Finchley Football Club was an English football club based in Finchley, Greater London. Established in 1877, the club merged with Wingate to form Wingate & Finchley in 1991.
The club was founded in 1877 by N. L. "Pa" Jackson under the name of Finchley Petrels Football Club. During the first season, the club had the misfortune to have an officer who ran off with the club's money and left the accounts in an incomprehensible state. It entered the FA Cup from 1878âÂÂ79 to 1881âÂÂ82, but only avoided defeat once - a 0âÂÂ0 draw with Acton at the Alexandra Palace cricket ground in its last year of entry, followed by a 4âÂÂ0 replay defeat.
In 1902 the club joined Division Two of the London League, and after finishing fourth in 1903âÂÂ04, they were promoted to Division One. League reorganisation saw them placed in Division One B for the 1909âÂÂ10 season, after which they left the league. They returned to Division One for the 1910âÂÂ11 season, but left in 1912 to become founder members of the Athenian League.
In 1914 they rejoined the London League, playing in the Amateur Division, but did not return after World War I until 1923âÂÂ24, when they were placed in the Premier Division. In 1929 the club rejoined the Athenian League, but returned to the London League after a single season. They were Premier Division champions in 1936âÂÂ37, and returned to the Athenian League for the 1939âÂÂ40 season, which was abandoned due to World War II.
After the war the club rejoined the Athenian League. They reached the first round of the FA Cup for the first time in 1946âÂÂ47, losing 5âÂÂ0 at Port Vale. In 1952âÂÂ53 they reached the first round again, where they defeated Kidderminster Harriers 1âÂÂ0. In the second round they beat Crystal Palace 3âÂÂ1 at home, before losing 2âÂÂ0 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 3âÂÂ1 at home to Southend United.
When the league added more divisions in 1963 they were placed in the Premier Division, where they remained until being relegated to Division One at the end of the 1969âÂÂ70 season. In 1973 they transferred to Division Two of the Isthmian League. In 1980âÂÂ81 they finished bottom of a (renamed) Division One, and were relegated to Division Two. They were placed in Division Two North after restructuring in 1984, and after finishing second in 1984âÂÂ85, were promoted to Division One. However, they were relegated back to Division Two North after finishing bottom of Division One in 1986âÂÂ87.
Suffering from financial problems, the club merged with Wingate in 1991 to form Wingate & Finchley. The new club continued to play at Finchley's Summers Lane ground, which was renamed the Harry Abrahams Stadium after a long-term Wingate supporter.
The club's original colours were scarlet and black; in hoops with a petrel badge in 1876-77, in halves with an FFC logo on a shield thereafter. By the 1940s the club was wearing white shirts and blue shorts.
1. Players that have played/managed in the Football League or any foreign equivalent to this level (i.e. fully professional league).<br> 2. Players with full international caps.<br> 3. Players that hold a club record or have captained the club.
4. Jimmy Sontag. Brilliant Goalkeeper in the late 1950s 5. Johnny Dixon. A very lively Number 9. 6. Arthur Wastel Captain in 1950s early 60's