Club Overview
St Ives Town Football Club, known as the Saints, are a Cambridgeshire club with roots stretching back to 15 September 1887. The club was formed after a meeting at the Unicorn Hotel, where local people agreed to establish a football club under Association Rules. More than a century later, the Saints remain based at Westwood Road, now known as the Quattro-Tech Westwood Road Stadium.
For 2026/27, St Ives Town compete in the Northern Premier League Midlands Division at Step 4, following their move down from Step 3. Their story includes early county-cup success, a strong run in the Cambridgeshire League during the 1920s, a climb through the Peterborough League in the late 1970s and a modern period of FA Vase runs, league-cup victories and play-off football.
Quick Facts
| Full name | St Ives Town Football Club |
|---|---|
| Founded | 15 September 1887 |
| Nickname | The Saints |
| Home town | St Ives, Cambridgeshire |
| Home ground | Quattro-Tech Westwood Road Stadium |
| Address | Westwood Road, St Ives, Cambridgeshire, PE27 6DT |
| 2026/27 league | Northern Premier League Midlands Division (Step 4) |
| Historic highlights | Three successive Cambridgeshire League titles from 1923 to 1925; several FA Vase fifth-round appearances |
| Official website | stivestownfc.co.uk |
Club History: From 1887 to the Modern Pyramid
Formation and early county-cup success
The club’s official history records that around 40 people attended the meeting at the Unicorn Hotel on 15 September 1887. They agreed to form St Ives Town FC and chose black shirts with a white star as the original kit. By the turn of the century the club was collecting silverware, winning both the Huntingdonshire Senior Cup and Junior Cup in 1901. The Senior Cup was won again in 1912.
The successful 1920s and 1930s
The 1920s were among the most successful periods in the Saints’ early history. St Ives won the Cambridgeshire League in three successive seasons from 1923 to 1925, added Huntingdonshire Senior Cup victories in 1923 and 1926, and won the Scott-Gatty Cup in 1923 and 1924. The club continued to collect local honours in the following decade, winning the Huntingdonshire Senior Cup in 1930, the Scott-Gatty Cup in 1932 and the Peterborough League championship in 1938.
These achievements established the Saints as a regular force in the county and regional game. The club’s identity has remained closely connected to local football in Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire, even as league structures and travel demands changed over the years.
League moves and a difficult mid-century period
In 1949, St Ives joined the Central Amateur League, but the travel involved proved impractical and the club moved into the United Counties League Second Division a year later. That spell was short-lived, and the Saints returned to the Peterborough League. The 1960s brought a Scott-Gatty Cup win in 1961, but league results deteriorated and the team slipped as far as the Peterborough League Third Division.
The recovery began in the late 1970s. St Ives won the Peterborough League Third Division in 1978 and progressed through the divisions over the following seasons. Winning Division One secured promotion to the Peterborough Premier League in 1982. The club also collected Huntingdonshire Senior Cup wins in 1982, 1987 and 1988, before moving back into the United Counties League structure.
Rebuilding at the turn of the century
Results in the United Counties League were less consistent in the 1990s and early 2000s. After finishing near the bottom of Division One in 2002, the club appointed Neville Nania as chairman. His experience with the St Ives Town Colts helped shape a renewed focus on developing local young players and blending them with senior footballers. Warren Everdell became player-manager, with Jez Hall and fitness coach Errol McGammon joining the management set-up.
The renewed approach began to produce results. St Ives finished in the top half in 2003/04, and in 2004/05 they finished third in the United Counties League Division One to win promotion to the Premier Division for the first time in the club’s history. The promotion was an important milestone, reflecting the combination of youth development, experienced players and more consistent senior performances.
FA Vase runs and cup success
The late 2000s brought several memorable FA Vase campaigns. In 2007/08, St Ives reached the fifth round and drew 3–3 at home with Needham Market in front of a then-record crowd of 767, before losing the replay. The Saints reached the fifth round again in 2008/09 and 2009/10, making three consecutive appearances at that stage. The 2008/09 campaign also brought two county-cup trophies, while the following season saw the club win the United Counties League Cup for the first time after beating Newport Pagnell Town 2–1 in the final.
