St Albans City FC

One of the oldest and most famous names in non-league football, St Albans City FC has a proud tradition stretching back to 1908, and, in home ground Clarence Park, one of the most famous venues in Isthmian football to match.

Upton Park were the first ever visitors to Clarence Park, in an FA Cup tie in October, 1908, although it was not until the 1920s that the Saints really began to make their mark.

In the season 1920-21, the Saints faced league opposition for the first time, losing 3-1 to Gillingham in Round Two of the FA Cup, while, in front of crowds of more than 10,000, City were crowned Anthenian champions in 1921 and 1922, Isthmian champions in 1924,1927 and 1928 and reached the semi-final of the illustrious FA Amateur Challenge Cup in 1923.

Progress was also made off the park, as Saints were granted full FA status and the famous Clarence Park main stand was erected.

The Saints then slumped for a number of years, yo-yoing between Isthmian Divisions with only the second round of the FA Cup to show for more than 60 years of football, before the next golden period in the club's history in the 1990s.

The side finished runners up in the Isthmian Premier Division in 1993 and towards the end of the decade continually challenged in the now Ryman Premier Division - despite growing off-the-pitch problems.

The club also reached the second round of the FA Cup again in 1996/97 and were only 13 minutes from Wembley in 1999, before a late equaliser robbed the Saints of a place in the final of the FA Challenge Trophy.

However, the Saints' darkest day occured only two years later when the club was two weeks from being wound up by the High Court before a last-minute deal saw John Gibson, representing William Verry Construction, take over from Lee Harding as chairman.

Now under the guidance of co-managers Gary Roberts a former Wales Under-21 international and Steve Cook, the Saints have solved their off-the pitch problems and look set for another crack at the Ryman Premier League title.

12:12 Friday 16th August 2002

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