St Albans City F.C.

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This article is about the English men's football club founded in 1908. For the club founded in 1881, see St Albans F.C.

St Albans City
Full nameSt Albans City Football Club
Nickname(s)The Saints
FoundedApril 1908; 116 years ago (1908-04)
GroundClarence Park
Capacity5,007 (667 seated)
OwnersLawrence Levy and John McGowan[1]
ManagerJon Meakes
LeagueNational League South
2023–24National League South, 11th of 24
WebsiteClub website
Current season

St Albans City Football Club (nicknamed The Saints) is a semi-professional association football based in St Albans, Hertfordshire, England. The club currently competes in the National League South, the sixth level of the English football league system.

It was founded in 1908 and plays its home matches at Clarence Park, about 800 yards from the city centre. It competed in the Conference Premier (now the National League) during the 2006–07 season under the guidance of the then Chairman and Manager Colin Lippiat, but was relegated back to the Conference South after one season and subsequently suffered a further relegation in 2010–11, before returning to the sixth tier in 2013–14 after beating Chesham United 3–1 in the play-off final.

History[edit]

Early history[edit]

Formed in April 1908, St Albans City FC became members both the Spartan League Eastern Division and the Herts County League Western Division.[2] City were champions of the Spartan League Eastern Division and the Herts County League Western Division in 1909–10.[2] St Albans joined the Athenian League in 1920 and won the Athenian League in 1920–21 and 1921–22.[3]

City's most famous match was arguably on 22 November 1922 in a fourth round qualifying FA Cup match. Having been held by Dulwich Hamlet to a 1–1 draw at Clarence Park on 18 November, the replay drew a gate of 4,060. City's New Zealand-born goalkeeper W. Tennant did not appear, his place taken by Alf Fearn who was usually a half-back with the reserves. Dulwich put eight goals past him, the winning goal coming in near darkness at the end of extra time. What put the game in the record books was that City scored seven times, with all seven goals being scored by Wilfred Minter. His feat remains the highest tally by a player on the losing side of an FA Cup tie.[4]

St Albans joined the Isthmian League in 1923 and won it in 1923–24, 1926–27 and 1927–28.[5] City were runners-up in the Isthmian League in 1954–55.[2] In 1973–74, the Saints were relegated from the Isthmian League Premier Division to Division Two along with Corinthian Casuals, being the first clubs to be relegated within the Isthmian League.[3][6] Division Two was renamed Division One in 1977–78, and in 1982–83, St Albans were relegated to the new Division Two.[2] However, City were promoted back to Division One a year later, with a second promotion to the Isthmian League Premier Division occurring in 1985–86.[7] St Albans were semi-finalists in the 1998–99 FA Trophy, losing 4–3 over two legs to Forest Green Rovers.[8]

21st century[edit]

In the 2003–04 Isthmian League, St Albans finished 19th in the Isthmian League, but due to a restructuring, they participated in a play-off for a position in the newly formed Conference South.[5] They won the play-off, beating Heybridge Swifts 4–3 and Bedford Town 5–4.[2] In the 2005–06 season, St Albans City beat Histon 2–0, in the Conference South play-off final at Broadhall Way to earn their first promotion to the Conference National.[9] The club was unable to consolidate their position in the fifth tier and were relegated in bottom position. After relegation to the Conference South, St Albans struggled but would ultimately survive from another relegation. In Summer 2009, it was announced that Gibson's building firm, William Verry, were to go into administration with debts mounting continuously. Gibson himself released a statement in regards to the club's future,[10] stating that it was safe.

On 4 February 2011, the F.A. fined St Albans £7,500 and deducted 10 league points. The punishment was handed down to City chairman John Gibson and then vice-chairman Alasdair McMillin during a Regulatory Hearing at the Association's offices at Wembley, and was in relation to alleged illegal payments to players, described by the FA as financial irregularities, by the club during the 2008–09 season.[11] St Albans were relegated to the Southern League Premier Division at the end of the 2010–11 season. On 12 May 2011, it was announced that local businessmen Lawrence Levy and John Mcgowan had bought the club from previous chairman John Gibson for an undisclosed fee. Now playing in the Southern League Premier Division for the first time in their history and at their lowest level for over 20 years, the saints finished 8th.[12] The 2013–14 season saw an indifferent start to the season, nevertheless, St Albans reached the first round of the FA Cup for the first time since 2002, eventually losing 8–1 at home to League Two Mansfield Town in front of an excess of 3,000 supporters. After setting a record of away wins in a season of 16, they finished the season in 4th place. In the play-offs, they defeated Chesham United 3–1 in the final to earn promotion to the Conference South.[2] In their first season back in the division, they finished 13th.[2]

In the 2021–22 season, St Albans were in the hat for the first round of the FA Cup for the first time since 2016.[2] They beat League Two leaders Forest Green Rovers in the first round but lost to Hertfordshire rivals Boreham Wood in the second.[13][14] In the 2022–23 season, they finished 6th in the league on 75 points. After defeating Chelmsford City and then Dartford on penalties, St Albans would face Oxford City in the play-off final.[2] They would lose 4–0 in the final after four first half goals. In the following season, manager David Noble joined Wealdstone in January 2024 and was later replaced by Jon Meakes. St Albans finished the season in 11th place.[2]

Sponsorship[edit]

