Higher Bebington Kelma FC Vets (Vets Division 1)
Secretary: Simon Tierney
Home Colours: Blue Shirts, Blue Shorts, Blue Socks.
Away Colours: Red Shirts, Red Shorts, Red Socks.
Ground: Leverhulme , Green Lane, Bromborough. CH62 3PU
Dressing Room: 7 & 8 On Ground.
E-Mail: si.9.tierney@googlemail.com
Tel: 07792 867755 (Simon Tierney)
www.webteams.co.uk/Home.aspx?team=kelmafc
Brief History:
Seasons 1997-1998 & 1998-1999:
Kelma F.C was formed in 1997 after Eugene Tierney left F2 formerly Royal Liver Reserves for whom he had played and managed for the previous 15 years (managed for 3 years). A team called Hoylake Ford had dropped out of the 3rd division of the Birkenhead and Wirral League at the last minute without playing a game so Eugene stepped in and formed a team which took over their fixtures and Kelma F.C was born. The team was put together in 1 week and consisted of a mixture of older players who Eugene knew and 17-18 year olds who were his son Simon’s mates. The first season was a steep learning curve and proved difficult finishing 3rd from bottom, as the old heads were shed the youngsters improved year on year.
Season 1999-2000:
Kelma reached their first cup final – The Joe Shields cup – losing to Shillings bar 2-1.
Season 2000-2001:
Kelma won both the third division title and – The Joe shields divisional Cup – also reaching the semi-final of the Wirral Junior Cup a great accomplishment for a third division team. (The furthest a team from so low had achieved in this competition at the time) The stats read P 24 W 20 D 2 L2.
Seasons 2002-2003 & 2003-2004:
Upon promotion to the second division the team held its own for the next two seasons but a lot of the original players had left to test the waters of the West Cheshire league. The next season proved poor by comparison finishing bottom of the division and facing relegation but we remained in the second division to fight on and brought in some new faces turning it around and for long spells of the season fighting for a top spot only to be pegged back to fourth in the league. The icing on the cake was the fact we reached the Division 2 cup final – The Truman Cup – only to lose 2-0 to arguably the best team around Bird in Hand.
Season 2004-2005:
This season we bounced back going on to win the Burkett Shield and the Division 2 Cup – The Truman Cup – beating Black Horse (Wallasey) in both of these games. We also were promoted to the leagues division 1 after a very tight finish at the top of division two, with 4 points separating the top 4 places.
Season 2005-2006:
Division 1 football, our aim for that season was a top 4 finish but that wasn’t to be, we ended up finishing runners-up to Bird in Hand in our first season of top flight football in the Birkenhead and Wirral League.
Season 2007-2008:
The season was to be a similar affair to the previous one, culminating in playing 3 games a week in the final month to fit in our league fixtures and winning the last 5 on the bounce to finish runners up for the 2nd year running. This congestion was caused due to us reaching the semi final stages of each cup competition we were involved in and unfortunately only winning the Burkett Shield for the 2nd time and finishing runners up in the Regent cup.
Season 2008-2009:
Accepted into Chester and District league, We started out in Division 3 with all of the other new teams to the league, Fighting with Manor and Neston for the divisional title, This season we achieved promotion, reached the semi finals of the Cayzer shield and won the Tom Gerraghty cup at the first time of asking beating the top two premier league sides (Highfield and Waggon and Horses) in the semi final and final.
Season 2009-2010:
Again achieved promotion from Division 2 and involved in another 3 way fight for the title. Reached the ¼ finals of the Northern cup, Semi finals of the Wirral Junior cup and Won the Cayzer shield beating Neston nomads in the Final.
Season 2010-2011:
Achieved promotion from Division 1 and if it wasn’t for a points deduction would have been Division 1 champions. Reached the Semi finals of the Wirral Jnr cup and won the Northern cup as flag bearer for the Chester league beating Liverpool outfit Quarry Bank old boys and also winning the Chester League cup beating the Premier league title winners Kelsall at the Exacta stadium Chester.
Season 2011-2012:
Challenged for the Premier League Title with Kelsall only to fall short at the season’s end, Got to the Semi final of the Wirral Junior Cup, Retained the Chester League cup beating Premier league title rivals Kelsall at the Exacta stadium for the second year running.
Season 2012-2013:
Started off the season struggling for a squad of players and it showed in the early results, Got back on track and with some new talent went on an unbeaten streak to get us back in with a slim chance at the title by Christmas, Reached the Final of the Wirral Junior Cup losing 1-0, Reached the Final of the Dee 106.3 Chester League Cup.