Beeston St Anthony’s 1919 - Present

The club was established in the 1919-1920 season and played under the title Beeston St Anthony’s. The Saint’s was a founder member of the Red Triangle League (est 1920)

Very few records are available about the team in years prior to the 2nd world war in 1939. The war meant the club was closed and re started again in 1942 and involved in age limit football by les Crowley Jack Todd, Tony Alcock and Peter Shillito. (All these young gentlemen were not old enough to enter the armed forces). Also included in the crop of enthusiasts was one Terry Duggan, whose father, Harry played for Leeds United and was an Irish international. The team eventually rose to the open age leagues of the Red Triangle and won the Division 1A title in 1951.

It was during the 1950’s when football, rugby and cricket were the only recreation sports available and during this time St Anthony’s became prominent on the local football scene. Many of the local boys played football, including goal scorers Michael Lightfoot and M. Wenstrom in 1955.

Click here to see the 1955 squad photo
Click here to see the 1959 squad photo

Into the sixties and early seventies the club continued to flourish and it saw the arrival of the Kennedy twins Alan and Robert. These two lads, with the likes of Dave Middleton served the club well until another decade took over and saw the emergence of the Milburn brothers Alan and Les the sons of former Leeds United full back John Milburn. The club was also fortunate to have a goal machine in the form of Joe Elmy who scored prolifically for a 15 year period that saw the club in the final of the Elland Road cup twice. The club won the 1963 final and losing out in the final two years later.

Click here for the 1963 cup final programme cover

The Saint’s continued to make history and in the 1978-79 season the club won the Red Triangle Premier division title for the first time. St Anthony’s then continued to win four successive championships to be joint holders of the record wins in the Triangle League. In 1983 the club moved away from the Red Triangle League and joined the West Yorkshire League.

The club continued with honors in 1985 and won the 1985/1986 league and cup in the West Yorkshire division 2.

Click here for the 1985/86 squad photo

The club was also successful in the 1988/89 season taking honours.

Click here for the programme for the 1989 Semi final against Carlton
Click here for the 1989 cup final advert for tickets
Click here for the newspaper article for the Saint's victory

Click here for the 1989 Beeston Alliance side
Click here for the 1989 Beeston Premier side

In 1990 the club reached the county challenge cup final losing to Brighouse Town. The golden era continued with 3 premier championships in 1990/91, 1992/93 & 1993/94 as well as a premier league cup and Leeds senior cup success in 1994. A baron spell then occurred until 1999 when Mally Hill took over the reins after a number of managerial changes and the Saints lifted the District Challenge Cup once again.

Click here to view Mally Hill and Steve Passmore after winning the 1992-93 cup final 3 nil over Robin Hood

Into the 2000’s also saw the Saints unfortunate to lose out on the last day of the season on two occasions when chasing the premier league division title. Back to back District Challenge Cup's were won in 2004 & 2005 with Mally Hill and Nick Johnson in charge.

Bob Greenwood, the late Keith Sanderson and Mally Hill brought the glory days back to the Saints when the Saints won their last game of the 2011-12 season to secure the club's first West Yorkshire Premiership title in 18 years. Key players included Sean Jeavons, Matthew Fannon, Ben Haigh, Paul McMullen, Joe Rossiter, Matthew Moon, Daniel Thackray, Ryan Thorpe and Lee Turnbull.

Mark Halmshaw joined Bob Greenwood and Kieth Sanderson the following year as the Saints won the 2013 District Challenge Cup.

In the 2015/2016 the Saints did the unthinkable as they secured a treble for the first time in Beeston St Anthony's history. Matty Bennett and Karl Parkin had joined Mark Halmshaw in management, leading the Saints to the West Yorkshire AFL Premier Division title, County FA Challenge Cup 2016 & West Yorkshire League Cup 2016. A large number of the 2011-12 squad were still at the club, other key figures were Stephen Crawford, Lee Coleman, John Mallinson, Ste Kerr and Michael Nelson.

Following the treble of 2015/2016 Beeston continued with success in 2016/2017 by adding the Leeds and District Senior Challenge Cup 2016/17 to the trophy hoard as they beat Real Moor 6-2 at Elland Road. They also won the Northern Counties Senior Cup against Ashville FC 4-3 at Fleet Lane, the home of the West Riding County head quarters.

In 2017/18 Beeston added another trophy to the cabinet when they beat Leeds City in the WYAFL League Cup Final. Mark Halmshaw, Matty Bennett, Dan Heaney and new appointed assistant Sean Jeavons was the driving force.

2018/19 was a lean season in terms of trophies for the First Team, with a 3rd placed finish in the league.

