The New Saints will be honouring the rich history of football in Oswestry by wearing their blue away kit for all home games throughout the month of September, beginning this weekend when Haverfordwest County visit Park Hall.
The blue kit is a tribute to Oswestry’s footballing heritage, reflecting the colour first worn by Oswestry FC in 1875.
When they face Llanelli Town a week later (Saturday, September 13th) the Saints will then be celebrating the 150th anniversary of football in Oswestry, a milestone that highlights the town’s proud role in shaping the sport in Wales.
Oswestry Football Club was originally founded in 1875, establishing one of the earliest football institutions in the region, and would remain active until the conclusion of the 1891–92 season, after which it was disbanded.
In 1893, a new chapter began with the formation of Oswestry United, who carried the town’s footballing tradition forward until the outbreak of the First World War in 1914.
Following the war, a meeting was held to revive football in Oswestry. This led to a new name and a fresh start: at the beginning of the 1920–21 season, Oswestry Town Football Club was officially born.
Oswestry sides under their various guises competed in some of the very first Welsh Cup competitions, helping to establish cross-border footballing traditions that still exist today, with Oswestry FC one of the founding members of the Football Association of Wales (FAW) in 1876.
The modern story of football in Oswestry took a decisive turn in 2003, when Oswestry Town merged with the Llansantffraid based Total Network Solutions. This partnership brought together two proud traditions – Oswestry’s historic link with the Welsh Cup and TNS’s rise in the League of Wales, now the Cymru Premier.
The merger ensured Oswestry’s place in top-flight Welsh football and gave The New Saints a permanent home at Park Hall. Since then, the club has gone on to dominate Welsh football, while keeping the legacy of Oswestry Town and its supporters close to heart.
By wearing the blue kit and celebrating Oswestry’s 150 years of football, The New Saints are paying tribute not just to a club or a merger, but to the community’s lasting influence on the game.
As part of the month’s celebrations, The New Saints will also be inviting all Park Hall residents to attend their home match against Flint Town United on Tuesday, September 23rd, offering the local community a chance to share in a special evening of football.
With three huge fixtures on the horizon – Haverfordwest County (Sept 6th), Llanelli Town (Sept 13th), and Flint Town United (Sept 23rd) – supporters are encouraged to secure their tickets early and be part of a September that celebrates both the future of The New Saints and the proud footballing heritage of Oswestry.
Lead image: Oswestry United, 1897-98
