Take a trip back through the 2018/19 OHAFC season with this pictorial review featuring some of the highlights from a busy campaign on and off the pitch...

September

The OHAFC 3s were given the honour of playing the first competitive fixture of the season when they drew 1-1 away to the Old Bancroftians on their return to Division Four on September 8th. The 1s & 2s had already honed their fitness with a couple of pre-season friendly games by this stage. The club then hosted the annual Festiphil Tournament on the 15th which proved another great success, Tass von Hirsch's winning team were presented with the trophy by acting Headmaster Mel Mrowiec...

September also saw the return, following an 18-month absence, of regular weekly training nights, with 2s skipper Geoff Taunton-Collins sourcing an excellent new venue - a compact rooftop astroturf pitch on top of Marlborough Primary School in Draycott Avenue, Brompton...

The month ended in spectacular fashion on the pitch, with all three Saturday sides recording thumping victories: the 1s stuck five past Lancing on the Hill, Alex Breeden scoring the fifth from the spot (below), and six away to the Malvernians; the 2s began their season with a fine 3-1 win at home to Eton 2s and the 3s comfortably saw off the Old Stoics 5-1...

October

October proved to be less of a success for the club however, with disappointing results on the pitch and some sad news off it.

The Vets began their season with a friendly against new opponents, Albion Vets, at the Bank of England Ground in Roehampton. The fixture turned out to be anything but friendly however as the second half became an ill-tempered affair that at one stage led to the referee threatening to abandon the match if any further trouble ensued. The game did run its course and had a dramatic, and frustrating, ending, Albion scoring twice in the last few minutes to snatch a 3-2 victory...

The following week came the sad news that long-time OHAFC stalwart Phil Berry had decided to call an end to his playing career following a spate of serious injuries. Phil, son of Harrow master Simon Berry, has been one of the most committed players for the Blues over the past decade, making 114 appearances for the 1s and 2s - a figure only beaten by five players. But a serious ankle ligament injury suffered away to the Old Alleynians in October 2016 was then followed, almost exactly a year later, by a broken arm in another 2s game away to Lancing 2s and Phil decided that enough was enough. He continues to be a smiling presence on the Hill however and was awarded the Charles Clover Brown Award at the club dinner in March...

October 20th saw the OHAFC 2s make their own small slice of history when they played their first ever Cup tie in a competition not affiliated to the Arthurian League. An initiative from skipper Geoff Taunton-Collins saw the side enter the Old Boys Cup - Junior section and a first round home tie against the East Barnet Old Grammarians 2s from the Southern Amateur League. Despite next to nothing being known about their opponents, the Blues played well to record a 3-0 win, although there was time for some late amusement when veteran substitute Rupert Hoffen spurned the chance to score from the spot, blazing his effort over the bar. Little sympathy came his way from fellow vet David Lederman - who had earlier safely converted a spot-kick...

The month ended on a sour note for the 1st XI, however, as they were dumped out of the Dunn Cup at the 1st Round stage for the second consecutive season, losing 3-1 away to the holders the Old Carthusians. Despite the defeat, the Blues put up a creditable display against a side that would go practically the entire season unbeaten against allcomers...

November

A busy November saw several players reach a prominent milestone in their OHAFC careers but an embarrassing collapse by the 1s in their defeat away to the Old Reptonians.

Prior to that fixture, on November 3rd, Alex Breeden was congratulated for reaching a century of appearances for the club. The 1st XI vice-captain has been superbly committed in recent seasons, having reached double figures for all three Saturday teams - a rare achievement...

But the midfielder wasn't in such a celebratory mood at the final whistle however. A strong wind and poor pitch unhinged the Blues and they were dominated in a dreadful first half that saw the visitors trailing, remarkably, 5-0 at half-time. Despite an improved showing in the second half, a Fred Richardson header was all the side could muster in response and the team returned home having slipped to fourth in the Division One table...

The 2s took time out from their busy schedule to face the School 2nd XI in a friendly on the Hill on the same day. Andres Hutchinson had already shown glimpses of his talent but on this occasion he proved comfortably the best player on view, scoring a superb hat-trick as the old boys ran out 3-1 winners in a competitive contest...

The month ended with two more stars of recent OHAFC history making their 100th appearances for the club over the past ten seasons. Fred Richardson, former vice-captain of the 1s, reached the milestone the week after the Repton debacle - ironically enough the side suffering defeat by the exact same 5-1 scoreline away to the Old Alleynians on the astroturf in Rotherhithe. And Harry Hoffen, who has of course played many more games for the club prior to the official stats starting in 2009, brought up three figures a week later on the 17th when he featured in the 1s' 2-1 defeat at home to the Old Malvernians - the loss meant that the senior team had lost three of their four games in November, conceding 14 goals in the process...

