Kelburn
| Full name | Kelburn |
|---|---|
| Founded | ? |
| Ground | London, England |
| League | First Division |
Kelburn are a fictional football team that appeared in the Bristish comic Roy of the Rovers and also the Project 917 strip.
The club also appeared in the ROTR comic strip Cheat from 10/10/92 to 30/01/93 (alongside Barrow Park, Rotherton, Tynecaster).[1]
History
1970s
Years of obscurity in the 60s and early 70s are the foundations upon which the club was built. London club Kelburn gained promotion to the First Division in 1975/76 and have somewhat miraculously managed to avoid relegation ever since.
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.
1980s
Kelburn's solitary F.A. Cup Final appearance was in 1980, when they were defeated by Danefield United at Wembley in The Hard Man comic strip.
However, 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 1980s saw Kelburn achieve two very good runs in the Cup.
Kelburn knocking Rovers out of the FA Cup in 1981.
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.
1990s
Kelburn grew as powerhouse of English football in the early 90s. 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.
Honours
Note that all records are fictional, as of the 2000/01 season. Info may be incomplete.
League
Cups
- FA Cup:
- Runners-up: 1980 (The Hard Man)
Colours and kits
Colours were All sky with white socks.
Rivalries
Stadium
Seasons
- 1980-81: ROTR Div1
- 1981-82: ROTR Div1
- 1985-86: ROTR Div1
- 1986-87: ROTR Div1
- 1987-88: ROTR Div1
- 1990-91: ROTR Div1
- 1991-92: ROTR Div1
- 1992-93: ROTR Div1
