OFFICIAL HISTORY OF THE AVON PLATE

'without history we are nothing'

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the dream...

The idea of a third football club for Bristol was first mooted in 1995 although rumours of an "Avion Platus FC of the Bush" persist as far back as the middle ages (see Keep Shouting issue 4 vol. 1). Based on the successful performances of an amateur team at Easton Community Centre and fuelled by endless bar-room speculation, plans were drawn up one famous day, first at a gin soaked Capri Lounge and later The Cat & Wheel public house, to create a side whose philosophy would be based on the style, grace and passion of Argentina.

However, fate would put these plans on hold for another season as three of the five conspirators present shortly became unavailable, Neil Boulton disappeared to the Far East "on business", Yos David was lured to another club by the promise of free booze and Sally Robinson embarked on what was to prove a highly successful athletics career.

So it was left to James Henry Masters and Daniel William Thomas to keep the dream alive. By the beginning of the '97-'98 season they had brought together a squad of like minded spirits, united by a love of the beautiful game and years of hard substance abuse.

wilderness...

This first season was to prove somewhat of a trial. As yet unable to secure vital financial backing The Plate were left in the wilderness without a permanent home. Lack of experience in key areas (such as competitive football) and a strange antagony towards the Argentine from successive opponents resulted in a season of few highs and many bitter lows. Outside the club the critics began the obituaries, but within the team these setbacks were to forge a spirit and conviction not seen since the great Stenhousemuir of the 1950's. Their time would come and they knew it. Fair enough if other clubs wanted to scrape points through the trench warfare of hit and hope route one. The Plate would play another way, it was football, football or death...

greenshoots...

By the start of the 98-99 season hopes were high. After protracted legal battles The Plate were finally able to secure their rightful spiritual home, The Bush, as their own. Despite a lack of results, (it would be over a year before a first home win), the stadium quickly became known as Fortress Bush. An influx of new signings during the summer, including the return of Boulton of the Orient, gave the squad a new depth and by the end of the season glorious mid table obscurity was established.

So far, season 1999-2000 has seen the greenshoots of recovery begin to bear fruit, although to be fair at times it has been a particulaly weird kind of fruit, more vegatable really, a kind of cross between a mango and a (enough already-ed). The squad have continued to improve but a lack of consistency has let vital points slip away. Summer signing Julian Fowgies became an instant hit with the fans and is currently top scorer, but the search for a No.1 'keeper goes on... With four games to play the Plate lie 4th, who can tell what glory lies ahead?

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