Taking over the managerial reins, following the departure of Gary Farrell early in 2005, former Hendon goalkeeper Gary McCann and his assistant Andy Pape are looking forward to their first full season in charge of the club. This Season (2005/2006) is the club's 97th, forty two of those seasons have been spent in the top division of the Isthmian (Ryman) League.

Founded as Christ Church Hampstead in 1908, a year later the club dropped "Christ Church" in favour of becoming Hampstead Town FC. "Town" was then dropped from the title in 1926. Just six seasons later it was all change yet again when officials proposed to rename the club "Hendonian FC" although this was subsequently turned down as there was already an Old Hendonians club in the area. Other names that were submitted were: Hendon Borough, Cricklewood and Hendon Central. In the end all these were rejected in favour of "Golders Green FC". It was only at the commencement of season 1946/47 that the present name of Hendon was adopted due to the ground lying within the Borough of Hendon. The Borough has long since become the London Borough of Barnet, but as another local club already use that name, another change Even now the club is often mistakenly referred to as "Hendon Town", though it has never been called that.

In their early years, the club enjoyed constant success. Joining the local Finchley and District League in 1908, they won the Third Division at the first attempt and were promoted. In the following season the Second Division was won and the hat-trick was complete when a year later the championship was secured to give the club three titles in its first three years of existence.

As the club progressed into the Middlesex and London Leagues the title winning went on and then with senoir status the club applied to become members of the Athenian League. Accepted in 1914, just six years after their formation, the club had to wait another five years for it's debut in the League due to the outbreak of War. At the start of hostilities a temporary league - The London United Senior League - was formed and won.

When football finally resumed in 1919, Hendon finished their long awaited first Athenian season in fourth place, the lowest league finish in the young club's history! However, they did not have to wait long before the first of three Athenian League championships found their way to Claremont Road. They were also to finish as runners-up five times. Recognised as a major force in senior football, the club was to spend almost 50 successful seasons in the Athenian League

Hendon become part of the exodus of clubs from the Athenian League into the Isthmian League in 1963, since then the club have remained ever present in the top division and are the division's longest serving members. In fact, they have never suffered relegation from any division in any league in almost 100 years of existence, although they have come close to losing that proud boast on more than one occasion! The first season in the Isthmian, now sponsored by Ryman, ended as runners-up to Wimbledon, but twelve months later the championship flag was flying proudly over their Claremont Road ground. In their first eleven seasons in the League, Hendon enjoyed remarkable success, never finishing out of the top six, a level of consistency the club and its supporters would like to enjoy today.

Hendon have appeared in the FA Cup First Round Proper 19 times. Both Reading (at home) and Leyton Orient (away) have been beaten. Junior Lewis, now with Leicester City, scored the goal in the 1-0 win at Brisbane Road. The club's best run saw them reach the Third Round where they held Newcastle United to a 1-1 draw at St. James Park before losing the replay at Watford's Vicarage Road ground.

Before the advent of the FA Umbro Trophy competition, Hendon appeared five times in Amateur Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, winning on three occasions. The stadium, just five miles west of Claremont Road, was filled to its 100,000 capacity when Hendon met northern giants Bishop Auckland in the 1955 final. Hendon also became the first club to play under floodlights at the stadium when they were invited to try out the new system.

England's three highest capped internationals since the war were all Hendon players. Rod Haider leads the way with 65 caps, followed by goalkeeper John Swannell (61) and Mike Pinner (52). Peter Deadman (40) and Laurie Topp (32) make up the five Hendon players in the England top ten cap winners. Denis Compton, born just two miles from Claremont Road, played for the club before leaving for Arsenal where he was to become one of England's most famous sportsmen, playing for his country at both football and cricket. Leslie Compton was also with the club before following his brother to Highbury.

The last of the club's three grounds. Hendon moved into Claremont Road just after the start of season 1926/27. Little has changed since it's days as a major Non-league venue. It has staged three England Amateur International matches and a Great Britain v West Germany Olympic Game qualifier. The attendance record of 9,000 was set for the visit of Northampton Town in a FA Cup-tie. Rugby matches, including Rugby Challenge Cup-ties have been staged in recent years and it has twice been the venue for Gaelic football with crowds of 4,000 plus. You might well recognise Claremont Road, as it remains a very popular location for production companies with over 30 films, television programmes and adverts being shot there.