How about venturing into the heart of Manx football history at Saint John’s Football Club? It is more than just a sports venue. It is a community hub with a story etched in every blade of grass.
Saint John’s Football Club was founded in 1947. The club quickly became a cornerstone of the local community. Imagine the early days. The players used the old courthouse across the road as a changing room. But the rotting floorboards prompted a change. They decided to build a small changing room on the Mullen y Cloie site.
In the late 90s and early 00s, the club dreamed big. They raised funds to build a state-of-the-art AstroTurf pitch. This replaced the old carpet and sand training area. The team played in yellow and blue striped jerseys. They sported blue socks and shorts. A.V Craine sponsored the first team. Roger Chadwick sponsored the combination side.
St John’s local rivals include Peel, Foxdale, and Marown. The annual Mushroom Cup and Shield matches against Marown were always hotly contested. St John’s won their first trophy in the 1950–51 season. The combination side secured the Junior Cup. They defeated Northern Youth Center 4–3 in the final.
The first team tasted victory in the 1954–55 season. They won the Hospital Cup. St Mary’s was beaten 7–1 in the second replay. The two sides had drawn twice before. Saint John’s has won the Captain George Woods Memorial Cup three times. Their first win came in the 1965–66 season. They won again in 1983–84. The 2010–11 season brought their most recent win. They beat Colby in the final.
Saint John’s United has won the Isle of Man FA Cup twice. This was in 1971–72 and 1975–76. Club legend Ernie Quayle played a pivotal role in both finals.
In 1997–98, they won the Paul Henry Gold Cup. They beat Ramsey 2–1 in the final. They were also promoted to the First Division. But they lasted only one season in the top flight. They were relegated in 1998–99. They only won one league game that season. The 1999–2000 season saw St John’s win their second Paul Henry Gold Cup. They missed out on promotion by one point in 2002–03. They finished third in Division Two.
They were promoted as Division Two champions in 2004–05. The following season, they finished 5th in the First Division. The club picked up two more Division Two league titles in 2008-09 and 2010–11. They regularly bounced between the Premier League and Division Two. The 2010–11 season was the first team’s most successful. They added the Woods Cup and Gold Cup to their Division Two Championship.
They played in the Premier League in 2022–23. This was after being promoted in the 2021–22 season. The 2021–22 season also saw St John’s win the Paul Henry Gold Cup. They beat Foxdale 1–0 in the final. The club’s reserve side also won the Combination Division Two league title.
In July 2022, Isaac Allen made history. He became the first player from St John’s United to sign a professional contract. The sixteen-year-old goalkeeper signed with League One side Lincoln City.
Today, Saint John’s Football Club offers more than just football. They have a clubhouse. The club also has a campsite with internet and bathroom facilities. It is open from April to September. Saint John’s United provides football training to children aged 6 to 17.
Saint John’s Football Club is a testament to the enduring power of community. It is a place where memories are made and where the spirit of the game lives on.