IT is a town synonymous with rugby.

Melrose were crowned Scottish champions for the third time in four years last season.

But, not so very far away, another team representing the town at a different sport was also making its mark.

Melrose Football Club, who played their home games at Tweedbank, made its debut in the Border Amateur League year.

It kicked off when C Division side Abbotsford Albion signed a new sponsorship deal with Melrose pub The Ship Inn following a disappointing first season in which it finished bottom of the league.

However, with the name change came a new identity epitomised by the club’s new strips which were emblazoned yellow and black - the colours associated with the abbey town and its famous rugby team.

That instilled a new confidence in the club - managed by Graham Godsell and his assistant, brother-in-law Stuart Dodds - and a fifth place finish in the league, in addition to a historic cup victory over Gala Fairydean Rovers, one of the biggest teams in the Borders, earned them a new respect from their opponents.

They were no longer the fourth tier club in Galashiels but the top team in Melrose - football team that is, even if some locals didn’t know they existed.

Godsell, whose wife Claire is the club secretary, told the Border Telegraph: “It started off with us being Abbotsford Albion the first season but the chance to change our name to Melrose arose through sponsorship. It’s an untapped market for football - the majority have welcomed us with open arms but it’s difficult to get past that oval shaped ball.

“As Abbotsford Albion nobody expected too much of us and we got exactly where it was thought we were going to get - rock bottom of the league in our first season. That was due to Gala Athletic folding though as they were below us.” But he added: “As Melrose, we got mid-table in the first season.” The new team, captained by Roddy Eardley, attracted players from as far apart as Galashiels and Duns, as well as a number of young stars from Melrose.

And they went on to score a famous 4-3 victory over Gala Fairydean Rovers - a team two division above them - in the quarter-final of the Waddell Cup after extra time.

Godsell said: “There had never been a C Division team reached the semis of that competition before, in fact I don’t think a C Division team had even reached the quarter finals before. We were the first C Division team to get that far and we did it in style.

“We beat Hawick 7-1, St Boswells 2-1 and then Gala 4-3 and then (A Division side) Gordon turned up and beat us 8-3. But it was one of those games, every time they shot they scored.” While the club’s victory over Gala in the Border Amateur Football League meant just as much to the players as it would their rugby counterparts in the corresponding fixture in the RBS Premiership, it went unnoticed by most in Melrose.

Eardley explained: “When we beat Gala Rovers I thought: 'There will be a few pints in Melrose tonight’ - but nobody had a clue!

“Six months into the season we were sat in the Ship and the locals came in and asked: 'Who are you?’ We said: 'We play for Melrose’. They said: 'You don’t play rugby’ and we said: 'No’. And they said: 'Well Melrose doesn’t have a football team’ and we said: 'It does now’. And they said: 'Pleased to meet you’.” The club played most of their games at Tweedbank last season but the state of the pitch next to the sports complex meant they had to switch some games to Netherdale - home of Melrose rugby’s arch-rivals Gala.

However, Melrose, which thanked sponsor Keith McDonald at the Ship Inn for his continued support, revealed it was keen to find a new home in the town it is named after.

Godsell, who revealed drainage works had to date at least sunk the club’s hopes of playing at the Gibson Park, said: “We were looking to just walk up from the pitch to the Ship which would have been ideal for us but it’s not going to happen now.

“It’s not the ideal situation having possibly to play home games in Gala but if it gets us through one more season before we can get into Melrose we’ll do it.” Melrose may have to do without top goalscorer William 'Bongo’ Mercer - who scored 28 times last season - as he considers hanging up his boots after becoming a dad.

However, they may already have found his replacement in former Leeds United trialist Kevin Paterson, from Hawick, who missed most of last season through injury.

Other promising players include Michael Mcaulay, Robbie Darling, Steven Kerr, Corey Molloy and Fergus McPhillimi.

And the team is inviting any others who think they can help put football on the map in Melrose - the birthplace of rugby sevens - to join them at training on the back sports pitches in Tweedbank on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 6.15pm.

With former Division A side Duns returning to the Border Amateur League in Division C next season following a spell competing in the Cumbrian league, along with Peebles and Selkirk, who were relegated from Division B at the end of last season, there is everything to play for.

Eardley said: “We want to equal our position in the league last season or better it. The philosophy this season is to try and play some attractive football and put the round ball on the map in Melrose.” While the new league fixtures have yet to be announced, Melrose kick-off the new season on the last Saturday in August. However, their next pre-season game is at home to Peebles on Saturday, August 9.