Hops and dreams – the former pub team aiming to shock Europe
Imagine a football team that started life as a bunch of mates kicking a ball around in a pub. Now imagine that same team, born from a casual gathering and a mere £500 investment, is on the verge of pulling off one of the biggest upsets in European football history. This is the story of FCB Magpies, a team from Gibraltar, a nation with a population smaller than the Faroe Islands, who are about to face 15-time Danish champions FC Copenhagen in the Europa Conference League.
The Magpies’ journey has been anything but ordinary. They started as a “pub team,” a group of friends who decided to take their passion for the game to the next level. They formed at Bruno’s bar in Gibraltar in 2013, with a modest budget and an even more modest ambition – to simply enjoy the game. But fate, it seems, had other plans for them.
Fast forward to 2023, and the Magpies find themselves on the cusp of European glory. They’ve already achieved a remarkable feat by qualifying for the Europa Conference League, showcasing their undeniable talent and ambition on the world stage. Now, they are facing a giant in the form of FC Copenhagen – a team that boasts a formidable history, a passionate fanbase, and a European pedigree that includes a victory over Manchester United in the Champions League.
The odds are stacked against the Magpies, but they are not daunted. Their manager, Nathan Rooney, a seasoned coach with a wealth of experience in English football, believes his team can pull off the unthinkable. He has instilled in his players a “never say die” attitude, fueled by the belief that anything is possible if they put their minds to it.
Rooney understands the significance of the match, not just for his team but for the entire nation of Gibraltar. He knows that a victory over Copenhagen would be a monumental achievement, a testament to the power of dreams and the unwavering spirit of a small nation on the world stage.
- FCB Magpies, a team from Gibraltar, started as a pub team with a modest budget and is now on the brink of facing FC Copenhagen in the Europa Conference League.
- The team’s manager, Nathan Rooney, instills a “never say die” attitude in his players, believing that they can achieve the impossible against all odds.
- A victory over FC Copenhagen would not only be a monumental achievement for the Magpies but also a testament to the power of dreams and the unwavering spirit of Gibraltar on the world stage.
- Nathan Rooney’s journey to success in Gibraltar football showcases his remarkable rise from starting his coaching career at 17 to leading a team on the verge of European glory.
Career coach Rooney’s drive to succeed
Nathan Rooney’s rise to the top of Gibraltar football has been a remarkable one. He started his coaching career at the tender age of 17, honing his skills in the youth setup of his hometown club, Blackburn Rovers, where he nurtured the talents of a young David Raya, now a Premier League goalkeeper.
Rooney’s dedication to the game was evident from the outset. He obtained his UEFA A Licence at the age of 22, a testament to his early ambition and drive to succeed. He then took on various coaching roles at clubs like Fleetwood Town and Crawley Town, where he gained valuable experience under the guidance of experienced managers like Steven Pressley, Graham Alexander, and Uwe Rosler.
Rooney’s commitment to self-improvement is unwavering. He holds the League Managers Diploma and is currently pursuing his UEFA Pro Licence, constantly seeking new knowledge and insights to enhance his coaching abilities. He credits his time at Fleetwood Town, where he was thrust into the deep end, for shaping him into the coach he is today.
“I was pushed into the deep end, you either stand up to it or say ‘it isn’t for me’,” he says. “I embraced it, I embraced being told off, to wake up, to do this better and the early hours wanting to be first in with the managers and trying to be the last out. The more you put into anything the more you get out of it.”
Rooney’s journey has taken him to unexpected places, including Gibraltar, where he has found a new home with his wife, Wales defender Rhiannon Roberts, who plays for Real Betis women in Seville. His passion for the game and his unwavering belief in himself have made him a successful coach, and his story is an inspiration to aspiring coaches everywhere.
Magpies aim for more history in Gibraltar
The Magpies’ clash with FC Copenhagen is a historic moment for Gibraltar football. It marks their first time facing a team of Copenhagen’s caliber, and a victory would undoubtedly be the greatest achievement in their history.
The Magpies already possess a significant place in Gibraltar’s footballing legacy. In 2016, the Red Imps, another Gibraltar club, etched their name in the history books with a stunning 1-0 victory over Celtic in the Champions League qualifiers. This victory was a source of immense pride for the nation, and the Magpies are hoping to replicate this feat with their own monumental upset.
Rooney is acutely aware of the magnitude of the task ahead. He knows that a victory against a team like Copenhagen would be a significant accomplishment, not just for his team but for the entire nation of Gibraltar.
“It’s the biggest game in the club’s history,” he says. “Will there be a bigger game for Bruno’s Magpies against Copenhagen in the future? Will it be in my time, someone else’s? We won’t realize it until we finish the away leg, come away from the arena with our families and we are hopefully in a respectable position in terms of the result. When we shake hands with the opponents and both badges are there on the program it’s massive history. We can’t stop, we have to embrace the next one, keep pushing and hope to have this feeling again.”
The Magpies’ story is a testament to the power of dreams, ambition, and the unwavering spirit of a small nation on the world stage. With Rooney at the helm, they are ready to take on the challenge, hoping to write their own chapter in the history books of European football.
