London Badgers FC

The history of the London Badgers began one rainy day on the Marshes back in 2011.  Formed from a breakaway group of like-minded individuals that had previously “experimented” with mid-week football, the Badgers wanted to test their mettle against the best Sunday League football had to offer. Their motto “Ludus, Tectum, Certamen” – “Game, Set, Match”, though rarely used, embodies the fighting spirit they each shared.

Employing a scouting network which included searching the sausage aisles of their local supermarket, numbers grew and a strong team quickly formed. Despite no lack of enthusiasm, early matches were often notable for the Badgers’ fine nocturnal performances the night before. Some weeks sparkling with attacking flair, others flatter than road kill the Badgers struggled with consistency. The President’s Cup gave them the opportunity to prolong their season and after romping through the group stages, they signed off their opening campaign in style with their first silverware.

Filled with confidence going into their second season, they set their sights on progression to the First Division. With the extra experience a year on the Marshes brings, they soon started to find the consistency that had often eluded them in their previous campaign. Not content with grinding out results the Badgers amassed 78 goals in 16 league games, ensuring fans/onlookers were always kept thoroughly entertained. They eventually secured the Division 2 trophy with games to spare, adding more silverware to the Badger trophy cabinet.

In the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons the Badgers looked to consolidate their position in the upper reaches of the Camden League. As hard as they’d fought to reach this position they soon realised the challenge to remain there would prove just as tough. As the glamour of the top division brought inevitable off-field distractions, and with a growing injury list, the Badgers found themselves clawing their way off the bottom of the division.

With survival ensured they looked to 2015-16 as an opportunity to rebuild a depleted squad, looking to balance their wealth of experience with the hunger of youth. A solid mid-table finish showed the signs of recovery were there but it was in their cup campaign that they really shone, battling all the way to the final. With the Badgers on the rise again, they now go into the 2016-17 campaign hungry as ever, looking to go just one step further.