10/27/2025
There always comes a time when you realize you’ve accomplished everything you set out to do—and that it’s time to step aside and let a new and exciting era take the reins. So it’s with a touch of sadness, but a heart full of pride, that I’m announcing the end of the British PaviLION.
We did what we came to do—every bit of it, whether out front or behind the scenes—and we did it our way.
We were never fans of the affiliate schemes, and we still aren’t.
Truth be told, if things had been run the way they should’ve been, there wouldn’t have been a need for them in the first place. But once we stepped in, we made damn sure we were on the right side of things. We fought hard to create a home for everyone—especially those who felt left out, pushed aside, or bullied. That mattered to us. It still does.
I’m deeply proud of the legacy we leave behind: creating a safe space for kids to enjoy the matches (a tradition that still lives on), working with supporters’ groups and the front office to head off problems before they started, and championing countless initiatives—from feeding the homeless and gifting presents to kids each season, to supporting charities, Pulse, Manchester, COVID, helping new affiliates find their footing, honoring our absent friends, and standing with the British Legion and Wounded Warrior Project.
We spoke up when the club made boneheaded decisions—and today, the last of what drew our ire has finally been moved on.
At the end of the day, we were just five blokes and a kid who wanted to enjoy our football, have a few laughs, and honor the British heritage that helped start this club—before it was rewritten by the Brazilian regime. We never imagined we’d have over 100 people per game raising a glass to the Queen.
But time moves on. People change. Kids grow up. And the original goals—and the people who carried them—are no longer needed in the same way.
We’re proud of the relationships we built and kept through thick and thin—with the Front Office, ILF, Black Swans, and the Ruckus. And we’re proud that from day one, we provided a place for people to gather and watch away games. That part won’t change. We’ll still be at Murphy’s. It’s become such a tradition that it doesn’t even need a flyer.
We nearly wrapped this up three years ago, but then came a glimmer of hope that turned into a full-on blaze when we moved into the Mane Street Lot. It felt like turning back time—Lot 11 reborn. And now, three years on, we can say with full hearts that the standards and spirit we hoped for in pregaming are alive and well. The Orlando Leftovers Social Club is a worthy successor, and that’s where you’ll still find Sherry and me on matchdays.
So no, this isn’t goodbye. It’s just time to close the door and turn off the lights at the PaviLION. We’ve served our purpose.
One last fun fact for the road: since the PaviLION first opened on matchday one in 2015, we’ve toasted our way through approximately 230 bottles of scotch. Not bad, eh?
To everyone who enjoyed what we built—thank you, truly. And if you didn’t… well, I’ll raise one last glass and say: I don’t give a f**k.
Colin
In Loving Memory of Scott, Joey, Doug, Emilio, and Enrique.
God Save The King
God Bless Our Troops
This is our City
3 Fu***ng Points
