STM Sports F.C.

STM Sports Association Football Club was a Welsh football club. They were based in St Mellons, Cardiff and played at Cardiff University Sports fields.

STM Sports
Full nameSTM Sports Associaton Football Club
Founded2007[1]
Dissolved2020
GroundCardiff University Playing Fields, Cardiff
2019–20Cymru South, 6th of 16 (demoted)
WebsiteClub website

History

Regional leagues

The club was formed mostly from players of the Cardiff Cosmos Portos, coupled with players from Sunday League side Willows FC.[2] They played originally in the Cardiff Combination League, before moving to the South Wales Amateur League for the 2010–11 season where they were crowned Division Two champions at their first attempt. The following season in Division One saw the club finish seventh position, whilst the following year saw them finished in fifth position and also saw them win the South Wales FA Senior Cup.

The 2013–14 season saw them finished fourth place, with promotion to the Welsh Football League obtained at the end of 2014–15 season, finishing as Champions. The club had to lodge an appeal with the Football Association of Wales to secure promotion and then defeated Pontlottyn 4–1 at Cardiff City Stadium in the SWFA promotion play-off.[3] The match also featured the unusual situation of one of the club's players being arrested during the match by police officers for an outstanding charge of assault and failing to answer to court.[4]

Welsh Football League

In the first season in Division Three, the club finished in fourth place before improving on that for the 2016–17 season, finishing second to Llantwit Major and gaining promotion to Division Two.[5] In their first season in Division Two the club finished in fourth place, before being crowned champions in the 2018–19 season.[6] The season included a record 20–0 Welsh League Cup away win over Caerau which saw five STM Sports players score hat-tricks.[7]

The team also reached the semi-final of the FAW Trophy before losing in extra time to Cefn Albion in a match that was marred by claims of racism against two STM Sports players by supporters of Cefn Albion.[8] Both clubs were later charged by FA Wales in relation to potential offences in relation to the match.[9]

Cymru South

As Division Two champions, the club was eligible for promotion to the newly established Cymru South. The club was informed by the Football Association of Wales (FAW) in May 2019 that they had not been awarded tier 2 certification to be eligible to play at that level, and were given the right of appeal.[10] The club won their appeal later in May.[11] In the first season in tier 2, the club's season was curtailed by the Coronavirus pandemic which led to the suspension of all football in Wales and curtailment of the season. The club finished in sixth position after a decision was made to determine final places on a points per game (PPG) basis by the FAW.

At the end of the season, the club was informed by the Football Association of Wales that they had not been successful in gaining a tier 2 domestic licence for the forthcoming season. Despite appealing this decision, the club lost their appeal, and were therefore told they must compete in the newly established tier 3 structure for 2020–21.[12] The club were placed in the new Ardal Leagues South West when it was announced in July 2020.[13]

Closure of the club

On 27 July 2020 it was announced that the club would not play in the 2020–21 season, and would dissolve.[14]

Honours

Management history
This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.
  • Nathan Cadette (July 2015[15] – May 2017[16])
  • Gareth Morgan (May 2017[17]) – January 2018[18])
  • Dale Gardiner [Player/ Manager] (January 2018 – ?)
  • Nana Baah [Manager] (July 2019[19] - July 2020)

