The fictional personality of Robin Hood has captured the imagination of people all over the world. What’s not to like? A tale of a fight for justice, with plenty of action, symbolism, romance and excitement. It’s up everyone’s ally, right?Well, there are at least three football clubs where the love and admiration for good old Robin has been taken to another level. Let’s meet them, shall we?Sport Vereniging Robinhood is the most successful club in Suriname. The club was founded in 1945 as a vehicle to unite and entertain poor boys in the Surinamese capital of Paramaribo. Although the name of the club sounds awfully familiar to everyone who read the story about Robin of Loxley and Lady Marion, there are no documents to explain what was the reasoning behind the choice of this name – or the fact that the words Robin and Hood have been fused into one.S.V. Robinhood from the SVB Topklasse, the topflight of football in Suriname. pic.twitter.com/Op3ZIsZ4Vu— Flogo (@Flogo29887704) February 19, 2021 Nevertheless, SV Robinhood quickly grew in stature and earned backing from many football lovers in the area. Robinhood teams used to play barefoot in the early days, quickly prompting admiration and support. Even after winning the Third Division title, Robinhood weren’t allowed to compete in the country’s second-tier league because the local football association required all players at that level to wear proper football boots. So they just decided not to get promoted for a while!Those days are long gone, of course, but the reputation as being “the poor boys” has remained. Despite winning the national title 24 times and becoming the most successful club in this South American country, Robinhood remained humble. They also competed on the international level, where they reached the CONCACAF Cup final five times. However, every time they fell at the last hurdle and lost all five finals between 1972 and 1983.Friday, 04.30: (1.25) Cruz Azul (5.80) Forge (12.0)The club has had a few tours to The Netherlands in the 1970s and 1980s. There, they played against the biggest clubs – Ajax, Feyenoord, Volendam and others. These guys don’t steal from the rich to give to the poor – because they are rich!Some 3,000 kilometres to the north of Suriname, in the Atlantic Ocean, lies the tiny island nation of Bermuda, one of the British Overseas Territories. In the local Bermudian Premier Division, there is a club called Robin Hood Football Club. The team was established by a group of friends in a pub called Robin Hood, so the name was taken for the football club too.Kwame’s opener from last night.🚀🚀🚀 pic.twitter.com/nySDBYz1Hw— RobinHoodFC (@RobinHood_FC) November 7, 2021 For a team that was founded over a few drinks, it’s rather amazing to learn that they have won the title in 2017. Absolutely remarkable.It would have been strange if there weren’t clubs by the name Robin Hood in England, right? Well, there is one – Robin Hood Athletic in Leeds. They compete in the West Yorkshire Association Football League, which is the eleventh level of football in England. If they go on a quest to the Premier League, they would have to win promotion ten times. It’s highly unlikely but you must never write Robin Hood off!Robin Hood Athletic 1-0 Carlton AthleticWYAFL Premier Division Another fantastic little ground that I’d have never normally stumbled across! #groundhopping pic.twitter.com/rgntuiL9ou— ßen (@BCAFCBH) April 17, 2021 We’ll round off this trip across the Atlantic, to England and back now. Well, unless you want to hear something about Nottingham Forest.
