FC Drury
15 Jun 2009

Back in 2003, 16 year olds Daniel Smith and Dommy Long were bored of just watching the U's each week. Conversations started on the U's official messageboard in regards to getting a fan side together - a team which would play visiting fans each week and travel away to games.

Interest was high and it wasn't long before Krista "Sparky" Hultquist of the Colchester United Ladies team got a rag tag bunch of messageboarders for a kick about at Shrub End.

Naturally, she was blown away by our talent, and a team was put together under the tag CUMFC (Col Utd Messageboard FC) to take on the CUIFC (Col Utd Internet FC). It wasn't long before the CUIFC combined with CUMFC and began life as a fanside.

5 a-sides followed mainly, including famous victories over Manchester City and Wycombe Wanderers, and a famous 11-a-side game away to Brighton which was played on a pitch swimming with adders...

Well CUMFC served a purpose, but games were sporadic and not regular enough. Enter Steve Tovey with the bright idea of registering with the Colchester & District Sunday League. Weeks of running about from Steve's point of view, and after a quick chat with Dee at the Drury Arms, Drury Arms FC was formed.

The first season was to be a learning curve for DAFC. Smashing Ramsey United 7-0 on the opening day was a rare highlight as the boys struggled to adapt in the first season.

However, improvement was fast in coming, with some additions to the squad Drury Arms picked up the pace the following season, and along with haivng good cup runs, secured promotion under the guidence of Steve Tovey. This season also saw the formation of long term rival CUSA who entered the league for the first time. it also saw the two teams compete in the Pat and Les Oakes Trophy at Layer Road, CUSA coming out on top.

2005/06 rolled on, and as Dee moved to the Blue Boar, and the new owners at the Drury Arms making clear the team were not welcome, the club changed names to Blue Boar FC, and enjoyed another season of growth and success. Although no silver wear from cup competitions was secured, Blue Boar FC recieve the Fair Play award two seasons running during this time.

Soon interest in the club from other players was rising, so the decsision to form a reserve side was authorised, and for the first time in the clubs history, we had a first and a reserve side. Club stalwart and award hogger Barry Pryer took charge of the first team, whilst Steve took the reigns at the ressies.

By this time, Dee had left the Blue Boar pub, and Gareth Gailey was the new man in charge. Gareth joined as the ressie's keeper and continued the clubs link with the New Town based pub.

Well, all good things come to an end, and Gareth felt it was time to move on from the pub. With the pub being left empty, and the Drury Arms under new management, the club returned to it's roots. Agreeing to switch to a generic team name, after a round of votes, FC Drury was the name to be taken forward. Further promotions followed under the guidance of Darren Allen at the helm of the first team and Matt Tomlin in charge of the ressies. The First team getting within a whisker of the Essex Sunday Junior Trophy final.

Now into 2009/10, with last season one of 'transition' (aka bloody hard work and general failure on all fronts - including being unable to fulfil fixtures - apologies to anyone this inconvenienced - this won't happen again) the future looks bright for FC Drury with a restructuring down to one team and with a couple of quality additions to the playing staff in the pipeline, the club hopes to re-establish itself as a promising force in the future.

History by Daniel Smith