We Hate Ben History

We Hate Ben FC are a amateur football team based in Aberyswtyth, Wales. The club are affectionately known as The SoccerJoos and traditionally play in yellow and blue.

The team were originally formed in 2006 when a group of students at Aberystwyth University decided to form a football team that would join in the annual Aberystwyth Digs League. Founding members of the included Chairman Lee Pemberton, while board members and ex-players Jack Henry, Ross Pope, Rich Cross, John Warren and former club captain Gareth Harvey. Former manager and current player and Director of football James Naik, former Assistant Manager and ex-player Ben Court (whom the club was named after), and current player Jason Dodsworth were also important to the formation of the club.

We Hate Ben joined the ADL in 2006 and played in Division 1 in the 2006/07 season. One of the newest clubs in the ADL they struggled in their first season and finished nineth, bottom of the league. The team also hold the ADL record for the biggest ever defeat - a 22-0 hammering by Y Geltaidd, the oldest club in the competition. The club then played in a Wooden Spoon Play-Off match against the bottom club from Division 2. The opponents Chicken Kiev were thrashed 6-1 and We Hate Ben managed to save themselves from humiliation.

In their second season outgoing Manager Lee Pemberton (who then became Chairman) was replaced by James Naik, who had been sustained a long-term injury during a 2-0 league defeat by Punjabi in the previous season. Naik oversaw an exodus and improved the team in many areas as the club tried to make the top six and the subsequent play-off competition. The club achieved its first ever League win and it remains its record winning margin and only clean sheet - a 9-0 destruction of Gigolo Warriors. The club won another match during the season, beating Inter Abergeldie 2-1 in their final match. The wins were not enough to get into the top six and the club finished seventh in their second season.

The club's third season saw a marked improvement as Naik brought in more players and vastly improved the amount of quality in the side. The club reached the quarter-finals of the first edition of the ADL Aberystwyth Town Cup, losing in a nerve-racking penalty shootout to rivals Sex Panthers. The club did briefly challenge for the Kanes League Two (re branded from Divison Two) title, only to fall away and finish in fourth. Despite this, the finish saw the clubs highest and far removed from the last-placed finish two years previously. The club suffered defeat in the the ADL Trophy semi-final to Premiership Pornstars, but managed to win the ADL Consolation Cup in style, securing the first piece of silverware.

After the high's of the previous season Naik stepped down and was replaced by Alex MacDonald, a player Naik has originally brought to the club. MacDonald was unable to take charge of the first game, as Naik stepped in to win the ADL Aberystwyth Town Cup 1st round tie. MacDonald returned for the next game against Sons Of Pitches in the second round, and after seeing his side demolished 15-3 decided to step down shortly after. Naik returned despite criticism eventually guided the team to a second fourth-placed finish and even managed to top the table at Easter, despite an injury crisis and the upheaval caused by MacDonald's departure and subsequent move to rival side Unatletico Madrid. The club went one further and reached the ADL Shield Final (formally Trophy), losing a close game 2-1 to On The Pier. The points total in the league was also the clubs highest.

The fifth season begins soon and preseason preparations are slowly beginning to get underway. New manager Matt L'argent took charge as Naik stepped down for a second time to take up the role of Director of Football, and the clubs progress will be expected to continue.

We Hate Ben play league matches at Blaendolau Fields and have done since their inception. The club have also played friendlies at other grounds including Aberyswyth University Astro-Turf, Pantycleyn Fields and Parc Lodge Field.

We Hate Ben formed rivalries with former Aberystwyth DIGS League teams Aber S.P.O.T.S and Punjabi FC in their first years, while a rivalry developed with Y Geltaidd after their 22-0 mauling last season. Unatletico Madrid (formerly Gigolo Warriors) began a rivalry after being beaten 9-0 and 9-1 and the transfers of Adam Smith and Alex MacDonald, but they have decided to fold. ATFC Lions (formally Black Lions) also believe themselves to be rivals due to having been beaten in every match against WHB. The SoccerJoos however do not consider any side to be a main rival since both Aber S.P.O.T.S and Unatletico Madrid folded, but do have a professional rivalry with On The Pier and Premiership Pornstars after successive defeats in league and play-offs.