The Cambridge Arsenal story began in 1999 when Mike Chambers began footballing with struggling Division Two BSSL side Alehouse FC. He and longtime best mate Tommy Dadmun played several matches with Alehouse before the team was relegated to the bottom division of the BSSL.  In one of the last matches Alehouse would play Manager David Cartledge combined with Dadmun to score a goal that would earn Alehouse one of their last points - a symbolic connection of the team passing from one era to another…

2000 saw Chambers take control of the club, field an almost entirely new side and earn promotion to Division Two in their first season as Cambridge Arsenal.  Suffering a tumultuous up and down campaign in Division Two CAFC were relegated back to the depths of the BSSL on the last day of the 2001 season.  Chambers and a fascinating cast of characters then led the club to back to back promotions into Division One and their highest league finish ever - fifth place in 2004.