December

Traditionally fixtures are thin on the ground in the run-up to Christmas, but this season history was made as the club fielded a 4th XI for the first ever time. And not only that, in a bid to ensure no corners were being cut, the League requested all four Saturday sides to play on the same day. With the Vets in action on the Sunday, it meant a remarkable total of 64 Old Harrovians turning out for the club on the weekend of December 8th & 9th.

The 4s, led by skipper Ed Nicholson, were drawn at home to the Old Eastbournians in the first round of the Junior League Cup on the 8th, the 3s having already secured a fine 3-0 win away to the Old Suttonians the week before. In a tricky game played in strong winds on the Phil, the visitors scored twice in the first half but the Blues pulled a goal back with twenty minutes remaining, Mikey Watford earning the honour of scoring the first ever 4th XI goal. Late drama saw the hosts awarded a penalty with five minutes remaining but agonisingly James Monroe fired his effort over the bar and Eastbournians held on for a narrow win...

The club held their traditional Christmas drinks in Boma Green on the New Kings Road on the night of December 1st and it was well attended by the 2s & 3s especially. An extra piquancy was added to the event with the presence of Sky Sports boxing presenter Anna Woolhouse inside, apparently on a night out with some gym buddies. Fred Milln and Charlie Bick began negotiations, the latter proving more successful at closing the deal. A later trip to Winter Wonderland would prove insufficient collateral however and further negotiations were brought to an abrupt conclusion...

The final two weekends prior to Christmas saw just the 2nd XI in action and they suffered disappointing defeats, losing 2-1 to the Old Parkonians in the quarter-finals of the Old Boys Cup on the 15th, despite a wonder-strike from Andres Hutchinson, before suffering a 3-1 defeat at home to Charterhouse 2s in the League a week later.

Prior to those two games, there was some good news, with the Veterans winning their first Cup tie of the season, the over-35s beating Chaterhouse 5-3 at the Bank of England courtesy of goals from Harry Hoffen (2), Quentin Baker, David Lederman and Matt Davies. The prize was a home draw in the next round against Cup holders the Old Malvernians...

January

2019 began for the OHAFC on January 5th with both the 2s & 3s successfully negotiating their first hurdles in the Junior League Cup. The following weekend saw the Vets back in action in their Cup quarter-final at home to the current holders, and the team that defeated them in last year's semi-finals, the Old Malvernians.

Despite the visitors claiming a 5-2 win after extra-time, Harrow twice having levelled to force the additional thirty minutes, the match will be remembered for the horrific broken leg suffered by striker Harry Hoffen barely a quarter of an hour into the game. Turning on the halfway line, Harry was caught from behind by the Malvernian centre-half and fell to the ground in agony. After a lengthy delay the ambulance arrived to transport him to Kingston Hospital where he would later undergo an operation to reset and pin the bones. Understandably, there was little appetite from the OHAFC to continue playing, with the disappointment of defeat barely registering.

Indeed, it turned out to be a bad weekend all round for the club, with none of the three Saturday sides registering a win, the Vets defeat and, of course, the terrible injury suffered by Hoff...

Better news was to follow over the next two weekends, however, and especially for the 1st XI, who rediscovered their form with a couple of thumping wins. James Breeden scored five in the 6-0 thrashing of Aldenham on the 19th - the most goals scored in a single game by an OH player this season - before Mike Okoigun took centre stage a week later with a superb hat-trick in the excellent 5-0 win away to the Old Marlburians - his first treble in OHAFC colours...

But it wasn't all good news, with the 2s being dumped out of the Junior League Cup that same weekend, an under-strength team played poorly in tricky conditions away to Division Three side the Old Epsomians and were deservedly beaten...

February

And the following weekend, on February 2nd, the 3s were also knocked out of the JLC but in rather different circumstances, having played superbly to take Division Two high-fliers the Old Westminsters to penalties following a 2-2 draw after ninety minutes. Ned Callander scored twice in quick succession midway through the first half but Westminsters poured forwards after the break to force the shootout. Despite scoring with their first three efforts, the Blues were eliminated following misses from Charlie Bick, Luke Berry and, in sudden death, Kyle Barrett, prompting scenes of jubilation from Westminsters...

The following weekend the 1st XI entertained Division One leaders the Old Alleynians on the Harrow School astroturf and produced arguably their finest performance of the season to win 3-1, James Breeden producing another virtuoso display to score all three Harrow goals. The win lifted the side back into the promotion places for the first time since mid-October...

The OHAFC Vets returned to action in the fledgling League competition with the visit of unbeaten Lancing to the Bank of England Ground, the two sides producing an enthralling contest that saw the visitors storm into a 3-0 lead before a remarkable comeback from the hosts, who scored three times themselves in the final twenty minutes to level at 3-3. There was one final twist in the tale however, a last-minute penalty, which even Giles Paul couldn't refuse to award, allowing Lancing the chance to snatch the win and ensure the League title was now theirs to lose...

Finally for this month, a notable landmark was set on the 16th by the Old Merchant Taylors and the OHAFC 2nd XI when they became the first ever sides to be refereed by a woman in the Arthurian League. Sarah Day of the Middlesex FA was appointed for the Division Two clash in Northwood and the match passed without incident, the 2s succumbing 2-0 despite playing well for much of the game...

