Wingate & Finchley Football Club, nicknamed “The Blues,” is a non-league football club based in Finchley, Middlesex.
Established in 1970, they currently compete in the Pitching In Isthmian League Premier Division, which is part of the seventh tier of English football. The team calls The Maurice Rebak Stadium their home ground.
History
Wingate & Finchley FC, tracing its roots to Finchley FC founded in 1874, is one of England’s oldest football clubs. Initially successful in local leagues, Finchley joined the Athenian League in 1912. World Wars interrupted their progress, but they achieved their first major success in the mid-1930s with a League Cup win and a London League title. Post-World War II, Wingate FC was established to combat anti-Semitism, named after General Orde C. Wingate. They climbed to the London League by 1952, while Finchley experienced a golden era in the 1950s, including an FA Cup third-round appearance.
The clubs merged in 1991 due to financial and performance challenges, forming Wingate & Finchley FC. They quickly advanced to the Isthmian League’s Division One North by 2003-2004. Under Michael Stone and Chairman Aron Sharpe, the club saw success, especially in youth development and cup competitions. Despite management changes, including notable figures like Nicky Shorey and Glen Little, the club has remained a prominent non-league team. In 2021, club legends Ahmet Rifat and Marc Weatherstone took over the management, marking a new chapter in the club’s history.