Guildford Saints - A Short History

Guildford Saints F.C. has a proud tradition of helping develop young footballing talent around the Burpham and Merrow areas of Guildford since 1983. There are approximately 250 children registered with the club aged between 6 and 17 years of age.

The senior team has been running for several years with John Thornton at the helm. However in the 1999/2000 season dwindling squad numbers almost caused “The Saints” to fold. The same was true with a neighbouring club, St Peters Old Boys and following negotiations the two sides joined forces to form Guildford Saint Peters.

St Peter Old Boys FC is one of the 20 founder members of the Surrey and Hants Border League with its association having started in 1967. The club achieved varying success before its merger with Guildford Saints in the 2000/1 season, indeed it has the dubious claim of having played in all six divisions during a 21 year period, after which current Chairman Alan King hung up his boots with the club firmly rooted at the foot of division six in 1988.

From this lowly position things could only improve. Martin King (son of Alan) signed for the club in 1988 and continues to play today, meaning that the family have been present for all 39 seasons since the league was formed. There were of course some high points during the St Peters Old Boys era most notably:-

1977/78 - Runners up Division 4

1988/89 - Champions Division 6, Winners of Prince Albert Cup, and Runners up in the Surrey County Cup.

1989/90 - Champions Division 4

1995/96 - Runners up in the Hospital Cup

1996/97 - Runners up in the Hospital Cup

1998/99 – Runners up in the League Cup