STM Sports F.C.
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{short description|Former association football club in Wales}}
{{Infobox football club |
clubname = STM Sports|
fullname = STM Sports Association Football Club|
nickname = |
image = STM_Sports.png|
dissolved = 2020 |
Reformed = 2025 |
ground = Cardiff University Playing Fields, Cardiff|
capacity = |
chairman = |
manager = |
}}
STM Sports Association Football Club was a Welsh football club. They were based in St Mellons, Cardiff and played at Cardiff University Sports fields.
History
=Regional leagues=
The club was formed mostly from players of Cardiff Cosmos Portos, coupled with players from Sunday League side Willows FC.{{Cite web|url=https://clwbpeldroed.org/2019/10/30/stmsports-cymruleagues-cymrusouth-nathanielmgcup/|title = How no fear STM Sports have embraced the Cymru Leagues|date = 30 October 2019}} 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 finish in fifth position and also saw them win the South Wales FA Senior Cup.
The 2013–14 season saw them finish in 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.{{cite web |title=STM into Welsh League after play-off drama|url=https://www.welsh-football.net/blog/item/177-stm-into-welsh-league-after-play-off-drama|date=21 June 2015|work=Welsh Football - The National Football Magazine of Wales}} 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.{{cite web |title=Footballer arrested for assault during vital match after walking off pitch to change his boots|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/footballer-arrested-assault-during-vital-5921754|date=21 June 2015|work=Daily Mirror|first=James|last=McCarthy}}
=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.{{cite web |title=Bircham and Lewis share delight as STM and Major are promoted|url=https://clwbpeldroed.org/2017/04/24/bircham-lewis-share-delight-stm-major-promoted/|date=24 April 2017|work=Y Clwb Pel-Droed|first=Matt|last=Hemsley}} In their first season in Division Two the club finished in fourth place, before being crowned champions in the 2018–19 season.{{cite web |title=STM Sports promoted to the FAW Championship|date=2 May 2019|url=https://clwbpeldroed.org/2019/05/02/stm-sports-promoted-faw-championship/|work=Y Clwb Pel-Droed|first=Jorden|last=Jones }} The season included a record 20–0 Welsh League Cup away win over Caerau which saw five STM Sports players score hat-tricks.{{cite web |title=The unprecedented Welsh League football match which finished 20-0 as FIVE players score hat-tricks|date=30 August 2018 |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/unprecedented-welsh-league-football-match-15089596|work=Wales Online}}
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.{{cite web |title=Police and Welsh football chiefs launch probe into claims of racism at cup semi-final|date=11 April 2019 |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/police-welsh-football-chiefs-launch-16117163|work=Wales Online}} Both clubs were later charged by FA Wales in relation to potential offences in relation to the match.{{cite web |title=Football clubs charged after FAW Trophy racism probe|date=10 May 2019|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-48225954|work=BBC Sport}}
=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.{{cite web |title=FAW Tier 2 First Instance Body Decision - 43 Clubs Successful |publisher=Football Association of Wales |date=8 May 2019 |url=https://www.faw.cymru/en/news/faw-tier-2-first-instance-body-decision-43-clubs-successful/?back=/en/news/&pos=3}} The club won their appeal later in May.{{cite web |title=FAW Tier 2 appeals body decisions |publisher=Football Association of Wales |date=22 May 2019 |url=https://www.faw.cymru/en/news/faw-tier-2-appeals-body-decisions/}} In the first season in tier 2, the club's season was curtailed by the COVID-19 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.{{cite web |title=Cymru South: STM Sports' FAW domestic licence appeal rejected |date=21 May 2020 |url=https://clwbpeldroed.org/2020/05/21/stm-sports-faw-licence-appeal/ |publisher=Clwb Pel Droed |accessdate=10 June 2020}} The club were placed in the new Ardal Leagues South West when it was announced in July 2020.{{cite web |title=Membership of Tier 3 leagues confirmed |url=https://www.faw.cymru/en/news/membership-tier-3-leagues-confirmed/ |publisher=Football Association of Wales |accessdate=13 July 2020}}
=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.{{cite web |last1=Jones |first1=Jordan |title=Nathaniel MG Cup finalists STM Sports announce they are to fold |date=27 July 2020 |url=https://clwbpeldroed.org/2020/07/27/stm-sports-fold/ |publisher=Y Clwb Pel-Droed |accessdate=27 July 2020}}
Honours
- Welsh League Cup – Runners-up: 2019–20
- Welsh Football League Division Two – Champions: 2018–19
- Welsh Football League Division Three – Runners-up: 2016–17
- South Wales Amateur League Division One – Champions: 2014–15
- South Wales Amateur League Division Two – Champions: 2010–11
- Cardiff Combination League Premier Division – Champions: 2009–10
- Cardiff Combination League Division One – Runners-up: 2008–09
- Cardiff Combination League Division Two – Runners-up: 2007–08
- South Wales FA Senior Cup – Winners: 2012–13
Management history
{{Expand list|date=June 2019}}
- Nathan Cadette (July 2015{{cite web |title=Cadette appointed STM Sports' first team coach |url=https://www.welshleague.org.uk/new_page_5.htm|date=10 July 2015|work=The Welsh Football League}} – May 2017{{cite web |title=Promotion winning Cadette stands down as STM boss|url=https://clwbpeldroed.org/2017/05/13/promotion-winning-cadette-stands-down-as-stm-boss/|date=13 May 2017|work=Y Clwb Pel-Droed|first=Jordan|last=Jones }})
- Gareth Morgan (May 2017{{cite web |title=STM Sports appoint former Porth manager as successor to Cadette|url=https://clwbpeldroed.org/2017/05/15/stm-appoint-morgan-to-replace-cadette/|date=15 May 2017|work=Y Clwb Pel-Droed|first=Jordan|last=Jones }}) – January 2018{{cite web |title=STM Sports part company with manager Gareth Morgan|url=https://clwbpeldroed.org/2018/01/16/stm-sports-part-company-gareth-morgan/|date=16 January 2018|work=Y Clwb Pel-Droed|first=Jordan|last=Jones }})
- Dale Gardiner [Player/ Manager] (January 2018 – ?)
