Old Finchleians, champions of the Southern Olympian League, have been elected to the Southern Amateur League.

The switch follows Finchleians most memorable season for many years with success for all their teams.

The seniors excelled in winning the SOL Senior Division One title and reaching the final of the AFA Senior Cup, the premier knock-out competition.

On the way, OFs disposed of three strong SAL sides Carshalton, NatWest Bank and Old Salesians, all thrashed 4-0. But they were beaten 2-0 in extra-time by by Old Aloysians.

OFs were expected to complete an SOL double. However, they lost in the League Cup final to City of London, having beaten them 3-0 and 7-2 in the league.

There was plenty of silverware down the line. The second XI won the intermediate division one, but the club's most successful side were the third team.

Champions of intermediate division three by a wide margin, a great performance in a league packed with second teams, they also achieved a cup double, capturing the Old Boys and SOL Junior trophies.

The fourths brought home some silverware in the Old Boys Cup, and the fifths won the AFA Senior Novets Cup, thrashing Old Meadonians 5-1 at Barclays Bank, and pipped the thirds for the Brian Fuller Team of the Year Cup.

There was a near miss for the vets, who failed to retain the League Cup when beaten by Old Fairlopians at Southover. Such was the standard of pitches prepared by groundsman Derek Pope that OFs hosted an AFA final for the first time and an inter-league match between the SOL and the Old Boys' League.

Clubman of the Year is Fred Best, who ran the seventh side, and gave encouragement to several young players from Christ's College.

OF's Player of the Year is Pat Kinsella, who produced several outstanding displays, chiefly for the third team, and the Young Player of the Year is Curtis Banks, who starred regularly for the seconds.

John Murray took the Bob Greer Cup for the leading scorer, and James Cadogan secured the Frank Goodwin Goalkeeper's Cup.

Winners of the individual Player of the Year awards were Peter Davey (first XI); Curtis Banks (second XI); Pat Kinsella (third XI); Chris Mullen (fourth XI); Lee Cousins (fifth XI); Ashley Banks (sixth XI); Colin Spanos (seventh XI); Duncan Cogger (eighth XI) and Pete Wiffen (vets XI).

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000.Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.