The “Rifle Butt” public house in New Bridge Street Leicester was demolished along with a whole community to accommodate the extension of The Leicester Infirmary. This was to the birth place of St Andrews Football Club.
The licensee of the “Butts” as it had become known was the former wicket keeper Paddy Corral. The lads that drank in the pub at the time were all sports mad. There was a boxing ring; a gym upstairs and the pub darts team were “M & B Champions many times.
The football team played friendly matches for a number of years, but in 1973when the public house along with the surrounding houses were demolished, it was decided to enter a league and call the club St Andrews F.C.
The club was accepted into the Leicestershire City League and during the following twelve year period they won forty four honours including The Premier Division Championship on four successive occasions and The Junior Cup twice.
Following the completion of a clubhouse at Canal Street the club were elected to The Leicestershire Senior League in 1985. Since their election the club have added a further forty one honours including:
• Leicestershire Senior League Champions – Three Times
• League Cup Winners – Four Times
• Rolleston Cup Winners - Three Times
• Westerby Cup Winners – Once
• Leicestershire Junior Cup Winners – Twice
• Leicestershire Combination Champions – Once
Due to the closure of the Canal Street Bridge, which created serious problems, the club suffered financially and almost folded. Just across the Aylestone Road at the highly successful Y.M.C.A Juniors FC. The committee were devastated when the national body of the organisation evicted them from the site.
During the winter months of the 2001/02 season, the senior officers of St Andrews and their counterparts at Y.M.C.A. held a number of meetings and decided to amalgamate. Since the amalgamation and the reopening of the bridge, steady progress has been maintained.
The ground at Canal Street has developed to a level six criteria. On the playing side the club run teams from seven years old to veterans. The success level is high throughout the club.
Last season, with a team of mainly youth team graduates, the senior team reached two cup semi finals and finished high enough in the senior league to become proud founder members of the East Midland Counties League.
Check out all the action from the LSPL Cup Finals Day!
Eight club website teams met at Manchester United's Carrington training ground last month to contest the finals of the LSPL Cup. Click below to check out all the action!
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Club Website has teamed up with the Alton Towers Resort to offer you the chance to win a fantastic prize - a free trip to the theme park for all your team!