Founded in 1907, the first recorded game was played in April 1907 against the
Bedfordshire Regiment, the Bank winning 3-2. Top Bank player was R.R. Sandilands
who had gained five England caps in 1890's. Sports Club founded in 1908 and Club
joined AFA. Friendlies played until two sides joined SAL in 1920. 1st XI -were
promoted to top division in first year, remaining for 15 years.
1920 's were our zenith. In 1923/24 1st XI won AFA Senior Cup (first bank to do so);
London Banks Challenge Cup; and finished 3rd in division I (our highest ever
position). 2nd XI won AFA Surrey Junior Cup and 3rd XI won AFA Minor Cup. In
1927/28 1st XI beat Ipswich Town to win AFA Senior Cup and 2nd XI won AFA
Junior Cup - first Club to win the two senior trophies in the same season.
Success not repeated in the 30 's. No trophies in a disappointing decade during which
the Club nearly folded. A struggle to raise even three teams.
By the end of the 40 's Club running five sides. 1st XI and 2nd XI promoted to Division
2 in 1949/50 and 1950/51 respectively - our first success for 20 years.
In the 60's, despite an influx of players all teams in Division 3. Fortunes were mixed,
each team enjoying good and poor years. Promotion often near but never achieved. In
1961 the International Club (Billy Wright, Jackie Milburn, Terry Venables amongst
the stars) played the 1st XI and England trained at Roehampton in 1966 prior to the
World Cup.
Our mixed fortunes continued into the 70's. Club celebrated 50 years in SAL with
game against Jimmy Hill's International team. Due to a change in the Bank's
recruitment policy Club had 8 teams in SAL in the early 1980's and the Vets
reformed. Appointed first Club Coach in 1979.
In 1985 1st XI toured Malawi playing in National Stadia, with crowds of 18,WO plus
live TV broadcasts. In a later return visit our African friends played Wimbledon
reserves, captained by Vinnie Jones. Far East and Round the World tours in the
1990's and the vets toured Barcelona, playing in the stadium adjacent to the Nou
Camp (all the opposition were ex-Barcelona 1st team, and seven were ex-Spanish
internationals).
In 1994 Barry Hoffman played his 1000th game for the Bank - a record unlikely to be
beaten.
The millennium brought success. First three sides promoted to Division 2 and wins in
the AFA Intermediate and Junior Cups with 1st XI winning LFFA Challenge Cup
three times and Vets reaching two LFFA finals.
In April 2007, the Bank began its Centenary celebrations with a re-match against the
Bedfordshire Regiment (2nd Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment) winning 3-0. The
Bank side also played against an SAL Representative side losing 3-1 and retained the
LFFA Challenge Cup.
In April 2009 both the 1st XI and Vets XI won the LFFA Challenge Cup, 2-1 and 5-1 respectively.
This was the first victory for the Vets but the third in successive years for the 1st XI.
