An end of season dinner for the Coventry Crusaders after season 1993/94 saw the first meeting between Sharyne Barson and Robert 'Dip' Donaldson, Crusaders owner.

When Dip realised Sharyne was a dancer he asked her, if there was a need for Cheerleaders the following season, would she be interested in a coaching role.

Some weeks later Sharyne was invited along to an interview, the outcome was the birth of 'The Crew', (although not yet known as this.)

Auditions for a squad of 20 girls were held in August of 1994 in readiness for the commencement of the 1994/95 season. The girls had one outing into the general public as they performed-at Coombe Abbey Country Park with Sharyne's Dancing School before taking their bow on September 24th 1994 for the first home basketball match of the new season. For the record, the first half time routine was 'Let this Feeling' by Simone Angel. .

Outside of the basketball games, the first bookings were starting to filter through: - performing again at Coombe Abbey for the Crusaders Sponsor - Mercia Health Benefits, two school fetes and performing at Nottingham for an away Crusader game.

The second full audition was now due, with again 20 girls required. Most of the old squad were re-signed and there were a few new additions. However, a year on and our standards and knowledge of what we were looking for led to only 17 girls successfully passing the test.

More bookings were now arriving. A third visit to Coombe Abbey for 4th of July celebrations and Coventry Donkey Derby to name but two. It was during these bookings that girls approached us about joining. Those suitable allowed the squad to build up to the required 20.

After the first season's outfit of crop top, shorts and cap, which was all that could be afforded at the time, a new look took to the court for season two. This time the girls were all in blue. (leotard, skirt and glitterjazz shoes.)

It was now that the Crusader Cheerleaders, as they were still known, acquired their first major sponsor - Midland Bank. Immediately they were booked by Midland Bank to help launch the British Olympic Appeal Fund and as a result made their first appearance as a squad into the local Evening Telegraph. (The first of many.)

During the basketball season the girls once again had the opportunity to follow the Crusaders away from home, this time to Cardiff. While in Cardiff we met people who were involved with the United Kingdom Cheerleading Association. They told us of the annual championships which were next to be held in April 1996.

The following months passed by, as the squad continued to develop, a decision was made to attend the Cheerleading Championships on a fact finding mission. We only took 5 of the girls but still decided to enter. It was at this time the squad acquired the name - 'The Crew’.

With no experience of competition it was hardly surprising that 'The Crew' finished out of the trophies. However, their learning curve took a significant move skywards as terms such as 'Spirit' were taken on board.

As the basketball season drew to a close the bookings began pouring in with attendance required at numerous school and village fetes, fire station open days, etc. But two were to prove most significant. The first was a guest booking for Coventry Rugby Club; sufficient impression was obviously made as this guest booking led to 'The Crew' being booked for the whole season 1996/97. The second was for the National Scout Kit Car Rally which was held on the Jaguar Cars site in Coventry, the significance being that the girls were for the first time treated as celebrities, as a 45 minute photo and autograph session will testify.

The third annual auditions took place in June 1996 and on this occasion 28 girls were taken on, the rise in numbers due to the rise in bookings.

Throughout the summer, 'The Crew' were to be found out in the public most weekends with sometimes two bookings a day.

As August arrived, the girls were intensifying their training when the call came from Coventry City Football Club asking if they would like to join them for the upcoming season. So now, just two years on from those early tentative steps we were the official Cheerleaders for three of the major sports in the City of Coventry.

Needless to say, new outfits were the order of the day. Last season's outfit was not totally discarded as the leotard and skirt were redesigned to become one item. Added to this were shimrner tights, white jazz boots and a sparkling red jacket with white fringing. The new outfit was to be used at basketball and football matches while the Rugby Club fitted the girls out in individual jazzy rugby shirts and shorts.

It goes without saying, the girls thoroughly enjoyed the season - cheering on all three teams. During the season Sharyne made numerous appearances on local radio and the local Coventry Cable Channel as the media began to show a genuine interest in 'The Crew.' The bookings continued to arrive with the girls booked for the City Council at their Motor Centenary celebrations and also the switching on of the Christmas lights in the City Centre.

As in previous years the girls followed the Crusaders away. This time to Mansfield where Nottingham were playing. The Nottingham owners were very impressed and booked 'The Crew' to go and guest for them in an up-corning game.

Into 1997 and the first time 'The Crew' had been booked to perform an official store opening. Curry's Electrical Retailers opened a new superstore in the City and booked 'The Crew' to do the job.

