A Short History of OBAN SAINTS Amateur Football Club

The club was formed in 1960 by a group of young players who couldn't get a regular game for any of the teams playing in the Oban and District Football League at that time.
   Saints joined the Oban League in 1960 and had fifteen very successful years in this league, winning the championship no fewer than 8 times, the MacGillivray Cup 5 times, the Faccenda Cup 5 times and the Ainsworth Cup 4 times.
   With the Oban and District League in a major decline, and because of their growing reputation (reaching the last 16 of the Scottish Amateur Cup in 1975), they applied, and were successful in joining the Scottish Amateur Football League in 1976. They started off in Division Seven and progressed through the leagues winning Division Six in 1979; Division Two in 1990 and Division One in 1991. They were the first ever winners of the Top Score Trophy in 1988.  
   Saints were invited to join the SAFL Premier Section in 1994 and hold the distinction of being the first winners of the new Premier Division Two League Championship Trophy in their first season. They won the Premier Divison One league title in 1998 and again in 2002, beating Shamrock 3-2 in a play-off after the teams had finished level on points.
   Saints had a great run in the Scottish Amateur Cup in the 2006/2007 season reaching the last eight of the competition. They defeated many of Scotland's top teams like Newmilns Vesuvius, Galtson, Colville Park and Knockentiber on the way to the final stages of the national competition. They finally lost 3-0 away to Cupar Hearts in the quarter final.
   The club play all their home games at either Mossfield Stadium or Glencruitten Park, two well maintained grass parks with excellent playing surfaces. They are associate members of Oban Lorne Rugby Club and share the superb facilities at the Glencruitten club house, which is fully licensed.
   Saints along with one of their sponsors - Keyline Building Materials - organise the Keyline Challenge Cup Tournament, normally held on the second Saturday in July. Regular visitors to the tournament are Scottish Premier League teams Heart of Midlothian FC; Dundee United FC Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC and St Mirren FC - Scottish First Division teams Ross County FC, St Johnstone FC, Clyde FC, Hamilton Academical FC - Second Division Alloa Athletic and Third Division Dumbarton along with Highland League sides Fort William FC and Nairn County FC.
   Saints also host the Argyll and Bute Cup Tournament which takes place in August every year with teams from Argyll and Bute who are members of the SAFL taking part. Saints have won the trophy more times than any of the other participants.
   Glasgow Celtic sent a team to play Oban Saints a number of year's ago with the Glasgow side lucky to come away with a 3-2 win. Scorers for Saints were Matthew MacMaster and George McLuckie. The Celtic line-up that day included Packy Bonnar, Willie McStay, Brian Reid, John Halpin and David Moyes, now manager of Everton.
   The club gained Awards for All lottery grants in 2001, 2003, 2005 and 2007 which helped greatly, with the purchase of new equipment and various other developments the club were trying to achieve. 
   Saints are also very grateful  for the generous support and sponsorship given by Aulay's Bar where the teams go for food and refreshments and to relax after the ninety minutes of football. An additional sponsor came on board in 2007 - AMP Electrical Services (Scotland) Ltd whose managing director Angus MacPhee has agreed to sponsor the club's travel costs which is a tremendous help to the club's bank balance. AMP also supply new playing and training kit, tracksuits, footballs etc.
   Over the years Saints have had a number of players step up to the senior ranks. Keith Millar was selected for the full Scotland Amateur International team in 2003 for the games against Ireland in Dublin and Wales at Adamslie Park, Kirkintilloch. Keith has also played football for Morton, Dumbarton, Yoker Athletic and in in Australia  for Souths United and Brisbane City in the Brisbane Premier League. Another Saints stalwart, Ross Maitland, has also sampled football down under, playing with Melbourne team Langwarrin and Mark MacCallum has also been in Oz playing for Harbord Diggers. Along with Keith, Mark and Ross, David Dunlop, Bertie Gemmell, Dunny Niven, Dante Lopez and Myles McAuley have been picked to play for the Scottish Amateur League select team on numerous occasions.
   The club runs nine teams - Under 8, Under 10, Under 13, Under 14, Under 16, Under 17, Under 19, Senior Amateur and a Veterans team. All the club coaches have SFA qualifications and are Disclosure registered. 
   Saints gained the Scottish Football Association's Standard Club Quality Mark in March 2008. Club secretary David Buchanan was presented with the award by Scotland First Minister Alex Salmond at the half time interval during the international match between Scotland and Croatia at Hampden Park. David was accompanied by Iain Alexander, Thomas Sharp, Duncan MacKinnon, Peter MacMillan and David Mitchell. The club are now be going all out to gain the Development and then the Community Club Quality Mark - hopefully by the end of 2009.
  The SAFL premier division team is mainly run by three stalwarts - Iain Jackson, a former Partick Thistle and Fort William central defender, who coaches the senior team, with David Buchanan, who managed Saints for over 20 years. He played for Stirling Albion and Workington, then an English Fourth Division side taking charge of the publicity, secretarial and financial side of the club. They are ably assisted by Peter MacCallum who helps Iain in the preparation and coaching of the senior team. 
   The club was saddened at the death of Chairman John Buchanan who died on May 5th 2003. Johnny had been associated with the club for well over 30 years and is sadly missed.
   Saints are always on the lookout for new players, senior and junior, and people who could help out in any small way as a coach or committee member, so if you think you could help the club in any capacity get in touch with the present coaches or players who will give you all the relevant details regarding meeting places, training nights etc.
   The club is in good hands and with plenty of youngsters coming through the system Oban Saints hope to be challenging for top honours in Scottish amateur football and the National Cup competitions for many years to come.