The team was formed in the summer of 1986 when a few guys, Russell Harrowell, Tony Woolmore, Andrew Messinder met in Old Amersham, Buckinghamshire. The team grew and developed with the help of American, Larry Disimone and Canadian, Neil Rook.
On the 30th November 1986 the Cheetahs had their first game, a friendly against St Albans Kestrels, at Chesham United Football Club in front of over 1800 supporters. The Kestrels, a young team like the Cheetahs, but with more experience won the game 9 - 0.
In the early months of 1987 friendlies were arranged to increase the teams playing experience, these game did just that, as they won all three beating the F14 Tomcats (from Oxford) 18 - 6, Bristol Blackhawks 41 - 2 and the Chiltern Panthers 34 - 9. Graham Heaney will go down in the teams history for becoming the first player to score a Touchdown. As for 1987 season, the Cheetahs joined the Capital League along with the F14 Tomcats, Chiltern Panthers, St Albans Kestrels, Bexley Barons and the Tonbridge Tigers.
In 1988 the team joined the short-lived BGFL (British Gridiron Football League), which later joined the BNGL (British National Gridiron League), again playing the Tomcats and the Kestrels, along with the Barbarians. But while these teams were improving with new talent, the Cheetahs fortunes were fading; they lost both of their Americans, which included the coaching staff. This showed as the team lost all its games, even after the Barbarians were banned from the League. The Kestrels went on to win the Conference for the second year.
The start of 1989 was a struggle due to the poor performance of the previous year. Many players left the club, but those who remained pulled together and vowed to continue. Three friendlies were arranged against the Cheltenham Chieftains, Milton Keynes Pioneers and the Kestrels. A new home for the team was found at RAF Halton with a new Head Coach, Paul Kelly. The opponents that season in the BNGL Premier Division were Newmarket Hornets, Peterborough Hustlers, London Mets, Tamworth Trojans, Burton Barons and a new team Watford Scorpions (formed by some of the Kestrel players).