Wingate & Finchley would like to congratulate former midfielder Henry Ochieng on his transfer to Watford FC.
Henry joined Wingate in the summer of 2019 and made 31 appearances for the club before signing for Cork City.
Following an impressive spell at the League of Ireland Premier Division side, he has secured a move to the Vicarage Road club and will join the U23s side.
Blues’ Chairman Aron Sharpe said: “I’m really pleased for Henry. He’s a really good guy, he’s really driven to be a professional football player and he’s a quality football player.
“It’s a great move for somebody who’s looking to make football their career – it’s a Premiership club – and it gives us great gravitas.
“We can take some plaudits because we really got Henry playing again, as well as {former players} Nathan Mavila {who signed for Swedish club Brage on Monday} and Scott Kashket [who featured in Wycombe’s FA Cup tie against Tottenham on Monday evening}.
“I say to all the boys: you really have to go a step at a time. {Henry} listened to us, he’s an intelligent guy and just thinks in the right way and it’s worked out for him, it’s been very successful for him.”
Click on the image for a message video for you from our manager Spencer Knight
We can announce that all league action has been delayed. A review is scheduled to take place on the 16th December, in line with the next Government Tier review. This means that our fixture against Leatherhead (12th December) has been postponed. However, our FA Trophy fixture on 8th December (Tuesday at 19.45) away against Hornchurch will take place, as will any further rounds should we progress in the competition.
The Clubs that make up the Trident Leagues have collectively decided that league football should only return when it is safe to do so, to reduce the risk of transmission between clubs in different tiers.
We understand the frustration of our fans following this announcement, but we hope you understand the precautions being taken at this time, so as to ensure that we can welcome you all back safely to the Maurice Rebak Stadium.
We shall continue to keep our fans updated on the resumption of league football.
We are sorry to hear of the passing of the Wingate FC legend Harvey Peters who has passed away aged 84. He was an outstanding former player who played at centre half and captained Wingate in the 1960s, represented England at amateur level and won a football gold medal for Maccabi GB in 1961. Wishing all his family deepest condolences./p>
Coaching by Mauro Vilhete for ages 5-15! We are pleased to announce our December holiday football camp this winter break. Full details and how to register are on the flier...
The Blues, who have suffered considerably at the hands of the Covid-19, managed to raise an eye-watering £13,601 in a mere 32 days highlighting the nature of the club’s impact within the local community after launching a fundraising campaign over the first lockdown period - auctioning off a variety of rewards in return for a donation.
The Wall of Fame has now been put up on the Maurice Rebak main stand after chairman Aron Sharpe presented it to the supporters before kick-off at the home game against Cheshunt in their final match ahead of lockdown.
It’s a show of appreciation from the club who have an ever-growing and very loyal fanbase for their efforts to help the club survive.
The club are offering free tickets to any NHS worker to thank them for their incredible service - a scheme which will continue when football returns to the Isthmian League.
Duane Ofori-Acheampong has signed with Braintree Town on a dual registration. While there are no games for us, it seemed an opportune and worthwhile move for him to go and get more minutes and keep his match fitness up. We are looking forward to welcoming all fans and players back as soon as it’s safe to do so.
Our half-term football camp has been a great success, hosting over 100 boys & girls with an active, competitive and above all, enjoyable week of football.
Hosted by First Team player Mauro Vilhete at the first-class Football Pad in Barnet Lane, there have been plenty of skills and smiles on show, and some fantastic goals.
There has been many players from our own youth teams in attendance but also many from the wider community, all keen to further their technical skills and enjoy their football. There was certainly some promising talent on show.
Wingate & Finchley FC Saturday Development sessions are also open to any children from 7 years upwards and we also look forward to seeing as many of the children and families at upcoming First Team fixtures, at the highest level of football currently allowing spectators in attendance.
The two fixtures vs Worthing have been switched with each other, so we will host Worthing at home on Saturday 5th December and will visit them on Saturday 20th March.
We will play at home to Erith Town on Tuesday 24th November in the 1st Round of the London Senior Cup
You can now buy your tickets at the usual shop for our home game on Tuesday. Advance online tickets with the usual discounts are available to buy until the end of Monday, after which time you will have to pay full price at the turnstiles, subject to availability. The direct link is here.
