Phoenix Academy (When It All Began)

Phoenix was started in june 1980 by Craig Butler as a teen with his friends which were all 11 to 12 years old. The group formed to use football as a means to gain higher education, ie football scholarships, to develop the sport and the growth level and to make successful lives. This was inspired by Craig himself playing in the under 17s for Meadhaven at an early age of 12 and his peers having nowhere to play as there were no u13 or u15 competitions at that time.The members of the group reached their goals. Kirk and Kit Kennedy are now established civil engineers. Chris Williams a top investment banker, Leon Bailey an Exec. with Toshiba in the US. Other members like Richard Mcdonld also did well. A promise was made that when a child called the Phoenix spirit would be reborn again.

Craig Butler, having lost his first son Craig Butler jr in a bitter custody dispute, in the meantime focused on his second son Kyle who said his life desire was to be a professional footballer. Craig put everything into his boys Kyle , Leon and Kevaughn. Phoenix then blossomed into the powerhouse Football Academy it is today.