Rock band, Enter Shikari, who are from St Albans, have been the main sponsor of St Albans City Football Club since 2020.[15]

Players[edit]

First-team squad[edit]

As of 23 February 2024[16]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK England ENG Michael Johnson
2 DF Republic of Ireland IRL Jack James
3 DF England ENG Sam Brown
4 MF England ENG Ben Smith
5 DF Antigua and Barbuda ATG Daniel Bowry
6 DF England ENG Michael Clark
7 MF England ENG Ryan Blackman
8 MF England ENG Giorgio Rasulo
9 FW England ENG Shaun Jeffers
11 FW England ENG Zane Banton
12 FW England ENG Mitchell Weiss
No. Pos. Nation Player
13 GK England ENG Sam Bentley
26 DF England ENG Joe Partington
16 MF Pakistan PAK Harun Hamid
17 MF England ENG George Morrall
18 MF Cyprus CYP Andronicos Georgiou
20 MF England ENG Charlie McDonald
21 MF France FRA Dylan Fage
22 DF Republic of Ireland IRL Nathan Carlyle
23 DF England ENG Ben Wyatt
26 DF Portugal POR Raul Fernandes da Silva

Out on loan[edit]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
24 FW England ENG Ibby Akanbi (on loan to Dartford)

Former players[edit]

Further information: Category:St Albans City F.C. players

Coaching staff[edit]

As of 8 February 2024[17]
  • Manager: Jon Meakes
  • Head Coach: Harry Wheeler
  • Goalkeeper coach: Peter Russell
  • Head of medical: Dave Hall
  • Physiotherapist: Elise Walters

Records[edit]

Score lines

  • Largest win: 14–0, vs. Aylesbury United, Spartan League, 19 October 1912
  • Heaviest defeat: 11–0 vs. Wimbledon, Isthmian League, 9 November 1946
  • Most goals in one match: 8–7 vs. Dulwich Hamlet, FA Cup fourth qualifying round replay, 22 November 1922
  • Heaviest home defeat: 11–0 vs. Wimbledon, Isthmian League, 9 November 1946
  • Largest away win: 10–0, 11–1 respectively
    • vs. Ruislip Manor, Mithras Cup second round, 24 November 1970
    • vs. Tufnell Spartans, Spartan League, 17 April 1920
  • Heaviest away defeat: 10–0 vs. Hemel Hempstead Town, Herts Charity Cup, 4 November 2008

Attendance records

  • Record home attendance: 9,757 vs. Ferryhill Athletic, Amateur Cup fourth round, 27 February 1926
  • Record attendance (away): 15,850 vs. Wycombe Wanderers, Amateur Cup fourth round, 25 February 1950
  • Lowest home attendance: 41 vs. Hoddesdon Town, Herts Senior Cup second round, 1 November 1999

Honours[edit]

Source:[18]

League

Cup

  • London Senior Cup
    • Winners: 1970–71
    • Runners-up: 1969–70
  • Herts Senior Cup
    • Winners (17): 1924–25, 1928–29, 1934–35, 1943–44, 1946–47, 1950–51, 1954–55, 1955–56, 1956–57, 1965–66, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1999–2000, 2004–05, 2019-20, 2023-24
    • Runners-up (12): 1910–11, 1941–42, 1942–43, 1947–48, 1952–53, 1957–58, 1964–65, 1970–71, 1978–79, 1989–90, 1994–95, 2018–19

References[edit]

  1. ^ "St Albans FC club ownership". Retrieved 10 February 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Football Club History Database - St Albans City". www.fchd.info. Archived from the original on 29 November 2020. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  3. ^ a b "Timeline". St Albans City F.C. Archived from the original on 21 August 2019. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  4. ^ "Headstone for Wilfred Minter". St Albans City F.C. 6 November 2017. Archived from the original on 18 September 2020. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  5. ^ a b "England - Isthmian League". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 20 May 2019. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  6. ^ "History of St Albans City F.C." St Albans City F.C. Archived from the original on 25 August 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  7. ^ "Football Club History Database - St Albans City". www.fchd.info. Archived from the original on 29 November 2020. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  8. ^ "Football Club History Database - F.A. Trophy 1998-99". www.fchd.info. Archived from the original on 24 February 2020. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  9. ^ Euan Duncan. "St Albans City have won promotion to the Nationwide Conference beating Histon at Broadhall Way". BBC. Archived from the original on 27 January 2019. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
  10. ^ "Statement From John Gibson-Wednesday, 29 April 2009". Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  11. ^ "St Albans City fined and deducted points". www.thefa.com. Archived from the original on 18 May 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  12. ^ "Bonus Code". Archived from the original on 27 June 2014. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  13. ^ Pilnick, Brent (7 November 2021). "St Albans City 3–2 Forest Green Rovers". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  14. ^ Poole, Harry (6 December 2021). "Boreham Wood 4–0 St Albans City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  15. ^ sport, Guardian (2 September 2020). "Enter Shikari and big bands sponsoring small football teams". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  16. ^ "St Albans City Men 2023/24". www.stalbanscityfc.com. Archived from the original on 12 August 2023. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
  17. ^ "First Team". St Albans FC. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  18. ^ Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "St Albans City (1926/27)". national-football-teams.com. Retrieved 3 April 2023.

External links[edit]

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