The Old Carthusian Football Club (OCFC) have enjoyed multiple successes throughout their history but last year against all odds, the 1st XI walked away from the season empty handed. Times looked dark. Rumours were starting to sprawl around the Old Boys' football network that OCFC's dynasty was finally ending and the Club was starting to lose its identity as the beacon of professionalism and success in old boys football. The assumption was being made that the Carthusian hallmark of determination and drive drilled into the players at school was finally diminishing.

However, Old Carthusians are made of stronger stuff. This renewed focus was clear early on this season with the recruitment of several new young faces that brought a new lease of life to all three teams, a bolstered attendance at training (because of the belief that "the harder we practice, the luckier we get") and most importantly a renewed sense of unity, ambition and enjoyment throughout the Club.

The 1st XI enter April with the incomprehensible possibility of achieving the quadruple. Having already been crowned league champions following a 5-2 victory over Old Marlburians on 25 March, attention is turning to the Amateur FC Cup final (Saturday 8 April vs Polytechnic FC) and two semi-finals in the Arthur Dunn Cup (vs Eton at Charterhouse on Easter Monday) and the London Old Boys' Cup vs Old Hamptonians (Saturday 1 April). To put this into perspective the last and only time an Arthurian side won the AFA Senior Cup was in 1911 (Old Malvernians) whilst in the London Old Boys' Cup it was in 1996 (Old Chigwellians).

The 3rd XI are still fighting on two major fronts in the league and the Junior League Cup and hope to replicate previous successes of our 2nd and 3rd XIs by winning the Arthurian League Division 2 for the eighth year in a row.

At this juncture in the season, two things are for sure – the fortunes of this Club are well worth following as they look to secure a record haul of trophies and break into the history books again and become the first Club in the history of football to win the FA Cup (1881), the FA Amateur Cup (1894 and 1897) and the AFA Cup. Secondly, win or lose this season, the groundwork has been laid for OCFC to hopefully remain at the pinnacle of old boys football in the years to come.

Key fixtures: 

London Old Boys (LOB) cup semi-final vs Old Hamptonians 
Date: Saturday 1 April – KO 3pm 
Ground: Rectory Farm, Dean Road, Hampton, Middlesex TW12 1AQ 

Amateur FA (AFA) Cup final vs Polytechnic
Date: Saturday 8 April – KO 3pm 
Ground: Old Owens Sports Ground; Coopers Lane, Northaw, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire EN6 4NF 
(This would make OCFC the first club to win the FA cup (1881), the FA Amateur Cup (1894 and 1897) and the AFA Cup)

Arthur Dunn Cup semi-final vs Old Etonians (replay) 
Date: Monday 17 April (Easter Monday) – KO 3pm 
Ground: Big Ground, Charterhouse 

Arthur Dunn Cup final and Junior League cup final Saturday 29 April – pending quarter-final and semi-final results