Wingate and Finchley F.C.
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| Wingate & Finchley F.C. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Wingate & Finchley Football Club | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Founded | 1946 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Ground | Franklyn Road Sports Ground | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| League | Isthmian League First Division North |
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| 2005-06 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Wingate Football Club was founded in 1946 by four enthusiastic Jewish sportsmen who returned to the UK after the Second World War and wished to form a Jewish football club playing in senior amateur competition. They earnestly believed that one positive way of helping to combat the ignorance and social evil of anti-Semitism was on the field of play.
Wingate F.C. merged with Finchley F.C., based in Finchley in the London Borough of Barnet, in 1991, a logical move as Wingate needed a new ground to progress to a more senior level of football, and was in possession of a substantial trust fund with many backers, while Finchley, part of the Isthmian League had a ground that met senior league standards, yet was suffering financially.
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[edit] The founder members
The four main founders were Major Harry (Chi) Sadow, Frank Davis, later to become Mayor of Finchley (1963/1964) and a Justice of the Peace, George Hyams and Asher Rebak, the late uncle of current Committee Member and immediate past Club Chairman, Peter Rebak. Within a short while they were joined by Jack Woolf Goldwhite and Peter's father, Maurice Rebak. Today, almost 60 years later, both Maurice and Jack regularly attend matches at The Abrahams Stadium.
[edit] The club name
The Club was named after the famous British General, Major General Orde Wingate, who although a non-Jew is widely credited with his work during the period 1936 to 1945 with the Jewish Defence Forces as the mastermind behind the formation of the Israeli Army.
[edit] Early results and achievements
Wingate Football Club began its career in one of the Senior Amateur Leagues of the day, The Middlesex Senior League, a competition from which they were promoted in 1952 to The London League, but not before winning the league championship and the league cup.
After performing creditably in the London League and winning the coveted London League Trophy in 1957/1958 the Club took a great step forward when it was accepted as a member of the Athenian League in 1964.
In addition to having had players selected for the Middlesex County F.A. Representative Team the Club has also contributed in no small measure to the Great Britain teams at the World Maccabiah Games in Israel, often referred to as the 'Jewish Olympics'. For example, in 1961 the Club had the single honour of having eight players selected, together with the Team Manager and Coach, and for the first time in the history of The Maccabiah Games, Israel was defeated by a visiting team and the winners of the Championship were the unbeaten British side, for which performance the football team were awarded the British Best Performance Trophy.
[edit] The ground at Hall Lane, Hendon and the England team
In 1972 Wingate F.C. lost their ground at Hall Lane, Hendon due to the extension of the M1 motorway and although near neighbours, Finchley F.C., came to the rescue with a ground share arrangement in 1974 it soon became apparent that it was not feasible to compete in senior competitive football without a home ground. The England team had often used the Club's ground for training sessions prior to international matches at Wembley when the players stayed at the nearby Hendon Hall Hotel. Photographs of the England team including Johnny Haynes, Bobby Charlton, Bobby Robson and Jimmy Armfield, training at the ground can be seen in the Club's Boardroom today.
[edit] The rebuilding of the club
The Club therefore ceased to compete in senior football at the end of season 1974/1975 and reverted to junior football at a new ground in Arkley, which was not suitable for senior football. The Club rebuilt from grass roots and progressed into the Herts Senior League and the South Midlands League. The major success at Arkley was the winning of the Herts Senior Centenary Trophy in 1988 - the first team from the Herts County League to win the trophy. Unfortunately with the Arkley ground being located in the 'green belt' no development was possible and a move was essential if the Club was going to continue to progress.
[edit] The merger with Finchley Football Club
The Finchley F.C., which was founded in 1874 by the great Corinthian, 'Pa Jackson', and had an illustrious record as an amateur club - having competed at the highest level of senior amateur football - were facing certain difficulties and a merger between these two friendly clubs seemed to be the obvious solution. The Corinthian ideals of Finchley coupled with the ideals of Wingate formed an ideal combination. The merger became a reality in 1991 when a schedule of refurbishment commenced that saw considerable expenditure on the Summers Lane ground and by the start of the 1990/1991 season the new 'Abrahams Stadium' was ready. The ground was named in the memory of the late Mr. Harry Abrahams and the Club owes a considerable debt of thanks to Harry's widow, Mrs. Greta Abrahams MBE, who has continued to give the Club most generous support in recent years.
[edit] Climbing the football ladder
The Club then competed in the South Midlands League, the competition that Wingate F.C. competed in prior to the merger and remained there four seasons until 1994/95 when the Club finished runners-up and winners of the London Senior Cup. The Club were then promoted to the 3rd division of the Isthmian League and in 1998/1999 finished runners-up and gained promotion to the 2nd division where they remained for one season despite winning their opening seven league matches.
[edit] Recent progress and a loss
In season 2000/2001 the Club consolidated its position in the 3rd division and finished just below mid-table under the management of former player Jon Bolle. However at the beginning of season 2001/2002 the Club appointed Tommy Cunningham, formerly of Chelsea F.C., Queens Park Rangers F.C., Wimbledon F.C. and Leyton Orient F.C. as first team manager with former Manchester City F.C. and Tottenham Hotspur F.C. star, Clive Wilson, as player-coach and Adam Lee, another former Wingate & Finchley player, as assistant manager.
The Club enjoyed a successful season under the guidance of Tommy, Adam and Clive and promotion to the newly formed regional first division of The Ryman Football League was secured when the Club finished in seventh place and received a 'B' grading for the Abrahams Stadium following extensive work on the ground, including the erection of the Harvey Ackerman Stand duly named after the Club's joint President, Harvey Ackerman, in recognition of his fantastic support of the Club in recent years.
During the season Mr. Ken Aston, one of the Life Presidents, died. Ken was highly regarded throughout world football for his refereeing and his work with FIFA. The introduction of the red and yellow cards was Ken's idea following an inspiration that he had when he was driving his car and stopped at a set of traffic lights. The interpretation of using colours as a signal was as simple as it was brilliant and overcome any language barrier that occurred at the highest level of football, international matches, when the officials and the two teams may, on occasions, speak three languages without a common tongue between them. Ken also refereed the infamous 'Battle of Santiago' when Chile met Italy in the final stages of the 1962 FIFA World Cup in Chile.
[edit] Current status
In season 2003-2004 the Club under the management of Adam Lee with Jeff Bookman assisting him finished in mid table in the Ryman League Division 1 and after the non league restructuring that took place was placed in The Southern Football League Division 1 East for the 2004-2005 season. Due to work commitments Adam Lee brought in Michael Stone to replace Jeff Bookman. Michael had previously held a senior position at the Youth Academy of Tottenham Hotspur. The Club now places great emphasis on its high standard of coaching especially with such a youthful squad. Season 2004-5 was successful and as well as a mid table finish the Club reached the final of the London Senior Cup where we were beaten by a strong Fisher Athletic team.
Season 2006-2007 sees the Club retain many of the young squad of the last few seasons as well as the introduction of some experience. Craig Ellis retains his role as Club Captain as the Club moves mack across into the Isthmian League Division One North having spent two years in the parallel Southern League.
| Isthmian League Division One North 2006/07 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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A.F.C. Hornchurch | AFC Sudbury | Arlesey Town | Aveley | Bury Town | Canvey Island | Enfield | Enfield Town | Flackwell Heath | Great Wakering Rovers | Harlow Town | Ilford | Maldon Town | Potters Bar Town | Redbridge | Tilbury | Waltham Abbey | Waltham Forest | Ware | Wingate & Finchley | Witham Town | Wivenhoe Town | edit |
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