2005
07 Oct 2011

A Saturday training session set up at Woodlands camp Streetly back in 2005 was to prove the beginnings of our current club.

That first group included Oscar Askey and Sonny Bird both still play for this squad today.Then known as Erdington Star Woodlands the club suggested we had enough players to enter the Lichfield u8 league if someone was prepared to look after the team.

Steve Bird and Ade Askey were qualified coaches already so it was agreed they would prepare the lads for their first ever season.
Nick Stevens joined the squad before their first game, Steve put together a sky blue kit and Erdington Star Woodlands u8's began.

The team finished mid-table but popularity was growing fast and by the start of their next campaign the numbers had grown so much that two teams were created with Hugh Ramsey forming a new team to be called "the Shadows".

u9 proved a very successful season with the arrival of Joseph Gildea and Daniel Kemp Steve's new squad went on to win division 2!
HEXIS Uk had also taken a keen interest in the squads and kindly purchased new kit for all teams!

Still growing, the group decided to move away from Woodlands and set up new home at Forge Lane.

Now simply called Erdington Star, yet more teams were created.
At u10 level we had a Star team in division One, Hugh's Shadows in Division 2 and our latest mini-soccer squad called "the Comets" in division 3.

Steve made the decision to run the new Comets team in Division 3 with Sonny in goal for the first time the new team went on to win promotion!

Unfortunately our u10 division One team were having a torrid time and Steve was forced to take over.

Everyone involved with the three teams had now become very close after indulging in a tour at the end of the season. Bonds were built between parents around the bar and friendships made this more than just a game of football for our son's and their parents.

By 2008 we had grown so strong the group really didn't need the complication of Erdington Star and its politics.

Steve and Sonny discovered McKechnies during a Saturday afternoon practise session and the Aldridge based club were approached to take on our teams.

A meeting was held with Steve, Hexis MD Phil Wilkins, Gary Smith and Hugh it was agreed the time had come to go it alone.

With "C'mon the Star" now firmly embedded in the team’s history the new club name was chosen with our colours set to include Red.(Steve had been struck by a radio piece suggesting red was the most successful colour in football!) Red Star was agreed with AFC finishing off our new title.

Red Star AFC played its first ever official game at u11 level in 2008 and our new 11-a-side team did not disappoint gaining promotion to Lichfield’s top flight at its first attempt.

Again popularity was increasing and in 2009 our u12's had two 11-a-side squads with Hugh again taking a new team into division 2 while Steve took his squad into Division 1.

Things started badly with a poor result against Beacon Colts. The early season excitement was quickly tamed as colts inflicted an 8-2 drubbing on our squad. Steve decided new players were needed if the team were to survive and so Connor Griffiths and Jordan Newell arrived from the Walsall league. The new look squad managed to survive relegation and reversed the Beacon result at the end of the campaign inflicting a 4-1 result on the colts.

Meanwhile Hugh Ramseys squad were gaining promotion from division 2.

The club welcomed aboard Pelsall Bush Raiders for the start of 2010. Changing their name to Red Star Raiders, already established the Red Star name would now be represented in the Walsall League.

Now at u13. Scott Wilkins was to increase his families involvement by creating a third team to be called "Hexis Red Star"
Steve's team now included Matthew Bishop, Dominic Cotter, Elliot Hickling and James Earle. Four lads who had been convinced to join us after the demise of Boldmere S&S. These talented lads were instrumental in the new look squads first games 5-1 victory over Wyrley Tigers. Later on in this season the team were bringing home more silverwear reaching the Leagues cup final for the first time in our history.this big game after defeating Hughs team in the semi-final. “The Dynamo’s” as they were known also included Courtney Jones. Steve’s “Sporting” squad also took four points from their rivals finishing fourth in the league.

2011 saw Star negotiate exclusivity at McKechnies meaning only Red Star teams would use the playing facility

Our club now had five teams that’s over 65 lads representing our badge it also had the biggest representation at u14 level and has gained six trophies since its formation six seasons ago.

2012 saw Hugh, Steve and Scott running u14 squads in their individual divisions. While Marc James has become the new kid on the block taking his "Red Star Sharks" u9 team on its first mini-soccer journey. Star's Raiders continue to play in the Walsall league away from McKechnies at u10 they are the only team not using our home ground for matches.

Red Star AFC looks set for a fruitful future now a major player in division One Steves squad are enjoying another successful season.

“C’MON THE STAR!”