We have been drawn away at Coggleshall Town in the FA Trophy. The trip to Essex will take place on Saturday 31st October.
Meanwhile, the Cray Wanderers Isthmian League match has been rearranged for Wednesday 11th November.
Following the postponement of our fixture at Merstham on Saturday, the Club would like to confirm that Tuesday’s home match with Corinthian Casuals will go ahead.
We would like to put on record that the reports from Merstham that the postponement was at our request is factually incorrect, in fact Merstham insisted we did not travel.
Whilst we now look to co-operate with The Isthmian League we will make no further comment until their investigations are concluded. We would also like to assure our supporters that after learning of a positive Covid test for one of our players, that all necessary precautions have been taken and all FA and Government guidelines have been followed.
We are now fully focussed and looking forward to getting back to action on Tuesday at home to Corinthian Casuals. Tickets can still be purchased from the usual link here.
Unfortunately our away match at Merstham today has been postponed due to Covid-related circumstances.
Our away match at Cray Wanderers on 24th October will be moved, due to their continued cup progress.
Coaching by Mauro Vilhete for ages 5-15! We are pleased to announce our half-term football camp this October. Full details and how to register are on the flier...
Every Monday we will update you about our many youth sides' results and scorers from the weekend. Head over to the Youth News page to find all the latest updates...here.
Tickets can be bought online for next Tuesday's match with Corinthian Casuals here. They are available for the advance discount until midnight before the match, after which remaning spaces will be sold on the gate at full price. Like all games, tickets for all home and away games that are available for online purchase will have the webshop links shown on our Fixtures page next to the corresponding fixture.
Wingate & Finchley FC is delighted to be able to offer each of our youth players (and their household) a complimentary season ticket for all home league games this season!
The Club is so proud of its youth section and how it continues to grow. This year we have 17 youth teams from under 7s to under 18s. We want to encourage as many of our players and families as possible to support our first team and be a part of all that is on offer at the Club.
We look forward to welcoming as many families as possible to Summers Lane from this Saturday, 3rd October, when we have our next home game against Lewes. Kick-off is 3pm and season tickets will be available to collect on the gate. *Applies to all home league matches in 2020/21.
Tickets can be bought online for this Saturday's match with Lewes here. Like all games, tickets for all home and away games that are available for online purchase will have the webshop links shown on our Fixtures page next to the corresponding fixture.
As the 1st team lost at home to Folkestone on Wednesday night, the Under 18 side also bowed out of the FA Youth Cup, in a slender 3-2 defeat away at Ware. Good luck to both of the opposition sides for the rest of their respective cup runs.
Whilst the 1st Team are hosting Folkestone Invicta, the Under 18 side begin their FA Youth Cup journey away at Ware. The young Blues had a bye in the previous round after Takely withdrew. Kick off is 7.45pm at Ware's Wodson Park for the 2nd Qualifying Round tie, and admission is £5 for adults and £2.50 for concessions.
Tickets for all home and away games that are available for online purchase will have the webshop links shown on our Fixtures page next to the corresponding fixture. As of today, you can currently buy tickets for both of this week's games with Folkestone and next midweek's trip to Kingstonian.
The club has received a donation for all of our staff's PPE from Travelppe.me for which we are extremely thankful! To get 10% off on their website for your own purchases use the code ‘Wingate’, which includes free delivery to homes and/or businesses.
We would like to take this opportunity to wish all of our Jewish players, supporters, staff and families a wonderful and healthy New Year!
Chairman Aron Sharpe spoke in a video interview from the newly refurbished clubhouse, giving his thoughts on how the club has navigated through the difficult summer, and on the exciting season ahead...click here.
Our home kit will be sponsored by Rogers Removals again for the new season, while Sue Ryder will be sponsoring our brand new away kit thanks to the generosity of Darragh MacAnthony during our crowdfunding. We would also like to say our thanks to London Trophy Co for printing all the youth and senior kits for the 2020/21 season. Kits can be pre-ordered from our online club shop here.
We have been given a home draw against Folkestone Invicta in the 1st Qualifying Round of the FA Cup. The game will be played on Wednesday 23rd September 7.45pm at the Maurice Rebak stadium.
