plenty of trade leading to confusion ordering on their appearance.

I left them to it, being a conscientious athlete and left with Jim. OK I had an early shift on Monday morning. The 125 bus now went all the way to Colindale which allowed a relatively rapid journey home once connected with the 183 to Kingsbury to finish off my first pan of stew of the new season.

It had been a grand day out.