story time

How did the name Groundhogs come to light, and who decided on the name. I'm sure it wasn't named after the group that appeared at Krumlin all those years ago but ? 

Stephen Ellis replies:

Yes, it was exactly as you thought was unlikely.

 I first saw the Groundhogs at the I’ll fated Krumlin Festival and subsequently, legend Mick Robinson saw them in concert at St George’s Hall, Bradford with a few others. I vaguely remember having a beer with T S McPhee at the bar, but my memory could be playing tricks . I think we were supposed to see them at Clarences but the gig was cancelled. I bought most of their albums. "Split", as you may know was the album with the cover showing them at Krumlin. It was as a slightly anarchic gesture that I suggested the name of it to the team / club . It just sounded a bit more individual and infinitely more interesting than being Bradshaw Athletic or Tavern Rangers. I remember early days when we would play Cherry Red in ,the changing rooms before some games.
Groundhogs just seemed to be appropriate for the group of guys and girls that the team emerged from. Another minor anarchic gesture was when the teams were put into the Courier for league matches. There would often be K Marx , C Guevara and Mao along side Collins, White and Sutcliffe.
And then there was the club tie but that’s for another day! 

So now you know!!