Page 5 - Lebeq Utd

CLUB HISTORY

Formed in 1982, Lebeqs Tavern Courage entered the Bristol & District Sunday League in the lower
divisions, which is now the Bristol Premier Sunday League. After several years of rapid success
they reached the Premier Division in 1990, with Manager Owen Smith and George Philipou
(Secretary).
The pair strengthened the club, with Smith bringing his vast knowledge and personnel from Semi-
Professional football on a Saturday and Philipou adding a good club structure behind the scenes
to aid their success. Owen and George proved decisive because ever since, Lebeqs Tavern
Courage (Sunday) has won every competition they have entered, with the Trophy cabinet being
full to the brim!! Only one trophy has eluded the team and that’s the FA Sunday Cup. Lebeqs came
very close in 2007 when they were beaten finalists at the world famous Anfield Stadium in
Liverpool.
The same appetite for further success continues to grow and now they share the Lebeq
Footballing umbrella with a carefully structured Club-Committee to help run the 8 teams playing
on both Saturday and Sundays ranging from Men, Women and Under 18’s.
Lebeq United FC
Formed in 2009, Lebeq widely known throughout local Bristol football as a Sunday side decided a
new venture was needed and Saturday football offered the club the opportunity. Lebeq United FC
entered the Bristol and Suburban Association Football League, division three, for the start of the
2009/10 season under the management of Clifford Goulbourne and George Philipou (secretary).
The campaign began well and it was not long before Lebeq’s talented squad asserted themselves
with promotion finishing as runners-up in the first season. The following season the club once
again progressed and were promoted to division one; it was here that the good times came to an
abrupt halt, although only temporary, when then manager Goulbourne seemed to lose his way
and was eventually replaced with a new more dynamic personality, Derry Nathasingh. Derry
immediately imposed himself and brought to the club the much needed stability and secured
many new quality players, essential to be able to compete in the higher divisions of the league.
Success followed and Lebeq United got promoted to the premier division one for 2014/15 season.
This first season in the highest tier of the league was a step too far for that present squad, big
expectations were not achieved and the team finished below mid-table in a disappointing
campaign. A fresh new strategy was now urgent. Derry became the second casualty for Lebeq’s
massive ambitions and the club introduced a new joint management team for the beginning of
the 2015/16 campaign, they were Rayan Wilson and Benjamin Mcleod.
The change was instant, brand new players were introduced, together with many up and coming
youngsters and a more determined approach by everyone involved. A hard and difficult season
followed but all the hard work was eventually rewarded when the club lifted the Suburban Premier
Division 1 League Title and came very close to becoming double winners that season when they
were beaten finalists in the Hillard Bosely cup.
After Rayan Wilson’s brief spell away from the club he returned in the late 2017/18 season and
narrowly missed out on promotion. He set his own target of changing this disappointment, and
trying to make it a reality for the up and coming 2018/19 season. With some outstanding
performances and only losing 3 games in a chase for the title the team and management achieved
their goal by winning the Marcliff Gloucestershire County Football League and getting promoted
for the first time in the clubs history into the Toolstation Western League Division 1.