Seasons
This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.
Season Pyramid Tier League Welsh Cup[20] FAW Trophy[20] Other
Division P W D L Pts Pos
2007-08 9 Cardiff Combination League Division Two[21] 20 18 1 1 55 2
2008-09 8 Cardiff Combination League Division One[22] 20 17 1 2 52 2
2009-10 7 Cardiff Combination League Premier Division[23] 20 1
2010-11 6 South Wales Amateur League, Division Two 28 23 1 4 70 1 R1
2011-12 5 South Wales Amateur League, Division One 28 12 4 12 40 7 1Q
2012-13 5 South Wales Amateur League, Division One 30 15 3 12 48 5 1Q South Wales FA Senior Cup Winners
2013-14 5 South Wales Amateur League, Division One 30 17 6 7 57 4
2014-15 5 South Wales Amateur League, Division One 24 17 5 2 56 1 R1
2015-16 4 Welsh Football League Division Three 34 21 4 9 67 4
2016-17 4 Welsh Football League Division Three 20 21 4 5 64 2 2Q
2017-18 3 Welsh Football League Division Two 30 18 6 6 60 4 R2 R2
2018-19 3 Welsh Football League Division Two 29 21 4 4 67 1 R1 SF
2019-20 2 Cymru South 22 12 3 7 39 6 R3 Nathaniel MG Cup Runner Up[24]
Notes
  • 1Q: First qualifying round
  • 2Q: Second qualifying round
  • R1: First Round
  • R2: Second Round
  • SF: Semi Final

    References
    1. Phillips, Terry (6 April 2018). "STM Sports Plan On Going Home To St Mellons". Dai Sports.
    2. https://clwbpeldroed.org/2019/10/30/stmsports-cymruleagues-cymrusouth-nathanielmgcup/
    3. "STM into Welsh League after play-off drama". Welsh Football - The National Football Magazine of Wales. 21 June 2015.
    4. McCarthy, James (21 June 2015). "Footballer arrested for assault during vital match after walking off pitch to change his boots". Daily Mirror.
    5. Hemsley, Matt (24 April 2017). "Bircham and Lewis share delight as STM and Major are promoted". Y Clwb Pel-Droed.
    6. Jones, Jorden (2 May 2019). "STM Sports promoted to the FAW Championship". Y Clwb Pel-Droed.
    7. "The unprecedented Welsh League football match which finished 20-0 as FIVE players score hat-tricks". Wales Online. 30 August 2018.
    8. "Police and Welsh football chiefs launch probe into claims of racism at cup semi-final". Wales Online. 11 April 2019.
    9. "Football clubs charged after FAW Trophy racism probe". BBC Sport. 10 May 2019.
    10. "FAW Tier 2 First Instance Body Decision - 43 Clubs Successful". Football Association of Wales. 8 May 2019.
    11. "FAW Tier 2 appeals body decisions". Football Association of Wales. 22 May 2019.
    12. "Cymru South: STM Sports' FAW domestic licence appeal rejected". Clwb Pel Droed. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
    13. "Membership of Tier 3 leagues confirmed". Football Association of Wales. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
    14. Jones, Jordan. "Nathaniel MG Cup finalists STM Sports announce they are to fold". Y Clwb Pel-Droed. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
    15. "Cadette appointed STM Sports' first team coach". The Welsh Football League. 10 July 2015.
    16. Jones, Jordan (13 May 2017). "Promotion winning Cadette stands down as STM boss". Y Clwb Pel-Droed.
    17. Jones, Jordan (15 May 2017). "STM Sports appoint former Porth manager as successor to Cadette". Y Clwb Pel-Droed.
    18. Jones, Jordan (16 January 2018). "STM Sports part company with manager Gareth Morgan". Y Clwb Pel-Droed.
    19. Jones, Jordan (6 June 2019). "Nana Baah joins coaching staff of STM Sports". Y Clwb Pel-Droed.
    20. "FAW / FAW Cups". www.faw.cymru. Retrieved 2019-04-17.
    21. www.welshsoccerarchive.co.uk https://www.welshsoccerarchive.co.uk/leagues_cardiff_comb.php?season_id=2. Retrieved 2020-06-24. Missing or empty |title= (help)
    22. www.welshsoccerarchive.co.uk https://www.welshsoccerarchive.co.uk/leagues_cardiff_comb.php?season_id=3. Retrieved 2020-06-24. Missing or empty |title= (help)
    23. https://www.leaguewebsite.co.uk/cardiffcombinationfl/LeagueHistory/index/1509
    24. "Connah's Quay win the Nathaniel MG cup". Sgorio. Retrieved 2020-06-24.
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