March

March was an extremely busy month for the club, kicking off with the 160th Anniversary Dinner, held at the Hurlingham Club in Fulham on Friday 1st. Over 150 guests enjoyed speeches from OHAFC President Andy Butler, Acting Headmaster Mel Mrowiec and some excellent stand-up comedy from Ian Irving. Trophies were handed out, Phil Berry deservedly winning the Charles Clover Brown Award for services to the club...

Wednesday March 6th then saw 1s striker James Breeden make his long-awaited debut for the Arthurian League Rep side in a fixture against Lloyds of London at Enfield Town FC in north London. The game turned out to be a totally one-sided affair with the Arthurian League proving a cut above their opponents. This was good news for James, who enjoyed plenty of the ball and helped himself to a hat-trick in the 8-1 demolition. He completed his treble with this delightful chip over the keeper with twenty minutes remaining...

Ten days later, the OHAFC 3rd XI entertained Division Four leaders the Old Suttonians in a vital fixture that would shape the outcome of the promotion race. Sadly, the 3s were short of players and were refused a postponement by the League. Unsurprisingly, the visitors ran out comfortable winners, their 4-1 victory clinching the title and ensuring the 3s would face a battle with the Old Columbans and Old Stoics for the final promotion spot...

There was better news for the 2s however, who ensured they would be safe from the drop for another season at least with an excellent 1-0 win away to Chigs 2s on the same day. Substitute Gbeminiyi Soyinka came off the bench to score the vital goal with half an hour remaining and it was all smiles after the game...

But the month ended in disappointing fashion for the 1s, who travelled to Lancing knowing that a win would see them promoted back into the Premier Division. A couple of defensive errors cost the visitors dearly, as the hosts took a 2-0 lead. Despite throwing everything at Lancing in the closing stages, Lady Luck was not on Harrow's side on this occasion, the Blues hitting the bar, having a strong claim for a penalty denied and seeing two efforts cleared off the line. The result meant that both sides, along with the Old Cholmeleians, would be in contention for the runners-up spot going into the final weeks of the season...

April

The penultimate month of the season saw the 2s, 3s and Veterans end their seasons, with mixed results. The 3s had most to play for, with a 4-0 win over the Bancroftians on April 6th ensuring that the following week's trip to face the Old Columbans would be a winner-takes-all promotion play-off - a draw would only be of use to the Columbans however.

A tricky game played in strong winds on the astroturf at Hertfordshire Uni in Hatfield appeared to be going Harrow's way when skipper Nick Kapoor scored from a free-kick midway through the first half. But the hosts levelled soon after the break and held on to claim the all-important draw to ensure it was they, and not the OHAFC, who would be playing Division Three football next season...

The 2s ended their season on the Harrow astroturf with nothing to play for but pride, a 6th place in Division Two already ensured. For opponents Lancing 2s it was a different story, with the visitors desperate for a victory to give them a chance of avoiding the drop. In an ill-tempered affair, Lancing showed just how desperate they were to ensure they won, playing their 1s centre-forward and committing several unpleasant fouls, notably on OHAFC debutant Toby Gould. A dramatic conclusion saw the visitors snatch a late 5-4 win but it proved to be in vain, Merchant Taylors staying up courtesy of a better goal difference...

And the Vets ended their season on April 30th with the visit of the Old Etonians to the Bank of England in the final League game for both teams - absurdly it was also Eton's first game in the competition! At 2-1 to Eton after twenty minutes an exciting encounter appeared on the cards. But the hosts fell away spectacularly, Eton's superior fitness allowing them to run riot in the second half and claim a 12-1 victory. The defeat meant that Lancing would claim the inaugural Vets League title, with the OHAFC finishing second...

May

Just the one fixture remained to be played in May but what an important one it was. As had happened with the 3s, the 1s travelled north for their final game knowing that only a win would enable them to claim promotion. Opponents Cholms were in the same boat, but this time a draw would help neither side, Lancing the beneficiaries of such a result.

A tight contest on a bumpy pitch at the Old Cholmeleians Sports Club in Barnet saw very few chances created in the first half. But the game exploded into life shortly after half-time. Cholms took the lead with a breakaway goal after the Blues had lost possession inside their own half. But within five minutes the game had been turned on its head following two free-kicks from an almost identical location. Referee Stephen Tate pointed to the spot for a Harrow penalty although it was unclear what offence had taken place. James Breeden sent the keeper the wrong way to safely convert. And from the second set-piece Harrow's scorer found himself unmarked at the far post and swivelled before smashing home left-footed.

Despite a ferocious fightback from Cholms in the closing stages the Blues held on to record a 2-1 win and ensure they would follow champions the Old Alleynians into the Premier Division next season. It was a fantastic way for the club to end their season...

See you in September for season 2019/20!