Club History

Rifle Butt and origins

The Rifle Butt public house on New Bridge Street, Leicester was demolished along with a whole community to accommodate the extension of the Leicester Royal Infirmary. The licensee of the “Butts” as it had become known was the former Leicestershire Wicketkeeper, Paddy Corrall. The lads whom drank in the club at the time were all sports mad. There was a boxing ring, a gym upstairs and a pub darts team who were “M&B” Champions many times. The football team played friendly matches from 1965. In 1973, when the public house along with the surrounding houses was demolished, it was decided to enter a league and namel the club after the newly built estate in its place, St Andrews.

Years in City League

The club was accepted into the Leicester City League and during the following twelve year period won forty-four honours including the Premier Division Championship on four successive occasion and the Junior Cup twice between the first team, the reserve team and the “A” team..

Leicestershire Senior League

Over twelve months starting in 1983, the clubhouse at Canal Street was built entirely by the club’s highly talented committee. The club was elected to the Leicestershire Senior League in 1985.

Since their election the club added a further forty-one honours between first, reserves and youth team including:

Three-time champions and four-time runners-up of the Leicestershire Senior League, four-time League Cup winners, three-time Rolleston Cup winners, 1997 Westerby Cup winners, two-time Leicestershire Junior Cup winners and three-time Leicestershire Combination champions. The club in this period reached the Fifth Round of the Fa Vase in 1994-1995.

Recent history in the East Midlands Counties League

In 2008, the club was founder members of the East Midlands Counties League formed of senior league clubs from Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. In the inaugural season with a talented side the club finished a creditable 9th in a highly-competitive league.

Following the loss of a majority of the players, a rebuilding process ensued over the following two season. This culminated in a 4th place finish in 2011-12 under manager Clem Dublin. The following season seen a change in management and makeup towards a very young squad, who eventually finished 16th.

Andy “Pepsi” Purple was appointed first team manage for the 2013-2014 season. Pepsi’s managerial record was exceptional with massive success with Blaby & Whetstone’s first team along with cup and league trophies with the St Andrews reserve side.

Along with a crop of quality youth players from our all-conquering Under 18 side brilliantly managed by Andy Ward and Sean Hickey, Pepsi signed a number of high-class, experienced players. This blend of talented youth and experience along with Pepsi’s managerial skills proved to be a good formula with early promise indicated by a brilliant away-win against eventual champions Thurnby Nirvana and the Saints topping the table for much of the first half of the season.

The season seen a remarkable 8 game winning run in the FA Vase leading to a Semi Final tie against West Auckland of the Northern League. After a pulsating goalless draw in the North East, the Second Leg was played out at Canal Street in front of a record crowd of just over 1,600. A terrific strike on the hour by 17 year-old Brady Hickey put the Drews ahead. Sadly two West Auckland goals in the the last ten minutes denied the club a Vase Final and a dream trip to Wembley.

The exertions of the incredible Vase run had taken a toll on the league. However for only the second time in our history, a very tired St Andrews side won the Leicestershire Senior Cup to end an incredible season.

The 2014-2015 season was another unforgettable season, playing scintillating football all season, the team looked like worthy champions only to be a pipped in controversial circumstances to the title by Bardon Hill on goal difference..

The 2015-2016 season ended with the club winning the East Midlands Counties League and gaining promotion to the Midland Premier League and step 5 status.

A good finish in the Midland Premier League of 7^th was a fantastic achievement but unfortunately players moved on to bigger clubs so we had to rebuild and contend with a sideways move to the UCL. Due to all the changes the team struggled last season and we found ourselves relegated into Division one

Leicester St. Andrews football club

Staff