Club History

Old Challoners Football Club - the first 75 years

The history of the club can be broken down into 5 eras ;

1926/27 - 1945/46
The first ever game was away to Amersham-on-the-Hill Athletic on the 18th September 1926 and in the first season in the OBFL in 1927/28, the 1st X1 won Division 1 (West) . They also progressed into the final of the London Old Boys’ Junior Cup but lost 2-1 to Old Sinjuns. The Club used the School facilities for home matches. Maurice Stevens and Fred King were early Club characters, and the Club’s first Chairman was Mr. R.E. Yates, a schoolmaster at DCGS.

Other honours ;
Reserves 1932-33 Junior Section Div 5 Champions

1946/47 - 1969/70
The Club was reformed after WW2 by Dave Smith, who was Secretary for this entire period. Another famous character was Mr. R. Simm, acting Headmaster during WW2, who revived the Club after the war and became Chairman. There were Chesham Charity Cup Final wins in 1966/67 (v Wycombe Wanderers "A") and 1968/69 (versus Seer Green). Len King acted as Old Boys Football League Honorary Auditor during this period. The Club ran 4 teams for 2 seasons at the end of the 60s but was to go into decline after Dave Smith left. During the 50s the Club started to use the new facilities at Hervines Park for matches.

Other honours ;
1st X1 1960-61 and 1966-67 Div 1 (West) Champions

1970/71 - 1983/84
The Club rapidly reduced to 2 teams, and in 1974 a Special General Meeting was called to consider the closure of the Club. John Nichols took over the chairmanship and from the mid 70s onwards the Club was administered and supported by a number of School teachers, including Geoff Stansfield and Richard "Dimpey" Copeland. A 3rd X1 was re-introduced and the Club used the White Horse P.H. in Chorleywood as an after match meeting point.

Other honours ;
Reserves 1977-78 Div 4 (West) Champions
3rd X1 1982-83 Div 5 (West) Champions

1984/85 - 1994/95
At the end of 83/84 season the Club was struggling to support 2 teams. Under the chairmanship of Paul Nichols (John’s son) the Club instigated a Vice Presidents list, and their contributions helped keep the Club afloat. Every Easter from 1985 to 1995 (except 1993) the Club played in a tournament in Paris at the Standard Athletic Club by invitation of Lionel Pollard and his son Andre, Chairmen of the SAC Football Section during this period. The SAC were winners of the very first French Championship in 1894. Old Challoners can therefore claim that they have beaten the champions of France, for example in the final of the 1988 tournament. In 1987-88 season the 1st X1 won Div 1 (West) under Steve Derbyshire’s captaincy. The Club also commenced a successful relationship with the Chequers Public House in Old Amersham.

Other honours
OBFL Fred Atkins Award for Sportsmanship 1992

1995/96 - 2000/01
In this period, leading up to the Club’s 75th anniversary, the momentum has been maintained with the Club at one point growing to 5 league teams. Jon Scudamore was Old Boys Football League Honorary Publications Secretary from 1994 to 1998. In season 1996-97 and 1997-98 the Club was awarded the AFA Wilkinson Sword for Fair Play, the first Club ever to win this award twice. The club’s hospitality venue moved further into the old town to the Nags Head P.H. Now during the 2000/2001 season the club has found a brand new home at the Polish club, raans road.

Other honours ;
3rd X1 1997-98 Div 5 (West) Champions
2nd XI 2000-1 Div 1 West Champions + AFA Junior Cup Champions

2001/2 - present
The start of a new millennium brought about a lot of changes in the committee at OCFC. Many of the familiar faces had moved on and a new influx of youth were represented both on the committee and on the pitch. Gary Lord (Chairman), Richard Bevins (secretary), Ali Rae (fixture secretary) were amongst the personnel brought into the committee. Hervines once again became the home pitches and hospitality remained at the Polish Club.

The 2001/2 season brought OCFC its most successful year on the pitch since the club started. The 1st XI were promoted to the Senior leagues for the first time in decades with Neil Fitch as captain. The 2nd XI, under Richard Bevins, completed an unprecedented treble winning their league and two Cup competitions.

The 2002/3 season brought about the merge of the London Old Boys League with the Southern Olympian League to form the Amateur Football Combination. The league constitution remained on the geographical basis as the Old Boys League and increased the league size by 50%. OCFC faired well and the 1st XI were promoted to Senior 4.

1st XI 2001-2 Intermediate North Champions
2nd XI 2001-2 Div 1 West Champions + AFA Junior Cup Champions + OB Junior Cup Champions
1st XI 2002-3 Senior 5 North Runners-Up