A dive in to the club that will be the forefront of a charity push, a league climb, a heart of the community. West Derby Warriors CFC - who even are they?
Humble Beginnings - the Deer Hunters
In research for my club even i learned a lot about the area i once called home. West Derby now merely a borough of Liverpool has a rich vein of English history spanning back to 1066. West Derby originally referred to one of the original 'hundreds' in England after the Norman Conquest and the West Derby Hundred once contained most of the North West; including Warrington, Wigan & obviously Liverpool.
West Derby is home to a Courthouse over 1000 years old, Croxteth Hall - a once wild deer hunting ground - where the club found it's nickname and mascott.
As the 1900s ushered in industrialisation, West Derby shrunk to just be a borough in the flourishing Liverpool of the early industrial era, as the docks became more important for Liverpool.
So, now all that remains of the original West Derby is a small, working class community, as well as the historical West Derby Village.
No stranger to Footballing stars
There is many a footballing hero who grew up in West Derby. Perhaps the most famous of which is current Liverpool right back - Trent Alexander-Arnold. The young scouser still owning his family home just a stones throw from Melwood. It is also home to Cardinal Heenan High, where Steven Gerrard was schooled while Wayne Rooney grew up in the neighbouring borough of Croxteth.
During his time as Liverpool Manager Bill Shankly lived in the area and merely a five minute walk from Melwood there sits the 'Bill Shankly Playing Fields' renamed to commemorate the Liverpool great after he was seen playing there regularly during his time on Merseyside. Shankley encapsulated everything it was to be a member of the West Derby Community. Everyone is no-one and someone at the same time. They care not for stature, background or status.
Founded to retain History
Allowing Melwood to just drift out of history was something members of the community found too hard to do and with the need for regular use of the Training Facilities needed to keep it alive, what better way to do so than found a Football Club.
Introducing West Derby Warriors Community Football Club.
The club may come from humble beginnings but hopefully the access to elite level training facilities will help them achieve fantastic things.
A community based club in which you can all get involved in (more on that to come).
From the Kitman to the Star Striker, the Chairman to the fella serving bovril at half time (looking at you there Llama) no one is more important to the club than the other. There is bigger things at play than individuals.
The club hopes to not only achieve great things on the pitch but off it too.
Kit, Crest and Colours - the identity of Scouse
Taking inspiration from the rich history of the area the crest features the clubs very own mascott (yet unnamed) stag. From which they got their nickname the Deer Hunters. While it isn't the most obscure name in the Footballing world, it takes a strong amount of research to discover the link.
The colours? Well, that was the tricky bit. Finding a colour scheme that is out there and different for a football team can be quite tricky, especially in an area with such footballing royalty as the North West of England.
But, that hasn't stopped us.
Using the colours found within the City's coat of arms - unsurprisingly similar to the two bigger teams in Liverpool - Blue, Red, Gold & White. I hope to have found a use of these colours that is different for the City.
The kit too will be something that stands out. Not the usual block colour with a contrast - no. I want it to be outlandish.
Perhaps unlike any other create a club series there will also, hopefully, be regular changes to the kit design throughout the save.
No club without a Cause
This is where the club differs to most.
The clubs sponsor?
Knowing the wonderful work the community does, it was time to give back. That's where i think we can make a real difference.
As mentioned last time - check that out here if you are not caught up - Fans Supporting FoodBanks will be the clubs sponsor and throughout there will opportunities to help support the wonderful work they do.
There will likely be a special connection for them as the Co-Founder Ian Byrne MP is a West Derby Local and currently Represents the borough in Parliament.
More details will follow on how we can help give back to the amazing people.
Our Home
Bill Shankly has an important history for Liverpool as a city and we hope to further that. As mentioned above the Shankly Playing Fields reside in West Derby and those very fields will be where we hope to build our dreams. They will be the place we call Home.
Next time then, we will be talking about the premise of how the team will work and how YOU can even be involved.
And to leave you with another quote from the legend that is Mr Shankly,
It is a way of living. It is humanity. I believe the only way to live and to be truly successful is by collective effort, with everyone working for each other, everyone helping each other, and everyone having a share of the rewards at the end of the day. That might be asking a lot, but it's the way I see football and the way I see life.
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