Wingate & Finchley F.C.
English football club formed by merger in 1991.
Wingate & Finchley Football Club, based in Finchley within the London Borough of Barnet, currently competes in the Isthmian League Premier Division and plays its home matches at The Maurice Rebak Stadium in North London.
The club was formed in 1991 through a merger of Wingate and Finchley. Although Finchley had been the higher-ranked side, the new entity took over Wingate’s spot in the South Midlands League Premier Division and moved into Finchley’s former ground at Summers Lane, initially renamed after Harry Abrahams, a longtime Wingate supporter. After finishing second in 1994–95, the club joined Division Three of the Isthmian League. A second-place finish in 1998–99 earned promotion to Division Two, but relegation followed the next season. Following league restructuring, they were placed in Division One North for 2002–03, then transferred to the Southern League’s Eastern Division in 2004 before eventually returning to Isthmian League Division One North. In 2009–10, a third-place finish led to a play-off loss to Enfield Town. The following season, the club won both the Isthmian League Cup and the London Senior Cup, finished third again, and secured promotion to the Premier Division by beating Brentwood Town 3–2 after extra time in the play-off final, completing a historic treble. After a mid-table debut in the Premier Division and a narrow escape from relegation in 2012–13, the club was relegated on goal difference in 2013–14 despite a final-day 5–0 win, but was reprieved when Worksop Town resigned from the Northern Premier League. The 2015–16 season ended in 13th place on 60 points. The 2025–26 season saw the club win the Alan Turvey Trophy for a second time, beating Ramsgate 1–0 after extra time.
Wingate & Finchley is often regarded as a Jewish club, reflecting Finchley’s large Jewish community. The club’s badge features the Star of David, several Jewish members sit on its committee, and it can apply for special dispensation to move matches falling on Yom Kippur. One of its predecessor clubs, Wingate, was founded to combat antisemitism and named after Orde Wingate, who trained the Haganah, the forerunner to the Israel Defense Forces.
The club’s supporters include an ultras group, the BlueArmyUltras, formed in 2016. Average attenda
- founded
- 1991
- ground
- The Maurice Rebak Stadium, Summers Lane, Finchley, London
- league
- Isthmian League Premier Division
- nickname
- Not specified in article
- record_appearances
- Marc Morris, 720
- record_goals
- Marc Morris, 650
- best_fa_cup_performance
- Third qualifying round, 1999–2000
Lore & Background
The club was created in 1991 when Wingate and Finchley merged. Although Finchley were the higher placed of the two clubs, the new club took Wingate's place in the Premier Division of the South Midlands League and played at Finchley's Summers Lane ground, renamed after Harry Abrahams, a long time Wingate supporter. In 1994–95 they finished second in the league and joined Division Three of the Isthmian League. After a second-place finish in 1998–99 they were promoted to Division Two, but were relegated back to Division Three at the end of the following season. After league reorganisation they were placed in Division One North for the 2002–03 season, but in 2004 were transferred to the Eastern Division of the Southern League.
Reader's Guide
Wingate & Finchley F.C. is notable for its origins as a merger of two clubs and its identity as a club often perceived as 'Jewish', due to Finchley's sizeable Jewish community, the Star of David on the club's badge, and special dispensation to move games falling on Yom Kippur. One of its predecessor clubs, Wingate, was established to combat anti-semitism and named after Orde Wingate, who trained the Haganah. The club's history includes a dramatic 2013–14 season where they were relegated on goal difference but reprieved after Worksop Town resigned from the Northern Premier League. In 2025–26, the club won the Alan Turvey Trophy for a second time, defeating Ramsgate 1–0 after extra-time. The club also experienced tragedy in September 2025 when Chichester City player Billy Vigar suffered a fatal brain injury after colliding with a concrete wall at the Maurice Rebak Stadium, leading to the wall's demolition. Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was a patron of the club and played a key role in its formation.
Did You Know?
- The club's record appearance holder is Marc Morris with 720 appearances, who also holds the record for most goals with 650.
- Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was a patron of Wingate & Finchley and played a key role in the formation of the club.
- In October 2018, the club briefly employed Nicky Shorey and Glen Little as managers, with Shorey leaving after 21 days.
- The club's ground was renamed The Maurice Rebak Stadium in summer 2016 after co-founder Maurice Rebak, who died earlier that year.
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