St Andrews Utd Club History

There is documentary evidence that St Andrews Ancient City Athletic played Junior Football as far back as 1893. They were still playing under this name until at least season 1900/01 and played their matches at Kinness Park in the Howe of Fife Junior League. There is also evidence that St Andrews City were in force from at least 1900 until 1914. Another St Andrews team, St Andrews Violet played for a number of seasons. St Andrews Athletic and St Andrews Merchantiles are also briefly mentioned about this time. There is no trace of any of these teams reappearing after the First World War. However we have recently discovered a picture from 1907/8 season which clearly shows St Andrews United

A team called St Andrews Comrades were certainly in force during season 1920/21 and played at Links Park. The first mention of St Andrews United had previously been in season 1919/20 when they played at Lade Braes Park and were one of seven teams that played in the East Fife Junior League. In season 1922/23 there is confirmation that they played at Recreation Park (our home today) and competed in the Fife Junior League(East). They finished 7th in a 12 team league with 11 wins from 22 league matches.

The club have had three "purple" patches during their history, the late 1920's, the early 1960's and the end 1980's/early 1990's. The club won the league championship for three consecutive seasons, 1926/27, 1927/28 and 1928/29, the first club to retain the trophy. This feat has been equalled by four other Fife clubs and no team has won the Fife Junior League on four consecutive occasions. St Andrews United were the first winners of the Fife Cup in season 1927-28. They retained the trophy in the following season. In addition they won the Fife Shield, East Fife Cup and the Martin White Cup during this period.

Without doubt the clubs greatest ever season was 1959-60, when they won the Scottish Junior Cup for the first and only time in their history. They defeated Greenock Juniors 3-1 in the Final at Hampden Park after being 1-0 down at half-time. The team that brought the cup back to St Andrews was: Lister, WP Penman, Hughes, Crookston, Davidson, Wills, Carmichael, Fraser, Smith, W Penman and Borella. Goal scorers were Borella (2) and W Penman, this team was a "one-off" they never played together before or after this match. To complete a triumphant season St Andrews also won the Fife League, Fife Cup and the Rosslyn Cup. The following season the club retained the Fife League. The league was next won in season 1964-65 when they defeated Lochore Welfare 2-1 at home in the last match of the season. This denied Lochore a record breaking fourth consecutive title.

St Andrews United had a lean spell for a number of years and came close to shutting down in 1973. It was only thanks to the efforts of Chairman John Wilson, who enlisted the services of ex-player Brian Cook as team manager, that the club survived. It was not until Norrie McArthur was appointed team manager at the start of season 1988/89 that the club turned their potential into trophies. In his first season the club won three of the four local cups played for. In season 1989/90 the club won their 30 league matches without losing a game. They went through the season with only 3 defeats in 60 matches and also won the League Cup, Fife Cup, East Coast Windows Cup and the Rosslyn Cup. Norrie was ably assisted by Ernie McGarr and Alan Speirs during this successful period. Since this successful season St Andrews Utd have won three other pieces of silverware. The first, in 1994/95, where Hill o'Beath were defeated in the Fife & Lothians Cup, then in 2004/05 when the team overcame Hill o'Beath again to lift the Fife Cup after a dramatic penalty shoot out. Finally, their most recent success came in the 'Kingdom Kegs' Cowdenbeath Cup 2005/06 defeating Oakley Utd 5-4 in a dramatic final at Moorside Park, Dundonald.

Home Colours are White Shirts, Black Shorts and Black Socks. Away colours are All Blue.

St Andrews Utd nostalgia

This is  where you can submit your own photos and items of intesest from years gone by. If you have anything that you think would be worthy of inclusion, please email info@standrews-utd.co.uk

Not sure on this photo below. Can anyone help me out with the names of the players and officials and a date? The old wooden shack behind the players may have been the changing rooms at the time, can anyone confirm this?

DM from Strathkinnes says: "they are not the old changing rooms as he helped to take them down".

ID says "far right in sports jacket is Jock Donnachie, middle of mid row is Willie Calder, far left of mid row is Francis Joyner, gent in plus twos far left is J Spence" 

This wooly old one below has been scanned from an old junior memorabilia book and shows Ancient City Athletic. The team is from 1890's but again unsure of the exact date and what trophy.

DM from Strathkinnes says: "The trophy probably is the Martin Whyte Cup".

This one below was taken in the 60's. Can anyone give me an exact date and can anyone recognise the players? Could this even be Recreation Park in the background? Note even the photographer managed into the photo, albeit his shadow!

DM from Strathkinnes says: "Fairly certain this is not St Andrews Utd in the 1960's and possibly not even St Andrews Utd at all".

The photo below was taken in 1926-27 and is one of the earliest known team group photos of the team, can anyone name any players?

ID says " third from right front row is Jock Donnachie"

Througout the 1930's junior players were given a paper card the week before their next game informing them of where the game would be played and when to turn up. This one is from Saturday 4th May 1935 when St Andrews Utd travelled to play Balgonia Scotia. Balgonie played junior football between 1934 and 1936. An amateur team of this name still exists today.

The text on the card reads:

"The above club plays St Andrews Utd on Saturday 4th May at Station Park, Dysart. You are requested to appear in time for kick off at 3.30pm. Travel by G.M.C."

There can't be many tickets ever issued for home games in the history of the club         (I would be delighted to hear from anyone who knows any different). The one below was for the Jackie Smith benefit game between St Andrews Utd and Thornton Hibs in 1961. Jackie Smith for those of you who don't know was a long serving player with the club in the 1950's and played in our famous Scottish Junior Cup win in 1960.

We had the pleasure in welcoming Scottish Cup heros Tommy Wills (left), John Fraser (middle) and 'captain' John Hughes (right) to the Bonnyrigg Scottish Cup match in 2008. Here they are pictured below in the Social Club at half time.

John Hughes still has his cup winning medal and he was kind enough to let me photograph it to put up on this site. It can be seen below.