Churchill planning to go nowhere

DESPITE dropping out of Intermediate football Churchill United are adamant that they are far from finished.

The Waterside club, which was formerly known as Glendermott BB and was established in 1950-51, are currently plying their trade in the North West Second Division and Chairman Bert Simpson is confident that, given time they will be back in the Intermediate league.

“We have a good group of young players around 30 odd at the club and our intentions is to try and get back into the Intermediate league,” he said.

“They are starting to progress at the minute, particularly over the last four or five weeks, but our plan is to get back into Intermediate football sometime over the next few years.”

In recent weeks and months a number of clubs in the Waterside area have been trying to make Wilton Park their new home, however Simpson explains Churchill aren’t leaving any time soon.

“We have a lease for 35 years and I think we have at least another 15 years left on it, so we won’t be going anywhere fast, the lease is solid.”

Churchill who have had the likes of Jim McLaughlin, Alan Hunter, Tony O’Doherty and Terry Leake on their books over the years, now have Strathfoyle man Paul Doherty as their boss and he knows all about the club’s prestigious history in North West footballing circles.

“The club is far from dead, I’m looking to be here for a while and I’m sure the likes of Bert and Roy (Simpson) will be here for a while too and we all want to get back into Intermediate football,” he admitted.

“I took over the Reserve team last year and unfortunately because of other circumstances the first team had to fold and a lot of boys from the first team went back to their old teams, so we have had to build everything from scratch.

“I brought a lot of young boys in from Strathfoyle and I think we have a lot of young boys at the club with the average age around 19 or 20.

“Every player is enjoying everything, people can also see the facilities at Wilton Park, which are probably the best in the North West and because of that it’s a pity that the team isn’t in the Intermediate League.

“But like Bert, I’m hoping the young boys will stay at the club for a few years and help us get back into the Intermediate League.”

The 32-year-old hasn’t set any target for his young players this season, but he is already planning ahead for next season, where promotion back to the First Division is his main objective.

“Last year was the sort of a building block for us, it’s still a learning curve for everyone, including me, I’m only 32 and could still be playing but I have opted not to, but this year we want to continue to progress and then next year promotion is what I’ll be looking for.

“Maybe if we get a wee run in a cup this year that would be great, but the main priority at the minute is to keep Churchill going and get them back on the radar again.

“The Reserve team never really won much, they were always known as the team to beat, but now it’s changed. We are going to teams now and coming off the pitch, with them saying ‘Churchill are a good side’ and that’s good to hear.

“Bert has been at the club for years and he too has seen a change this season, all the young boys don’t cry at each other on the pitch, they just get the ball down and play their football. After the match they come in and support the bar and have a joke and a bit of a laugh.”

Like so many sides in all sports throughout the county, Churchill struggle financially and they are hoping supporters from around the area will start coming to Wilton Park to support the young side.

“We don’t have a fan base here, it has never been the case, from the time I played at Wilton Park, we have never really had much support, so any sort of income we have is from Brigade Cricket Club who support us every year.

“We also hold a few fundraising events ourselves and that’s the height of it, we don’t have a community who we can go to and ask for money or other things and it’s very hard to raise money here.”