As the dust finally settles on the first team’s momentous 22-23 season, and attention begins to turn towards preparations for the start of our first ever Northern Premier League campaign, word reached us of another Avro team who had tasted success many thousands of miles away from the Vestacare Stadium. We caught up with Jamie Blood, founder of the Qatar branch of Avro Football Club, to find out more.
How and when did Qatar Avro FC come into existence?
I am Manchester born and bred, and I ran the first team at Avro alongside Rob Fuller back in our Manchester League days. They were very happy times for me from a footballing perspective – I remember that one year was particularly memorable because we won two cup competitions and finished runners up in the league.
Fast forward to about three years ago, and the COVID restrictions over here were pretty tough, so there was quite a long period when all the bars and restaurants were closed. Pretty much the only thing you could do from a socialising point of view was play football and golf, and that was when we decided that the time was right to set up a team.
How were those early days?
We started off as just a seven a side team, then we realised that we had enough people interested to play eleven a side. I remember we got absolutely pumped by a Qatar Airways staff team but that was in the days when most of our side were over 40 and just wanted to play casually. We still entered the league, but we finished bottom of the six teams that contested it.
How have things changed since then?
We have slowly worked towards having enough players to field two teams, and so this season we now have Qatavro FC for those who are looking for the more social aspect of playing football, as well as the first team who have gone from strength to strength since that first season.
Tell us a bit more about this season….
It’s been amazing! There were twelve teams in the league this year, and we had a feeling that we were going to do well as early as the second game. That was when we played a team of Lebanese nationals living in Qatar who are always very strong, we beat them 4-2 and that ended up being the only game they lost. So we got to our final match knowing that we needed at least a point to win the league, and thankfully we managed to get a 2-2 draw so that was it, champions!
Who have been your star performers this season?
A lad called Josh Lees from Huddersfield who actually played against Avro back in the day was our top goal scorer, we also had a lad called Sam Flower who got the most Man of the Match awards and the Players’ Player of the Season trophy – I think he is best amateur player in the country, and fortunately he plays for us!
Where do you go from here?
We will obviously be looking to up our game again next season, we know that we will be the team that everyone wants to beat, so we need to stay ahead of them. We have got a lad called Oliver Cowley joining us who has played for FC United of Manchester, but to be honest I am pretty happy with what we have already got.
Most of our first team players are now mid to late twenties with a couple of older heads in there as well, there are PE teachers and other lads who look after themselves, and they have all played a decent standard of football in the UK. I am really optimistic that we can push on and win more trophies in the future.
Congratulations, Jamie, we’ll be keeping a close eye on further developments!