- Nana Baah [Manager] (July 2019{{cite web |title=Nana Baah joins coaching staff of STM Sports|date=6 June 2019|url=https://clwbpeldroed.org/2019/06/05/nana-baa-stm-sports-faw-championship/|work=Y Clwb Pel-Droed|first=Jordan|last=Jones }} - July 2020)
Seasons
{{Expand list|date=June 2019}}
| class="wikitable"
|+ ! rowspan="2" |Season ! rowspan="2" |Pyramid Tier ! colspan="7" |League ! rowspan="2" |Welsh Cup{{Cite web|url=http://www.faw.cymru/en/faw-cups/|title=FAW / FAW Cups|website=www.faw.cymru|language=en|access-date=2019-04-17}} ! rowspan="2" |Other |
| Division
!P !W !D !L !Pts !Pos |
|---|
| 2007-08
|9 |Cardiff Combination League Division Two{{Cite web |url=https://www.welshsoccerarchive.co.uk/leagues_cardiff_comb.php?season_id=2 |website=www.welshsoccerarchive.co.uk |url-status=live |archive-date=Sep 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210916152620/https://www.welshsoccerarchive.co.uk/leagues_cardiff_comb.php?season_id=2 |title=Cardiff Combination League Tables 2007{{ndash}}08 |language=en |access-date=18 July 2023}} |20 |18 |1 |1 |55 |align=center bgcolor="silver"|2 | | | |
| 2008-09
|8 |20 |17 |1 |2 |52 |align=center bgcolor="silver"|2 | | | |
| 2009-10
|7 |Cardiff Combination League Premier Division{{Cite web|url=https://www.leaguewebsite.co.uk/cardiffcombinationfl/LeagueHistory/index/1509|title = The Cardiff Combination Football League website has moved!}} |20 | | | | |align=center bgcolor="Gold"|1 | | | |
| 2010-11
|6 |South Wales Amateur League, Division Two |28 |23 |1 |4 |70 |align=center bgcolor="Gold"|1 |R1 | | |
| 2011-12
|5 |South Wales Amateur League, Division One |28 |12 |4 |12 |40 |align=center bgcolor=""|7 |1Q | | |
| 2012-13
|5 |South Wales Amateur League, Division One |30 |15 |3 |12 |48 |align=center bgcolor=""|5 |1Q | |bgcolor="Gold"|South Wales FA Senior Cup Winners |
| 2013-14
|5 |South Wales Amateur League, Division One |30 |17 |6 |7 |57 |align=center bgcolor=""|4 | | | |
| 2014-15
|5 |South Wales Amateur League, Division One |24 |17 |5 |2 |56 |align=center bgcolor="Gold"|1 |R1 | | |
| 2015-16
|4 |Welsh Football League Division Three |34 |21 |4 |9 |67 |align=center bgcolor=""|4 | | | |
| 2016-17
|4 |Welsh Football League Division Three |20 |21 |4 |5 |64 |align=center bgcolor="Silver"|2 |2Q | | |
| 2017-18
|3 |Welsh Football League Division Two |30 |18 |6 |6 |60 |align=center bgcolor=""|4 |R2 |R2 | |
| 2018-19
|3 |Welsh Football League Division Two |29 |21 |4 |4 |67 |align=center bgcolor="Gold"|1 |R1 |SF | |
| 2019-20
|2 |22 |12 |3 |7 |39 |align=center bgcolor="red"|6 |R3 ! |bgcolor="Silver"|Nathaniel MG Cup Runner Up{{Cite web|title=Connah's Quay win the Nathaniel MG cup.|url=http://www.s4c.cymru/sgorio/e_/2020/cei-connah-yn-ennill-cwpan-nathaniel-mg/|access-date=2020-06-24|website=Sgorio|language=en}} |
;Notes
- 1Q: First qualifying round
- 2Q: Second qualifying round
- R1: First Round
- R2: Second Round
- SF: Semi Final
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://wfleague.co.uk/teams/view/103 Welsh Football League Club profile]
- [https://twitter.com/stmsportsafc?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor Club official twitter]
{{Sport in Cardiff}}
Category:Association football clubs established in 2007
Category:Association football clubs disestablished in 2020
Category:2007 establishments in Wales
Category:2020 disestablishments in Wales
Category:South Wales Amateur League clubs
Category:Cardiff Combination League clubs