Who are we? The now defunct Beerooklands FC are Andy Houghton,
Dave Goodwin, Dave and Steve McDonald, Rob Kelly, Si Long, Si Telford, Andy and Lee Braisdell and Laurence Kevill, a group
of mates (and Rob) hailing originally from the Sale area. Plus Hoj, who never actually played for us and is a Geordie but
commands his own big up anyway!
History: Beerooklands F.C. were formed on a fine sunday evening in
September 2003, when Dave McDonald and Dave Goodwin had a few too many beers, and decided it would be a good idea to start
a footy team.
Along with fellow founder members Andy Houghton, Si Telford, Tom Green, and
little bro Steve McDonald, the team kicked off at 7.45pm on Wednesday October 1st. Handicapped by the fact that we had taken
over from a side with zero points and a goal difference of minus 247 from four games, we remained second bottom after being
on the wrong end of a 12-1 slaughtering. The one spot of encouragement being the fact that, somewhere in the vast ocean of
the Premier League, there existed a side who were worse than us!
After a disappointing first few matches, Beerooklands results started to become
more respectable, aided by the free transfer signings of Rob Kelly, Si Long, and the experienced former semi-pro Pete, culminating in
our first victory over fellow new boys Avondale Allstars on 12th November 2003 Unfortunately, owing to the fact you don't
get 20 points for breaking your duck, this was not enough to save us from relegation.
After two wins in our first 3 matches, the second season followed a familiar
pattern, with Beerooklands going down in eighth place, and getting the opportunity to test Rob's assertion that "I've always
said we're a mid-table second division side" (note, a year from now this will probably be revised to fifth division!) Losses
during this season included "Tommy Tank" who can't be arsed getting stuffed every week anymore, and Pete who has allegedly
seriously damaged his knee! During the latter weeks of this season, the promising Laurence Kevill became a regular fixture,
and monday night league star James Anderson made a number of cameo appearances!
Early in the third season, Sly Long lived up to his nickname and cancelled
his contract, followed by fringe part player Tom Reed, both joined the newly formed Timperley Tigers! Unfortunately, this
was to be the season that Beerooklands folded. A ridiculous selection farce for a sunday game, moved due to Euro 2004, ended
with all sorts of pathetic excuses for not playing and a much weakened side taking a slaughtering. The line-up was so bad
Rob Kelly (one of the pathetic excuse makers along with Dave Mac) would actually have improved our team. After this match,
Andy and Dave Gooders, exceptionally pissed off, announced they were terminating their contracts with immediate effect.
And that was the end of Beerooklands, though the lads still play tuesday and thursday night 5-a-side and drink the odd shandy
here and there.
