The History of Grove Challengers
10 Nov 2008

Grove Challengers FC was started in 1971 by Ruth O'Hanlon who at the time lived with her family opposite the Bay Tree in Westbrook.

After becoming fed up with footballs being kicked against her windows and being played up and down the street, she decided to take the group of young boys, aged between 4 and 7, including her middle son Chris to the little park at the top of Westbrook and did some training with them. This became a regular occurrance and soon the group of 6 to 8 boys became many more.

Parents then became involved and helped with training.

A committee was formed consisting of four parents. Ruth, Ray Kimber (still a local resident), Glenys Lee and her husband Christopher (the local funeral director!).

Prior to their first match, against Oxford Blackbirds equipment needed to be found. Ray, who worked at Barratts Engineering had the goals made and the nets came from vegetable sacks, donated by the local greengrocer and sewn together. The changing rooms were the garages next to the park that were offered for use by the owners.

The club grew and grew and because it was being managed by a woman, became the subject of interest for an article by the News of the World. A copy of which is still in a scrapbook held by Chris. The pictured team in the article was the first ever to wear the Grove Challengers kit, which at the time was amber and black.

Because of the huge success of the club, after approximately two years, new facilities needed to be found, hence the move to Cane Lane.