Men's Footballers Make History

1st XI win their first ever Scottish 1A title

On Wednesday, St Andrews men’s football pulled off one of the biggest results in securing the Scottish Tier 1 title for the first time in the club’s history after a 4-1 win against rivals Edinburgh.

The Saints are just one win away from promotion to the BUCS Premier North, the top tier of university football, where they’d play alongside elite sporting universities like Loughborough. 

To secure promotion, St Andrews has to go through a three-team round robin against Nottingham Trent and Northumbria, who have won their respective Tier 1 leagues.

The Saint spoke to first-team captain Jack Ferry about his side’s successes this season and hopes for the business end of the season.

“I am confident in our ability to go out and challenge any team if we play at our top level,” Ferry said. Although St Andrews narrowly lost to Northumbria in the Cup last season, a convincing performance showed that they can compete at the top level.

St Andrews first has to beat Nottingham Trent on 15 April. 

“It’s an exciting challenge,” Ferry said. “They are more of an unknown, but they wouldn’t be here if they weren’t a good side.” The captain does not underestimate his side’s opponents. 

Consistency has been the key for the first team this season. “The talent and ability [were] always there,” Ferry said. “But building a title-challenging side was difficult in the past when the group kept changing.”

For seasons, the squad has been pulled apart every summer as fourth-years left, but … side in the dressing room has made life easier this season.

“A group of freshers, six or seven of them, came in a couple of years ago and have stuck,” Ferry said. “They have grown together, stayed in the team, and become the core of what is now a seriously good side.” Instead of rebuilding every year, the team has been able to gel as a team and build momentum. 

“Semester abroad players have also added real depth this season,” Ferry said. “They pushed the standards and [gave] us more options when it mattered.” 

Ferry is confident that this season marks an important step in the progression of football at St Andrews.

“I see no reason the six or seven boys who have joined this season won’t do the same or push it even further next season,” Ferry said. 

The way this team has grown over the past few years, you would be inclined to believe him.

Photo Provided by Saints Football