Opponents No.9 - Kelburn

London club Kelburn gained promotion to the First Division in 1975/76 and have somewhat miraculously managed to avoid relegation ever since!

Noel Baxter nets Rovers' 8th goal in 1979
Kelburn were not always the powerhouse of English football that grew in the early 90s. Years of obscurity in the 60s and early 70s are the foundations upon which the club was built. Until the investment of the 90s the highlight of Kelburn's existence was a solitary F.A. Cup Final appearance in 1980, when they were defeated by Danefield United.
Kelburn knock Rovers out of the 1981 F.A. Cup
In an F.A. Cup 3rd Round tie in 1979 Melchester Rovers had thrashed Kelburn 8-0, it was a sign of the perennial struggle Kelburn would face in the First Division against bigger, better and better financed clubs.

Terry Anderson of Kelburn in 1984However, despite struggling at the wrong end of the table (again!), the Londoners would gain some Cup revenge against Rovers in 1981. An error from Mervyn Wallace gifted Kelburn the match and punished a complacent Rovers. So while poor league form was a constant, the early 80s saw Kelburn achieve two very good runs in the Cup.

The pre-90s Kelburn were a side of very few stars, just solid pros. Terry Anderson and Les Riley being two men who typified the Kelburn spirit. Anderson brought the passion of the fans to the field during his feud with Carl Hunt, the man who ended his brother Les's career.

Jurgen sprinting away for Kelburn (1992/93)
An uneventful remainder of the decade followed before the transformation began. Another good run in the F.A. Cup in 1991 was the beginning of a period of sustained investment that would see Kelburn remove themselves from the threat of relegation for good. No longer would Kelburn rely on journeymen like Mark Berry, instead stars like goalkeeper Chris Ambrose, Ian Gorman and Nick Leach were signed on big money deals. Transfer records were broken and then broken again, Jurgen, a lightning fast and skilful international striker picked up from Strasbourg in 1992/93 to replace Leach.

Suddenly the club that were never far off the drop were beginning a great journey, one built on the millions of generous chairmen rather than Kelburn's traditions of hard work and spirit.

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2 Comments

  1. Love these pal, keep them up

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    1. Probably only a few left - Eastgate, Melboro', Deans Park, North Vale - then perhaps Kingsbay, Blackport and Danefield

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