Our History
1874
Finchley FC Founded
We can trace our roots back to the formation of Finchley Football Club in 1874 making us one of the oldest clubs in the country.
1946
Wingate FC Founded
Founded by Major Harry Sadow, Frank Davis, George Hyams, Maurice Rebak and Asher Rebak. The club was formed believing the field of play was a ground for fighting fascism.
1953
We reach the FA Cup Third Round.
Defeated along the way were Chelmsford City, Kidderminster Harriers (1-0 at Aggborough) and Crystal Palace (3-1 at Summers Lane) before the Finches were finally beaten 2-0 at Gay Meadow against Shrewsbury Town.
1991
Wingate & Finchley Merge
After extensive refurbishment and a name change of the Summers Lane ground in honour of long time Wingate supporter Harry Abrahams, Wingate and Finchley took to the field for the start of the 1991-1992 season.
2003
Isthmian League Division One North
Success was immediate and despite starting life in the South Midlands League the club were quickly competing in the Isthmian League and by season 2003-2004 were members of the newly formed Division One North.
2006
New Leadership
Aron Sharpe takes over the club and plots out a strategy for the future. The Club quickly became the most progressive non-league club in the area, thanks to Sharpe’s focus on youth development.
2011
Promotion and the Treble
Under Dave Norman, Wingate win promotion to the Isthmian Premier Division with a 118th minute winner over Brentwood Town in extra time of the play off final - The Blues winning 3-2 on their home turf.
This victory was the middle leg of a remarkable and unique Treble. Earlier that season the club had lifted the Ryman League Cup having beaten Dulwich Hamlet 2-0 at Imber Court, and London Senior Cup success was to follow shortly afterwards when Hendon were convincingly beaten 3-1 in the final.
2016
Stadium Renaming
In August 2016 the stadium at Summers Lane was re-named after Wingate FC co-founder Maurice Rebak who had passed away in February of that year aged 95.
2017
Play Offs With Rowland
Former Northern Ireland International Keith Rowland joins Wingate in 2016. The 2016-17 season saw the club set a new record, finishing in 5th place in the Ryman Premier League and qualifying for the end of season playoffs. A last-minute defeat at Bognor Regis Town in the semi-final ended the season, but this was a magnificent achievement and saw the Blues win the League's Team Performance of the Year Award.
2024
Play Offs With Rifat
Club legend Ahmet Rifat becomes manager in 2022, after playing over 450 games for the club. Season 2023/24 will go down on record as one of our finest if not the finest. Finishing in 4th position with a record haul of 76 points and scoring 78 goals. We faced local rivals Enfield Town in the play off Semi finals at the QE II Stadium. We narrowly lost a very tight match 1-0 in front of a crowd of 2,225 that night. A fine season was ended, but what memories it brought.
2026
League Cup Champions
15 years after winning the Velocity Cup for the first time, Wingate beat Ramsgate 1-0 in front of a crowd of over 1000 people. Remarkably led by a coaching team who all played in that team 15 years ago - Ahmet Rifat, Gavin King & Ola Williams.