The club was formed as Old Varndeanians Football Club in 1929,[1] when Secondary Old Boys club (which was dominated by former pupils of Varndean School) was renamed and decided only to accept former Varndeanians as players.[2] Secondary Old Boys had been members of Division One of the Brighton, Hove & District League,[3] with the new club continuing in their place.[4] They were relegated to Division Two in 1930–31, and after finishing bottom of Division Two in 1934–35,[5] were relegated to Division Three.
Old Varndeanians were dissolved during World War II before being re-established in 1946, playing at Preston Park. They rejoined the Brighton, Hove & District League for the 1947–48 season, becoming members of Division Three. After finishing as runners-up in their first season back in the league, they were promoted to Division Two.[6] They finished fourth in Division Two in 1948–49, after which it was renamed the Intermediate Division. After a fifth-placed finish in 1951–52 the club were promoted to the Senior Division.[6]
They moved up to Division Two of the Sussex County League in 1956. They were runners-up in 1956–57 (also winning the Invitation Cup),[2] 1957–58 and 1958–59, before winning the division in 1959–60, resulting in promotion to Division One.[7] The club rules were also loosened to allow brothers and sons of former pupils to play for the club.[8] After finishing bottom of division in 1961–62, they were relegated back to Division Two. They remained in Division Two until leaving the league in 1973.[7]
The club rejoined the Brighton, Hove & District League and were placed in Premier Division, which they won in their first season back in the league.[6] The club were Premier Division runners-up in 1979–80, 1987–88, 1991–92, 1995–96 and 1997–98,[9][10][11][12][13] before winning a second title in 1999–2000. They went on to win retain the title the following season, and after finishing as runners-up in 2001–02, the club were champions again in 2002–03.[6]
Old Vardenians transferred to the Mid-Sussex League in 2003,[6] winning the Premier Division in their first season and again in 2006–07 and 2008–09. In 2004–05 they won both the Montgomery Cup and the Allan Washer League Trophy.[14] In 2015 the club adopted their current name. They finished seventh in the Premier Division in 2014–15,[15] and switched to Division Two of the Southern Combination League (a renamed Sussex County League) for the 2015–16 season.[16] They won the division at the first attempt, earning promotion to Division One.[16]
In 2021 AFC Varndenians were promoted to the Premier Division based on their results in the abandoned 2019–20 and 2020–21 seasons.
Honoursedit
Southern Combination League
Division Two champions 1959–60 (second tier), 2015–16 (third tier)
Division Two Invitation Cup winners 1956–57
Mid-Sussex League
Premier Division champions 2003–04, 2006–07, 2008–09
Montgomery Challenge Cup winners 2004–05
Allan Washer League Trophy winners 2004–05
Brighton, Hove & District League
Premier Division champions 1973–74, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2002–03
^ abAFC Varndenians at the Football Club History Database
External linksedit
Official website
January 01, 1970
varndeanians, varndeanians, football, club, football, club, based, brighton, east, sussex, england, club, currently, members, southern, combination, premier, division, play, withdean, stadium, varndeaniansfull, nameafc, varndeanians, football, clubfounded1929g. AFC Varndeanians Football Club is a football club based in Brighton East Sussex England The club are currently members of the Southern Combination Premier Division and play at the Withdean Stadium AFC VarndeaniansFull nameAFC Varndeanians Football ClubFounded1929GroundWithdean Stadium BrightonChairmanDave BridgesManagerJustin JonesLeagueSouthern Combination Premier Division2023 24Southern Combination Premier Division 17th of 20Home coloursAway colours Contents 1 History 2 Honours 3 References 4 External linksHistory editThe club was formed as Old Varndeanians Football Club in 1929 1 when Secondary Old Boys club which was dominated by former pupils of Varndean School was renamed and decided only to accept former Varndeanians as players 2 Secondary Old Boys had been members of Division One of the Brighton Hove amp District League 3 with the new club continuing in their place 4 They were relegated to Division Two in 1930 31 and after finishing bottom of Division Two in 1934 35 5 were relegated to Division Three Old Varndeanians were dissolved during World War II before being re established in 1946 playing at Preston Park They rejoined the Brighton Hove amp District League for the 1947 48 season becoming members of Division Three After finishing as runners up in their first season back in the league they were promoted to Division Two 6 They finished fourth in Division Two in 1948 49 after which it was renamed the Intermediate Division After a fifth placed finish in 1951 52 the club were promoted to the Senior Division 6 They moved up to Division Two of the Sussex County League in 1956 They were runners up in 1956 57 also winning the Invitation Cup 2 1957 58 and 1958 59 before winning the division in 1959 60 resulting in promotion to Division One 7 The club rules were also loosened to allow brothers and sons of former pupils to play for the club 8 After finishing bottom of division in 1961 62 they were relegated back to Division Two They remained in Division Two until leaving the league in 1973 7 The club rejoined the Brighton Hove amp District League and were placed in Premier Division which they won in their first season back in the league 6 The club were Premier Division runners up in 1979 80 1987 88 1991 92 1995 96 and 1997 98 9 10 11 12 13 before winning a second title in 1999 2000 They went on to win retain the title the following season and after finishing as runners up in 2001 02 the club were champions again in 2002 03 6 Old Vardenians transferred to the Mid Sussex League in 2003 6 winning the Premier Division in their first season and again in 2006 07 and 2008 09 In 2004 05 they won both the Montgomery Cup and the Allan Washer League Trophy 14 In 2015 the club adopted their current name They finished seventh in the Premier Division in 2014 15 15 and switched to Division Two of the Southern Combination League a renamed Sussex County League for the 2015 16 season 16 They won the division at the first attempt earning promotion to Division One 16 In 2021 AFC Varndenians were promoted to the Premier Division based on their results in the abandoned 2019 20 and 2020 21 seasons Honours editSouthern Combination League Division Two champions 1959 60 second tier 2015 16 third tier Division Two Invitation Cup winners 1956 57 Mid Sussex League Premier Division champions 2003 04 2006 07 2008 09 Montgomery Challenge Cup winners 2004 05 Allan Washer League Trophy winners 2004 05 Brighton Hove amp District League Premier Division champions 1973 74 1999 2000 2000 01 2002 03 Hove and Worthing Cup Winners 1948 49References edit About us AFC Varndeanians a b History part 3 AFC Varndeanians Season 1928 1929 Archived 22 January 2018 at the Wayback Machine Brighton Worthing amp District League Season 1929 1930 Archived 22 January 2018 at the Wayback Machine Brighton Worthing amp District League Season 1934 1935 Archived 22 January 2018 at the Wayback Machine Brighton Worthing amp District League a b c d e History part 7 AFC Varndeanians a b Old Varndenians at the Football Club History Database History part 5 AFC Varndeanians Season 1979 1980 Archived 22 January 2018 at the Wayback Machine Brighton Worthing amp District League Season 1987 1988 Archived 22 January 2018 at the Wayback Machine Brighton Worthing amp District League Season 1991 1992 Archived 22 January 2018 at the Wayback Machine Brighton Worthing amp District League Season 1995 1996 Archived 22 January 2018 at the Wayback Machine Brighton Worthing amp District League Season 1997 1998 Archived 22 January 2018 at the Wayback Machine Brighton Worthing amp District League League Handbook 2015 16 permanent dead link Mid Sussex League Gray Hooper Holt LLP Mid Sussex Football League FA Full Time a b AFC Varndenians at the Football Club History DatabaseExternal links editOfficial website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title AFC Varndeanians F C amp oldid 1190701651, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
