Saints History

To consider writing the history of St Joseph's Football Club, without first acknowledging the role played by St Joseph's church, School and CMS Club would be impossible. It is from these three institutions that the football club originated. The origins of the church, school and club, stem from the Irish immigration of the 19th century. They settled in an area of Swansea which came to be known as Greenhill. Some years after they had settled, a church and school were built to support the Catholic Community. Despite the religious origins, the Saints have no boundaries, religious or otherwise. In 1920, the young men who had been brought up in the community of Greenhill and educated at St Joseph's school, formed a Catholic Men Society, CMS, attached to the church. In 1921 they formed a football team playing in a Sunday School League. The strip that they wore was donated by the famous Glasgow Celtic and which represented the interest of Celtic in the affairs of the little known amateur team in Wales. To this day The Saints still play in green and white hoops. That first kit was brought to Swansea by a Scottish schoolteacher, Mr Marley.

The club has been very successful throughout its existence, but for any club to endure beyond 75 years must have something besides playing prowess. We as a club are most proud of the cameraderie, friendship and humour the club has engendered through the years. There have been far too many characters to mention that have made our history such an interesting one. Like all clubs we have had our ups and downs, but at some time or another throughout our history, we have won every competition local football has to offer. The club's golden era was during the sixties, seventies and early eighties, but the contribution made by everyone who ever played for the club in whatever period, in whatever team has been valued. Some of our greatest servants never played in the first team.The club's present players are a credit to the traditions of the club, and it is appropriate that the last four seasons have been the most successful since 1982. The youth section has also made a big contribution to the club throughout the years, and the club is grateful to all the people who have run youth teams, supplying the senior teams with a steady flow of players. The present youth section is particularly strong, with teams ranging from seven years of age to sixteen.

The committee wishes to thank everyone who has made a contribution, however small,to the club.

Saints History

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