History

The story of Cameron Road United goes all the way back to the late 1990s. As the legend goes, there was a shakeup and a breakup in an established team called FC FOGU, and in the aftermath a rogue group of rebels decided to split off and start a new team. A team where fun would be tolerated, a team where egos would be checked at the door, a team that would fight and claw it’s way from the bottom of Division 4 to respectability, a team that would be named after a small street just east of IH-35… a team called Cameron Road United.

1998-2001: The Early Years, CRU Version 1.0
I think CRU played one year before I joined the team around 1999. These were not pretty years. These were not the salad days that the team enjoys today. These were years where CRU was taking a beating on a regular basis at the hands of other Division 4 opponents. The team was not without it’s bright spots and talented players though, names like Matt Greene, Patrick, Manny, Big John Sokko, Will and a forward named Steve who was light years ahead of the rest of us come to mind. It was a rag tag bunch, but we did have a good time, even if the results didn’t show it. As a year or two went by, the team started to gain some momentum and climb it’s way out of the Division 4 cellar. Old players left and new players came in. I’m going to say the end of CRU Version 1.0 came with a flood of new players and a respectable place in Division 4. (Players that I can remember: Andrew, Matt G, Wheels, Big John, Manny, Steve, Chap, Wylie, Will, Patrick, TJ, Ajit, Brad, Matt W, Christian the Pirate keeper, Birk, Yogi…)

2001-2002: Respectability, CRU Version 2.0
As many of the V1.0 players went their separate ways, it was up to Captain Magilow to recruit new talent and keep the team going. It was during this time that the team gained many key “backbone” players and started to ascend the table. The defense was solidified with players like Ryan “Million Man March” Borck, Charles Barrow, Gus, and our new keeper Justin. The midfield was boosted by the additions of John Ammerman, Chris Vestre and the Nishigushi brothers, Cassio and Ciro. Having lost our star forward in Steve, Cameron Road gained another when Ryan Willis joined the team and started banging in goals at a scary rate. This version of CRU beat up opponents (hello King Daddies) and eventually won Division 4, earning promotion into Division 3. (Players that I can remember: Andrew, Manny, Chap, Will, Ajit, Birk, John A, Justin, Vestre, Cassio, Ciro, Ryan B, Charles, Sanjoy, Gus, Willis…)

2002-2004: The Machine, CRU Version 3.0

Version 3.0 became a well oiled machine and a staple at the top of Division 3. Many a clash was had with the likes of Babaganoutch, Havoc and our main rival at the time, the dreaded Team NI. Early on in this stage as some older players moved on, we gained an influx of young talent that would eventually bring us the Division 3 title in the years ahead. One of the most significant pieces of transfer market business was the purchase of a young forward named Carlos. Together with Ryan Willis, the tandem provided CRU with an unstoppable one-two punch in the front line and produced goal after goal. Sadly, Carlos didn’t stick around with CRU for more than a season or two, but Willis an others were up to the challenge.

Other new players joined the team during these years including Clint, David L., Brian Parks, Mike Lepine and  Andy Michaelis just to name a few. When rival team ARM folded, we even buried the hatchet with some old, bitter Cold War enemies and absorbed the talents of Steven Crosley, Dermot and wildman Billy Milton. CRU also gained an incredible keeper to sure up the back in Chris Hilton. Although Chris may have only said 3 words in 3 years, his actions spoke volumes and he remains the only keeper to actually score for us (while playing keeper) with a towering tornadic punt!

Highlights from this period included finally beating Team NI (thank you for the penalty kick Mr. Willis) and a promotion to Division 2 after several hard-fought years. (Players that I can remember: Andrew, Manny, Chap, Will, John A, Hilton, Vestre, Cassio, Ciro, Carlos, Dermot, Billy, Stephen, Luke P, Clint, David L, Mike L, Parks, Michaelis, Willis…)

2004-2006: The Red Army, CRU Version 4.0
The switch to red. This marked a significant change in the Cameron Road ethos when the traditional black and yellow colors were dropped, and the team adopted it’s current colors or red and black… and white, and blue, and green, and yellow…. (actually one of the charms of CRU is our non-traditional stance on uniform uniformity. Red shirts and green socks? Sure. Red shirts and blue shorts? Bring it on. Cargo shorts? Uh, well, ok if you must Mr. Michaelis)

