15th November 2005

100% ACCEPTABLE - Renfrewshire United

This is the story of a football team and a man behind this team who has such vision and focus, God only knows where it will lead them.

The team in question were founded in 1994 and went under the name of Renfrew United but have since changed to Renfrewshire United.They played in black and white strips, to combat racism just as Holland and Portugal did when they wore a special edition strip for the same thing. Renfrewshire United changed their colours to blue and green, the reason for which is part of the reason that this club is still going strong ten years on. Renfrewshire United are more than just a football club, they have become a way of life for guys like Ian Kelly and founder and coach, John Plott, this club stands for much much more!

They stand up against all that is bad, in not just the football world, but in life in general. Issues such as sectarianism, drugs, poverty and racism do not come on the agenda for this club.

The green and blue strips, the wrist bands and car that John can been seen in stands for all that is good about this club, they are willing to say no to the issues that politician and others would prefer to dodge. The significance of the choice of team colours is very straight forward.

Renfrewshire United welcomes anyone, if you wear the green of Celtic or the blue of Rangers, it matters not, this club does not hold any prejudice and that is why both colours can be seen on the club strip. The colours they have played in since 2001.

Players such as Archie Gemmill, Duncan Ferguson, David Weir, Scott McDonald, Darren Fletcher and Ally McCoist are among many who have been pictured with the green and blue shirt and have given their club shirts in return.

You may remember that during Live8, Bob Geldof came out holding a shirt and saying "Renfrewshire United, the clans are gathering," I ask you what more PR exposure does a club need to prove that they mean business?

Certainly dying your hair the same colour as your strips is another way of going about it! The club founder and coach, John Plott, says that this is his mission and describes himself as something of a prophet, and says that the man behind Oasis, Alan McGee, will put money into this club, few may raise eyebrows but speaking to guys like John and Ian, you suddenly realize that they are deadly serious about what they are doing and the focus is 100% on the mission they have in front of them.

John has had to come through personal loss during his time with the club with both his sister Clare and brother Frank passing away, maybe it is they who are giving John the strength and passion to make his dream succeed.

The club has many issues but they would love pull off a charity match at the home of the national team, Hampden Park for anti sectarianism and promote the right sort of message to the kids of today but so far they have been unable to get the right sort of support to back the venture but if it does not come off it won’t be for the lack of trying.

The Club motto is, 100% acceptable, you get the feeling that these guys give that and a lot more for the cause, they are chasing a dream but maybe one day people will wake up to the fact that Renfrewshire United are more than just a dream team, this team is real. Real Madrid maybe not, but potentially one of the biggest clubs in the world, once the penny drops, ask John Plott if you don’t believe me!

Dedicated to the late Frank Plott.

Article by Sean Graham