February arrived and it was off to the UK Cheerleading Championships at Butlins in Skegness. The whole squad went this time and came away with an outstanding result. In both sections cheer/chant and dance - they were placed SECOND! They received medals, certificates and two lovely trophies. It was a wonderful day for all those involved. However, going to Skegness was not only for championship day, it was also a holiday with the squad staying on for the whole week. The girls had arrived in Skegness with an excellent team spirit, they returned home with that intact but more than that they had become one big very happy family.

On returning home, the local media gave good coverage and of course - even more bookings turned up.

The latest batch included the St Patrick's Day pageant in the City and the store opening of House of Fraser in Leamington Spa with TV celebrities Emma Forbes and Tim Vincent. The girls followed the Crusaders to an away game in Oxford where their owners were very complimentary, telling us they had never seen such a professional squad in the UK.

By late spring all three sports had concluded business and 'The Crew' bookings had intensified. We made our first appearance on live national TV - Channel 5's 'Turnstyle' programme - leaving the girls hungry for more TV exposure and then embarked upon a very full and busy summer of bookings. In one weekend alone they performed at seven different venues.

All three local radio stations in Coventry have taken a keen interest in 'The Crew' and one in particular - Kix 96 - have used them on a frequent basis for promotional work throughout Coventry and Warwickshire.

'The Crew' were approached by a London agency to do some work for Continental Airlines of America (the sixth largest airline in the world.) The girls did two bookings promoting the start of regular flights from Birmingham to New York in Birmingham and Dudley and were honoured to be invited to perform at the inaugural flight from Birmingham Airport.

Whatever the occasion the girls are always willing to give up their time, in a fifteen day period they were booked for thirteen of them! During this time they launched a new perfume for House of Fraser (Tommy Girl) in Leamington Spa and performed at Wembley Arena with the World Champion Chicago Luvabulls during a basketball tournament. Bookings continue to arrive constantly, many months in advance. In 1997 'The Crew' performed on 172 occasions - dedication indeed!

Into 1998 and the year got off to a sparkling start as 'The Crew' were invited to take part in the New Year's Day Parade in London - the only UK squad to receive an invitation. It was a great day with many thousands lining the route around London's West End. At the end of the Parade 'The Crew' were filmed by an American TV Company to finish off their programme. All efforts were then concentrated on preparing for the U.K Cheerleading Championships which were to be held in February in Pwllheli, North Wales. Once again 'The Crew' were entered in both sections, dance and cheer/chant, where they surpassed last year's two 2nd places, by being awarded 1st place in both sections - an excellent achievement.

As with last year's success the local Press gave valuable coverage and the bookings continued to arrive. Amongst the latest batch was a personal invite from the World Speedway Champion, Greg Hancock, to perform at his testimonial meeting, charity performances for the Bosnia Appeal and countless carnivals and fetes.

At the 1998 auditions 'The Crew' was again expanded as the standard of girls trying to earn a place had risen. The squad now numbers 33 on its roster.

'The Crew' are equally as comfortable with their role at any booking they undertake, whether it be a day clinic for children in care or an event televised live around the world - the latter being a return visit to the Speedway to perform and participate in the British Grand Prix, an event for which the girls received widespread congratulations.

Recently 'The Crew' travelled to London to take part in auditions for the Michael Barrymore Show, "My Kind of People." The judges were extremely complimentary and within a week we were notified that we had been successful and were required for the show.

Rightfully the girls are achieving a certain standing in the local community and a steady stream of autograph and photo requests are very much appreciated, even now they are being asked to sign football shirts alongside the autographs of Gary McAllister and Dion Dublin, to name but two.

This has been just a brief insight into the legacy which 'The Crew' are developing. It takes a special sort of girl to be in 'The Crew', not only in dance, stunts and appearance, but also in commitment. If a girl wishes to join the squad it soon becomes apparent to her just how much dedication is required. Not only will she attend training etc., but there are also the bookings to contend with. However, for the right girl the rewards are plentiful as any of them will testify. How many people have the chance to represent their City and be ambassadors for their favourite sports, to perform in front of tens of thousands of people, appear in other cities, rub shoulders with celebrities and most importantly, make a lot of friends who share your passion? In 'The Crew' we are trying to develop cheerleading along the lines of the US professional squads. It will take time but with the desire and commitment we have we will get there!

On a personal note 'The Crew' owners, Sharyne and Gary Barson, have now taken over the running of the United Kingdom Cheerleading Association. We know where we want to take the association and as with 'The Crew' know it will take time. However, 'The Crew' is just four years old and yet is achieving far quicker than first anticipated, so watch this space for the development of the U.K.C.A.