In 2011/12, St Ives recorded what the club’s history describes as its most successful season to that point. The Saints finished third in the United Counties League Premier Division, reached the League Knock-Out Cup final for the third successive year and won the trophy with a 4–1 victory over King’s Lynn Town. They also lifted the Huntingdonshire Senior Challenge Cup. Striker Conor Washington scored 52 goals in 50 appearances, finishing as both the league’s and the club’s leading scorer.
Progress through the pyramid
St Ives continued to build on those foundations and moved into higher-level regional competition. The club’s modern journey has included promotion into the Southern League Premier Central and a period competing at Step 3. The 2026/27 allocation places the Saints in the Northern Premier League Midlands Division at Step 4, setting up a different regional schedule after the latest league changes.
Although league status changes over time, the club’s long history and youth pathway remain central to its identity. The Saints’ story shows how a town club can move between county competitions and the national pyramid while retaining a strong connection to its local football community.
Honours and Milestones
- Huntingdonshire Senior and Junior Cups: 1901.
- Huntingdonshire Senior Cup: 1912, 1923, 1926, 1930, 1982, 1987 and 1988.
- Cambridgeshire League champions: 1923, 1924 and 1925.
- Scott-Gatty Cup winners: 1923, 1924, 1932 and 1961.
- Peterborough League champions: 1938.
- Peterborough League Third Division champions: 1978.
- Promoted to the United Counties League Premier Division after finishing third in Division One in 2004/05.
- FA Vase fifth round: 2007/08, 2008/09 and 2009/10.
- United Counties League Cup winners: 2009/10.
- United Counties League Knock-Out Cup winners: 2011/12.
- Huntingdonshire Senior Challenge Cup winners: 2011/12.
- Competing in the Northern Premier League Midlands Division in 2026/27.
Ground Guide: Quattro-Tech Westwood Road
Address: St Ives Town FC, Quattro-Tech Westwood Road, St Ives, Cambridgeshire, PE27 6DT.
Westwood Road has been the setting for the Saints’ modern progress, from local league football to cup runs and promotion campaigns. The ground is now known by its Quattro-Tech Westwood Road name through sponsorship. It remains a community football venue and is also part of the club’s wider sporting operation, which includes a 3G pitch available for hire and function-room facilities.
Parking and directions
The club’s official directions approach from the A14 at Junction 26, continuing along London Road (A1096) into St Ives and following the bypass before turning onto the A1123 and Ramsey Road. Westwood Road is opposite the fire station; continue to the bottom of the road and follow the turning for the football club before St Ivo Recreation Centre.
- Parking: The club says on-site parking is limited. A large free public car park in front of Burgess Hall is immediately adjacent to the ground.
- Coach travel: The club asks visiting coach parties to contact it in advance so that coach parking can be arranged.
- Admission: Check current prices, concessions and ticket arrangements with the club before travelling.
- Facilities: Check the club’s current matchday information for refreshments, clubhouse access and any event-specific arrangements.
- Accessibility: Contact the club before your visit if you need details of accessible parking, routes or viewing areas.
- Fixture changes: Confirm kick-off times and any rearrangements through the official fixture list.
Supporters, Youth Development and Local Identity
St Ives Town’s modern history highlights the role of youth football in the senior club’s development. The management changes in the early 2000s were intended to give talented local teenagers a route into first-team football alongside experienced players. The promotion in 2004/05 and the subsequent cup successes gave that approach a strong platform.
The Saints’ place in Cambridgeshire football is also reflected in their county-cup record and the long list of local competitions they have entered. The club’s modern league allocation brings them into regular contact with teams from across the Midlands, but the local history remains a major part of the identity supporters carry into each season.
NonLeagueReview Ground Notes
Westwood Road combines a long-standing local football setting with the Saints’ more recent ambitions in the national pyramid. The 1920s league titles, repeated FA Vase fifth-round runs and the 2011/12 cup double give supporters plenty of history to explore before a visit. The club’s practical advice is useful too: on-site parking is limited, but the adjacent Burgess Hall public car park provides a larger free option.