This year we have kindly been sponsored by the Pub Chain JD Wetherspoon. The Tally Ho in Finchley kindly sponsored us for £500 this season and this has enabled us to purchase a brand new Nike kit, which has JD Wetherspoon, The Tally Ho printed on the shirts. We have given one of the shirts to the landlord and it will be framed and put up in the bar area shortly.

We go back to the pub after every away game and have something to eat and plenty to drink!!. We also hold our monthly committee meetings there and will also be having our Christmas party there sometime in December.

Running a football team is very difficult as the financial constraints can be tough, but this sponsorship has really helped us this year and we hope it is a partnership that continues in years to come. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the area manager and the pub manager for agreeing to support our football club. Its great to see a large company supporting grass roots football.

Continuous Consolidation

To summarize the history of the Old Elizabethans Football Club, ‘continuous consolidation’ would seem an appropriate phrase.

Established in 1970 as Black Horse FC- being the local pub in Wood Street, the team, under Steve Lawlor, played their home games at Clitterhouse Playing Fields, Finchley.  After a fairly uneventful few seasons, they won Division 4 of the Barnet Sunday League in the 1973-74 season; consolidating this success in 1980-81 with their first piece of silverware; beating Malt & Hops in front of a large crowd at Metal Box Sports Ground, Palmers Green.  Of this original team, Trevor Taylor maintains his association with the club as the assistant referee’s secretary.

With the assistance of club legend, Ray Archer, fortunes boomed in the following season, winning the Division 2 title.  In the same year, under the excellent captaincy of Andy Silvey, the newly formed Reserves team finished in a respectable mid-table position.

An important triumvirate; Steve Lawlor, Martin Gould and Eric Shearly (from the Old Elizabethans) initiated major changes in 1985 when the club became part of the Old Elizabethans set up at Gypsy Corner.  The move gave them access to some of the best facilities in the borough and, more importantly, meant the club was now known as Old Elizabethans FC.  Lawlor left the following year; leaving the club in the capable hands of George Cook- an ex teacher of the School. 

Success for the new set up was just around the corner; the Reserves started the roll in notable style.  In the 1988-89 season, they won the Division 4 title and League Junior Cup and embarked on an unbeaten 2 year run in the Barnet Sunday League; repeating their feats in the following season with a Division 3 and a thrilling penalty shootout win against Prince of Wales in the Junior Cup Final.

Season 1989-90 was the most successful in the club’s history; the first team winning Division 1, making it to the Premier Division for the first time and the newly formed third team as runners up in Division 4; the irrepressible Richard Weekes (now Club Chairman) helping the third team to success.  The season’s success was celebrated in style with the dinner and dance being held at the Haven Hotel, St Alban’s.  Spirits were high both on and off the pitch, it would seem!

Unfortunately, the good times came to a disappointing halt as the first team were soon relegated; nonetheless, bouncing back and winning the first division in season 1993-94 after beating Wroxham Park in the final match to win the title.

Season 1994-95 began with an influx of new players, enabling the club to run three teams.  The first team, under club legend Richard Fidler, had one of their most successful seasons before tailing off at the last stretch, finishing fifth in the Premier Division.  The reserve team under Andy Silvey- aka the tallest man in the world, struggled for most of the season, yet were still awarded the Division Two Sportsmanship award (the club prides itself on its behaviour on and off the pitch!) whilst the third team, under the player management of Richard Weekes, performed admirably in a friendly league run by the Barnet Sunday League.

A tough season followed owing to the friendly league being disbanded- only two teams fielded this season.  The first team fielded a number of club legends: Ray Archer, Richard Fidler, Shaun Harris and Barry Phillips.  The average age of the team was 34- the baby, Stuart Cheek, being the exception at 18.  The team performed admirably; the highlight of the season being the fantastic form of Giles Pratt and Alan Wilkinson, scoring in excess of 40 goals between them!  Despite their best efforts, playing in a highly competitive Premier Division, the team were relegated.  Meanwhile, the second team had a season of consolidation, mainly owing to the high turnover of players they had.

Season 1996-97 saw the arrival of some recognizable faces:  Michael and Lee Turner and Johnny Horner, who remain important club members on and off the pitch.  It proved to be a season of consolidation with the commitment of the new arrivals and experienced players providing a good foundation to take the club forward.  The Reserve team consolidated too; proudly winning the sportsmanship Award for all clubs in the Barnet Sunday League.

Successes followed in the 1997-98 season; the first team winning the Spring Cup and the Reserves being promoted to Division 3 under the tactful guidance of Richard Weekes, finishing runners up to Potters Bar Rovers- one of the league’s most successful teams.

Season 1998-89 saw the restructuring of the league and, as a result, the team promoted to the Premier division.  Under the guidance of Jonathan Smith and with the influx of fresh blood in the form of Nathan Rodd and Carl Swain, the club preserved its Premier Division status, scalping some of the bigger, more successful clubs. Despite the best efforts of the Reserve team, the step up proved to be a step too far, and was relegated.  Individual player turnover was high, many finding it difficult to keep up with the pace of the Premier Division.

Season 1999-2000 was one of rebuilding and consolidating the future prospects of the club; the first team fielding some of their youngest players ever; players that would prove to be fundamental to the club’s future success.

The new millennium season started with real promise; the club winning the Conyers Park Five-a-side competition.  An influx of new players brought in by Graham Morgan cemented the mixture of youth and experience- the team amongst the strongest in the league.  However, owing to clashes between the club committee and Morgan, he left the club mid-season. Following this, performances were inconsistent and a number of players failed to demonstrate their obvious abilities.  The club fell away badly; finishing mid table.  Regrouping and consolidation was required of the team again.