In 2019/2020 Steve Tierney was introduced as joint First Team Manager along side Mark Halmshaw with Matty Bennett assisting. This season was looking like a phenomenal one until COVID-19 struck, resulting in the season being terminated as null and void. The Saints were unbeaten in the league with 9 games remaining, they were 15 points clear at the top of the West Yorkshire Premier Division having won 17 out of 19 games. Captain Dan Daly was flying as top scorer with 17 goals playing at left back for the majority of the campaign. Players with 15 or more league appearances include: Ash Austin, Harvey Booth, Josh Browne, Dan Daly (Capt), Barry Frankland, Gareth Groves, Callum Hill, Joe Hill, Mike Hill, Ste Kerr, Matthew Moon, Jake Topp, Callum Woodhouse and Joe Wood. The last game played of this campaign was a 3-3draw at home against Ilkley Town on 14.03.2020.

2021/22 Saw the Saints finish 3rd in the West Yorkshire Premier Divison, with only 4 defeats in the league it was still a good season in most other club's eyes. Horsforth St Margeret's finished as champions.

2022/2023 Sees another change in the BSA Management structure with Steve Tierney being joined by Matty Moon and Barry Frankland as his assistants and Matty Bennett staying on as First Team Coach.

The alliance side (reserves) have been very successful in the recent past winning the West Yorkshire Alliance Division One 8 times ( 1999/00, 2006/07, 2007/08, 2008/09,2009/10, 2011/12, 2013/14 2015/16 2016/2017, County FA Challenge trophy once in 2004, The Leeds District Cup four times 1991/92, 2006/07, 2012/13, 2017/18 & 2018/19 and the West Yorkshire League Trophy 2013. Influential players over the years include Paul Graham, Neil Morgan, Andrew Preece, Martin Kelly, Lee Parker, Sam Broadbent, Ben McGuigan, Patrick Courtney & Matty Boyes. More recently Aaron Connor, Ben Greenwood, Paul McMullen Dave Smith, Ryan Boden, Max Halmshaw, Sam Morrell, Mikey Hill, Matty Wood & Alex Houghton have lead the way.

The main man behind the Alliance team's success has been Neil Doughty, he steered the ship between 2002 and 2016, Winning 11 trophies in 14 years. Mark Halmshaw, Andrew Sharp, Nick Baker, Andrew Preece and Glenn Smith have all helped along the way.

For the 2017/2018 season Wayne Hoban, Paul McMullen and Glenn Smith took the reigns. Winning the District Cup 2017/2018 in Wayne's first season in charge.

The 2018/19 season witnessed another change in management with Ryan Boden and Dave Smith being joined by Dave Houghton following Wayne Hoban's departure mid way through the season. The WY Reserves finished second in the league, 4 points behind Field Res.

In 2019/2020 the season was cut short because of the COVID-19 outbreak, at this point the WY Reserves had won 15 out of 17 league games and were 9 points clear at the top of WY Alliance Division One.

2021/2022 was a great campaign for the BSA Reserves as they did the double in very difficult circumstances. Firstly they secured the District Cup, before losing in the League Cup final on penalties. Then with 10 league games crammed into the month of May they managed to win all 10 to win the West Yorkshire Alliance Division One on the final day of the season, taking over Boroughbridge to be crowned champions once again.

The club now have a 3rd eleven (BSA YAL Reserves) who play their football in the Yorkshire Amateur League Championship Division. Steve Sedgewick and Paul Clark have taken over for the 2019/20 season with Josh Fieldhouse also helping out after Neil Morgan, Tony Garth & Sam Broadbent decided to step down. Bob Wenstrom, Oly Crossley, Sean Sturman and James Moon have all been at the helm in recent years. All are ex Saints players.

Notable players for the YAL Saints Reserves over the past few years are Sam Broadbent, Tony Garth, Ryan Thorpe, Stephen Wardman, Tom Kaye, Josh Fieldhouse, Danny Moran & long standing skipper Ben McGuigan. Tyler Walker, Bradley Fielding Josh Sedgwick amongst others could be part of the last team to play for the YAL Saints as the 3rd team look set to be discontinued.

The YAL Saints were top of Yorkshire Amateur League Division One in 2019/2020 when the season was terminated due to COVID-19. They were having a great season, we can only hope that they pick up where they left off when playing resumes for the new 2020/2021 season.

The club has been well served over the years by numerous committee members with many being ex players, notably Glen Smith, Matthew Fannon, Mally Hill, Matty Bennett, Mark Halmshaw, Neil Morgan, Tony Garth and Sam Broadbent. Other committee members of note include Alan Hunt, Tom Kaye, Pete Brennan and Chairman Carl Hogan. Kev Hirst and Matty Bennett ensure the Saints facility is one of the finest in the West Yorkshire League. Ex clubmen that have helped get the club to where it is today include Terry Rowe, the late Joe Browne and late Peter Shillito. Charlie, Eric, Frank, Mick Wenstrom & Neil Doughty should also be thanked. The club are currently at step seven on the F.A’s football pyramid for the West Yorkshire Premier Division.