During the summer before the step up in competition to Div 2, Captain Magilow knew that the team needed yet another influx of youth and talent to compete in the higher divisions. He lit up the CRU bat signal and several fantastic players showed up at his doorstep. A ragtag twosome from Oklahoma were the first significant signings to show promise. Luke, a jack of all trades, and Jarred, a striker with a nose for the goal, were the first to pay dividends. Jarred’s reign as a goal scoring machine was cut short with his move back to Oklahoma, but while he was here, another great partnership with Ryan Willis blossomed. Other significant players that joined the squad at this time were top-notch defenders Scott Merritt and Bob Hutchinson, Onome and our new keeper, Jay. (Sadly, with a full roster, CRU couldn’t secure the services of one, BT at this time, but we would move quickly to remedy that colossal mistake with version 5.0)

A year spent battling more talented opponents followed, but CRU were up to the challenge. As Team NI was before them, The Celtic Cowboys became one of our main rivals, inflicting a severe 7-1 beatdown one windy day. But CRU would have our revenge. And it would be sweet. (Players: Andrew, Chap, Will, John A, Jay, Jarred, Ethan, Vestre, Cassio, Ciro, Parks, Bob, Scott, Stephen, Dermot, Billy, Michaelis, Onome, Ben, Willis…)

2006-2008: CRU Version 5.0

Version 5.0 of CRU stared with the second year of Division 2 competition. A stiff battle would ensue, new challenges and opponents would be placed before us, but we were up for the fight. With new faces like Marcus, Chris Peterson and BT on board, CRU finished off it’s most successful season against the toughest opponents with a 2nd place finish.

Highlights included participation in a 1-day, 3-match Winter tournament,  a thrilling 1-0 win over arch rivals Celtic (Crosley!), a win over first place Austin Blues (thanks for bringing the trophy guys), and a blast from the past as defender David Levingston returned to the team after several years battling late night law school study sessions, hurricanes and suntans in Miami.

(Roster: Andy, Billy, Bob, BT, Cassio, Chris P., Vestre, Ciro, Dermot, Ethan, John A, Jay, Marcus, Onome, Willis, Scott, Steven, Will, David and Chap)

2009-Present: The Honey Badgers. CRU Version 6.0

As I write this on the first day of 2013, the current crop of Cameron Road United sit alone atop Over 30C – undefeated, and on their way to the best season in their team history. But version 6.0 hasn’t always commanded this kind of success. No, it’s been a long, rough, rocky road the past 4 years battling it out in Divisions 2 and 3. Many of the old guard that had been so vital in securing D2 success has long since moved on, including captain and team founder Andrew Magilow.

As Andrew and his family packed up and moved to Big D, the Captain’s torch was passed me, his longtime co-conspirator. A tough and challenging prospect lie ahead, but I figured I was up for it. My first order of business… website.

With Andrew’s departure came a few years of tough sledding for the team. Other integral players ended up moving including John Ammerman, Cassio, Pat and Bob. Others like Will and Marcus also left due to injury or other issues. So faced with it’s toughest competition, the team spent several years in transition. And although the results were getting harder to come by in the higher divisions, Cameron Road again gained some wonderful players. The European duo of Stripey and Gianluca were elevated from the Clark Field practice squad to the first team. Former NI rival Way Shong joined the “good guys”. Adam, Peyton and El Jefe jumped on board. BT’s bud and midfield magician Leif Sherry spent a few seasons with us before moving back to Louisiana. And a goal-scoring machine named Steve McKenna jumped from the sinking ship that was Shiner FC to lead the line and bang in goal after glorious goal. (currently Steve is spending his last year as a 20-something off the pitch and waiting to rejoin his brothers in the Fall as an Over 30B secret weapon of mass destruction)

A massive decision was also made two years ago as Cameron Road ditched the red and black and went back to their roots, unearthing the golden colors of their origin, while combining it with the Brazilian flair of royal blue. And in the months that followed, the Honey Badger was adopted as their official mascot.

And so finally, after many a hard fought year battling for upper division survival, Cameron Road turned to the Over 30 divisions for their new home. Where things are going quite nicely and the Honey Badgers are encountering success like the early days.

It’s been a long road, and as CRU enters it’s 15th year the future looks mighty bright.