Ground Capacity 8,850 Manager Ryan Gayler Founded 1929 | Chairman Dave Bridges | |
Full name AFC Varndeanians Football Club League Southern Combination Football League | ||
AFC Varndeanians Football Club is a football club based in Brighton, East Sussex, England. The club are currently members of the Southern Combination Division One and play at the Withdean Stadium.
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History
The club was formed as Old Varndeanians Football Club in 1929, 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. The club was dissolved during World War II and re-established in 1946, playing at Preston Park. They joined Division Three of the Brighton & Hove District League for the 1947–48 season, and after finishing second in their first season, were promoted to Division Two. They finished fourth in Division Two in 1948–49 and moved into the Intermediate Division. After a fifth-placed finish in 1951–52 they moved up to the Senior Division.
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), 1957–58 and 1958–59, before winning the division in 1959–60, resulting in promotion to Division One. The club rules were also loosened to allow brothers and sons of former pupils to play for the club. 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.
The club rejoined the Brighton & Hove District League and were placed in Division One, which they won in their first season back in the league. They won a second title in 1999–2000, before taking the league title again in 2000–01 and 2002–03. The club switched to the Mid-Sussex League in 2003, 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.
In 2015 the club adopted its current name. They finished seventh in the Premier Division in 2014–15, and switched to Division Two of the Southern Combination League (a renamed Sussex County League) for the 2015–16 season. They won the division at the first attempt, earning promotion to Division One.