St Albans City F.C. - History

History

Founded in April 1908, the golden period in the history of St Albans City Football Club came during the 1920s.

In 1999, under manager Garry Hill, the Saints reached the last four of the FA Trophy but within two years were facing closure after being suspended by the Isthmian League for failing to maintain payments agreed by the previous board of directors to clear a six-figure debt. In February 2002, with the club having already made one visit to the High Court in London, a new buyer came forward and overnight the debt was cleared. Since that time the Saints have existed very successfully within their financial means although the rise into the Nationwide Conference has been far from smooth.

Despite finishing just three points clear of relegation from the Premier Division of the Isthmian League in 2003–04, the Saints secured a place in the Conference South on the back of remarkable 4–3 and 5–4 Play-Off victories at Heybridge Swifts and Bedford Town respectively. Midway through the following campaign City were rooted to the foot of the table and facing an immediate return to the Isthmian League. Their fortunes changed with the appointment of the experienced Colin Lippiatt, assistant manager to Geoff Chapple during Woking's numerous successes during the 1980s, who moulded a struggling outfit into an attack-minded one that rose to the safety of 14th place. The 2005–06 Conference South season kicked off with two consecutive defeats before Lippiatt's side found their rhythm and ultimately pushed Weymouth for the championship right to the final week of the season. City, scorers of 14 goals more than the second highest scoring team in the Division, had to settle for second place but successfully claimed a place in the Conference by overcoming Histon in the Play-Off final in front of 3,175 spectators at Stevenage.