|
How it all began - Benji’s Version
“Just a bunch of guys having a kickabout...”
Last summer (2003) we started to get together once a week for a kickabout. This usually consisted of trying to get enough players together for a seven-a-side game or a game of 'cuppy doubles'. The only players from then that I can remember who are still in the team just now are myself, Paul, Gary, Chris Dunn and Liam, the rest followed in drabs.
As the dark nights drew in we began to book the astro turf on a Monday night as we do now. This was a continuing theme every week, getting enough players to come for a game of seven-a-sides. Over the year there's probably been close to 50 players have came and gone (no joke!) some have stayed but there was always a core of players including the aforementioned and guys like Marky, Chris McGowan, Connor, James.
This was what happened each week (just a bunch of guys having a kickabout) until just after the turn of the year. Me and Lenny were out one night at the pub and we had a hypothetical conversation about what it would be like if we had a team. We discussed positions, a formation etc but at that time it was just an idea. Soon after that I spoke to Chris, Gary and Paul about this and from then things started to be taken a bit further.
To be fair, Paul took the lead role and began to deal with the majority of things such as contacting various leagues, organising the bank account, etc. For weeks it seemed as if the team wouldn't be happening, some players who played on a Monday decided to leave to join a team that was more local, however about April time the boys from Hamilton joined so we got some good players joining us (McDade, Foxy, Simmy, Caddies, Muirie).
It was at Chris Dunn's one Friday night, where we usually go for a drink, when the team name was decided. I wasn't there at such a momentous occasion unfortunately (joking obviously) but I think it was Paul's idea to name the team AFC Ravenscraig. Not sure the other names that were being touted but might have been along the lines of Lanarkshire something but we couldn't choose a home town because all the guys came from different areas so Ravenscraig was chosen on the basis of it being a new town and a name which wouldn't be confused with any other, it's either that or else Paul was thinking of moving there and buying a house when they're built and being the founder member of the local team!
|