Tickets for the match this Sunday with Bowers & Pitsea are now available for purchase at this webshop link. There are two special rewards introduced for 2020/21 for buying online before matchday - a £2 discount and a free e-programme! (NB The discount for concessions is £1).
Tickets will also be available on the gate as usual but at the usual prices of £12/£6, and supporters are encouraged to bring bank cards rather than cash where possible.
Tickets for the match on Saturday with Boreham Wood are now available for purchase at this webshop link. Availability is limited due to FA and government guidelines and tickets are sold on a first come first served basis.
When the 2019-20 season was curtailed in March, the club introduced activities such as competitions and Zoom quizzes to keep in contact with our youth players. At that time, no one knew if and when football would return. While there were more important things than football to focus on, we were still busy preparing for the return of the new season - whenever that was to be.
As soon as FA and Government guidelines allowed, we were delighted that so many of our players were desperate to get back on the pitch and we thank our parents/families for co operating with COVID guidelines to allow us to put a smile back on so many young faces.
We eventually held trial sessions and we are excited to welcome many new players, parents and managers to the Wingate & Finchley family. We have a new U7 and U8 squad, and have teams in the top division of the Watford Friendly League next season, at each age group from U9 to U13. We also have 3 strong squads at U13, U15 and U18 level who will be competing in the Eastern Junior Alliance League.
Since grass roots friendly matches were allowed as of August 1st, many of our teams have taken the opportunity to get back playing competitively. Our U16s were victorious in the London FA Champion of Champions Cup Final and we hope that our new Development team, competing in the Herts Senior League, will provide a pathway to men's football for some of those boys.
With just two weeks to go until the youth season starts, we are still busy putting some final pieces in place including kit printing and we would like to thank the many youth sponsors of this season's match kits. I am sure the players will be proud to wear the new design.
Our new coaches are ready, and we look forward to our FA Youth Cup campaign and are also excited to welcome all the Wingate & Finchley family to Summers Lane again soon to support the first team.
We are pleased to confirm that we will host Boreham Wood at Summers Lane on Saturday 5th September. Supporters will be allowed to attend but on a limited basis - therefore we shall operate this as a ticketed event, and full details will be announced on Wednesday evening.
Our league season will commence with a home match against Bowers & Pitsea. It will be played on Sunday 20th September - moved from the Saturday due to Jewish New Year. The full fixture list is being added to our fixture page over this weekend.
The young Blues defeated Buckhurst Hill 2-1 at Haringey Borough's Coles Park on Saturday, winning their delayed cup final from earlier in the year.
A full set of photos can be found at this Flickr link.
Our U16s will play in the London FA Champions Cup Final on Saturday against Buckhurst Hill. KO is 12pm at Haringey's Coles Park. Fans are allowed to attend! Manager Tashan Bradshaw-Brown said "As we approach another cup final, the young men are ready for the challenge. This time, we hope to make up for missing out last year."
Wingate & Finchley Football Club are looking for a physio for the 2020-21 football season. As a semi-professional football club based in the third tier of non-league football, we have a clear emphasis on development - of our players, staff and volunteers; many of whom go on to work in the professional sport. As an example, we are proud that a previous physio of the club is now the first team physiotherapist at Manchester City.
The candidate will be required to work on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at our Barnet Lane training facility, while attending first team matches - home and away - which are on Saturdays and some Tuesdays.
For more information on the role or to apply, please email paul@wingatefinchley.com
Our participation in the 2019/20 London Senior Cup will resume next Tuesday, the 25th August, with a trip to Hendon. They defeated Balham 2-0 in the Quarter Final as the competition resumed this week.
As it currently stands, no spectator admittance will be allowed at the match on safety grounds.
The FA issues guidelines for the return of outdoor competitive grassroots football:
Until
31 July: When ready, you can begin competitive training, with the overall group size (inclusive of coaches) being limited to 30 people.
From
August: Outdoor competitive football matches to begin, for example pre-season fixtures, festivals and small sided football competitions.
From September: Grassroots leagues, men’s National League System, Women’s Football Pyramid tiers 3 to 6, and FA Competitions can commence.
For full details see the FA website at this link.
Full details to be announced soon, in the meantime please contact melissa@wingatefinchley.com
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