Football club produces gin to mark 50th anniversary

A FOOTBALL club has created its own brand of gin to mark its 50th anniversary.

Rotherfield United, which plays at the Bishopswood sports ground in Horsepond Road, Gallowstree Common, made the London dry gin at the Henley Distillery in Binfield Heath.

The botanicals are juniper, citrus and spice with notes of Szechuan pepper, bay leaf and orange zest.

The gin is called Rotherfield 1973 — the year the club was founded — at the suggestion of two parents of players.

The design of the bottle label incorporates the club’s bee logo. Club treasurer Alan Noble said: “I tried it and it’s absolutely lovely.”

He has ordered 150 bottles, which will be delivered next month, and has already sold more than 100.

Mr Noble said: “The level of interest has been amazing and orders have been flying in. We’re looking at potentially selling them at Christmas fairs.”

The money raised from sales will go towards new changing rooms and a new all-weather 3G pitch.

The idea of the gin was developed by Mr Noble, club chairman Andy Tidswell and Jon Durrant, creative director of Emmer Green website designers Pixel Beach, after a club quiz night in September where gin was the most popular drink.

They invited parents to come up with the name and label design.

Mr Noble said: “It was important to us that we communicated and engaged with everyone.”

The club will hold a Christmas quiz on Friday, December 2, from 6.30pm to 10pm. A table costs £8 per person, which will include a glass of mulled wine or a drink and a Santa hat.

A Santa dash will be held on Saturday, December 11, when 75 people dressed as Father Christmas will run 2km.

For more information, visit www.rotherfieldfc.com