Rochdale St. Clement’s Football Club
FOUNDED IN 1905

MEMBERS OF THE LANCASHIRE AMATEUR LEAGUE AND THE LANCASHIRE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION.

St. Clement’s F.C. originated around 1870 as a Rugby Union team formed from a flourishing Young Men’s Class at St. Clement’s Church, Spotland, Rochdale. By 1881 the Club had as many as three teams and played clubs in South Wales, the Midlands, Yorkshire and Lancashire clubs including Rochdale Hornets. Subsequently, St. Clement’s broke away from the Rugby Union to form the Northern Football Union. Unfortunately, St. Clement’s F.C. did not survive, their Chairman being opposed to professionalism, and was finally wound up as a rugby club in 1897.

The first soccer club St. Clement’s AFC was formed in 1905 as one of the original members of the Rochdale & District Sunday Schools League, but was later disbanded. The Club was re-formed in 1923 and became one of the leading amateur teams in the Sunday Schools League winning many honours over a period of approximately 25 yeas during which the Club had nine different home grounds. In 1948/49 season, after winning the Sunday Schools title, the Club became Rochdale St. Clement’s and competed in the Lancashire Amateur Cup for the first time losing to Manchester University in the semi-final played on Manchester United’s Old Trafford ground.

In 1950 the Club joined the Lancashire Amateur League fielding two teams in the Central Section and rented a more permanent pitch on Firgrove Playing Fields where an ex- Army hut was erected as changing rooms behind the Crown & Shuttle Inn on Milnrow Road. Both teams enjoyed success in the Central Section, the first XI being champions in 1958, ’59 and ’64. The Reserves being champions in 1953, ’61, ’63, and ’64. From 1967 to 1969, when the League dissolved the Central Section, the Club transferred to the South Section and then from 1969 to 1974 when the League changed to six divisions, the Club was in Division 1. In 1974 the two teams were included in the newly formed Premier Divisions. This positions was maintained throughout, except for two spells from 1975 to 1977 and 1983 to 1985, when the 1st XI played in Division 1. Return to the Premier Division was achieved by becoming champions in 1977 and 1985.

Since 1985, the 1st XI have been Premier Division Champions in ’96, Runners -up four times in 1991,’92,’94 and ’98. They won the Challenge Cup three times in ’88,’89, and ’91. In 1992 and 1997 the team were beaten finalists in the Whitbread Lancashire Amateur Cup, losing to Merseyside Police and then St. Dominic’s. In 1993 they represented the Lancashire F.A. in the Northern Counties Senior Championship reaching the semi-final stage. In the same period, the 2nd XI were Premier Reserves Champions for four consecutive years in ’93, ’94,’95, and ’96 and won the Reserves Challenge Cup four times in ’90,’93,’97,’and ’98.

In 1959 the Club started a 3rd XI in the Central Section, but the ‘A’ team, as it was known, had to wait until the Club started a 4th XI, i.e. a ‘B’ team, in 1982 before it began to gain honours. That season, with the ‘B’ team in the South Division 3B, the ‘A’ team were Runners-up in the South Division 3A, subsequently champions in ’84, ’85, ’86, ’90 and ’91, Runners-up again in ’87 and won the South Section Cup in ’84, ’85, and ’87. In 1993 when the League merged North and South Divisions 3A and 3B, the ‘A’ team again did the league and cup “double” in the inaugural season. They were champions again in 1996.

As with most clubs, the fourth team or ‘B’ team has had it’s ‘ups and downs’ being Runners-up in South Division 3B in ’85, Champions in ’87 and promoted to South Division 3A, relegated back to 3B in ’88, Runners-up again in ’92 and promoted back to 3A. In the aforementioned merger of North and South Divisions in 1993/4, the ‘B’team were put in Division 3B from where they were relegated in ’95 to South Division 4A before being Runners-up in ’96 and transferred to Division 4 Central. A further League shuffle in ’97 put them in Division 4 South.

In recent years, the Club won the Aggregate Trophy in ’92 and ’96, and the Norman Archer in ’94 and ’96.

The Club played on Firgrove Playing Fields for 40 years before achieving a long standing ambition in 1991 to have it’s own ground by taking out a 30 year lease from Rochdale M.B.C. on Sandy Brow. Aided by a grant from the Sports Council, two new pitches were constructed and changing rooms renovated.

The Club recently completed major work to it’s changing facility. This included re-roofing and complete renovation of the interior.

One of the most significant developments has been the introduction of a Junior Section to the Club. After a period of affiliation with Norden Juniors, the Clubs have merged to build St Clement’s into one of the few Clubs which provide progression from Junior to Open Age teams playing under the Clement’s banner. Currently, proposals are in hand to increase junior sides in order to offer football right the way through the age range.

The Club has achieved Charter Status and is expanding it’s coaching facilities by offering appropriate training and development. Alongside this, the Club is pursuing the development of two additional Junior sized pitches at the ground. The ground originally Sandy Brow was re-named Burton Park, after the late Colin Burton (“Mr St. Clements”) ex player, Chairman and President of the Lancashire Amateur League.

Over the years there have been many other long serving, hard working, members who have made significant contributions to the Clubs development, initially as players and then as officials. Amongst the most outstanding were Bill Kelly in the 30’s and 40’s, Fred Hazeldine in the 40’s, 50’s, 60’s and 70’s (also LAL Treasurer and LFA Council Member), the late Ron Grindrod Club Chairman, President and also a former LAL council member and Past President, the late John Cullen player, team manager and committee.

Rochdale St Clement’s has proud tradition and is one of the biggest Amateur Sports Clubs in the area.

Rochdale St. Clements FC