AFC Varndeanians Football Club is a football club based in Brighton, East Sussex, England. The club are currently members of the and play at the Withdean Stadium.
The club was formed as Old Varndeanians Football Club in 1929, when Secondary Old Boys club (which was dominated by former pupils of Varndean School) was renamed and decided only to accept former Varndeanians as players. Secondary Old Boys had been members of Division One of the Brighton, Hove & District League, with the new club continuing in their place. They were relegated to Division Two in 1930âÂÂ31, and after finishing bottom of Division Two in 1934âÂÂ35, were relegated to Division Three.
Old Varndeanians were dissolved during World War II before being re-established in 1946, playing at Preston Park. They rejoined the Brighton, Hove & District League for the 1947âÂÂ48 season, becoming members of Division Three. After finishing as runners-up in their first season back in the league, they were promoted to Division Two. They finished fourth in Division Two in 1948âÂÂ49, after which it was renamed the Intermediate Division. After a fifth-placed finish in 1951âÂÂ52 the club were promoted to the Senior Division.
They moved up to Division Two of the Sussex County League in 1956. They were runners-up in 1956âÂÂ57 (also winning the Invitation Cup), 1957âÂÂ58 and 1958âÂÂ59, before winning the division in 1959âÂÂ60, resulting in promotion to Division One. The club rules were also loosened to allow brothers and sons of former pupils to play for the club. After finishing bottom of division in 1961âÂÂ62, they were relegated back to Division Two. They remained in Division Two until leaving the league in 1973.
The club rejoined the Brighton, Hove & District League and were placed in Premier Division, which they won in their first season back in the league. The club were Premier Division runners-up in 1979âÂÂ80, 1987âÂÂ88, 1991âÂÂ92, 1995âÂÂ96 and 1997âÂÂ98, before winning a second title in 1999âÂÂ2000. They went on to win retain the title the following season, and after finishing as runners-up in 2001âÂÂ02, the club were champions again in 2002âÂÂ03.
Old Varndeanians transferred to the Mid-Sussex League in 2003, winning the Premier Division in their first season and again in 2006âÂÂ07 and 2008âÂÂ09. In 2004âÂÂ05 they won both the Montgomery Cup and the Allan Washer League Trophy. In 2015 the club adopted their current name. They finished seventh in the Premier Division in 2014âÂÂ15, and switched to Division Two of the Southern Combination League (a renamed Sussex County League) for the 2015âÂÂ16 season. They won the division at the first attempt, earning promotion to Division One.
In 2021 AFC Varndeanians were promoted to the Premier Division based on their results in the abandoned 2019âÂÂ20 and 2020âÂÂ21 seasons.