History

In the late 1980s several friends created a team to enter some five and seven-a-side tournaments.

It was a successful period for the club winning several league titles and cup competitions.
For 2006-07 it was decided to create an open age team, joining the Rochdale Online League, and the name Santos continued for several more seasons in various seven-a-side leagues.

In their second season, the club applied to join the Lancashire & Cheshire League. The application was successful, so the team started season 2008-09 in Division 2, whilst our reserve team entered in Division C. It was a tough baptism as the club struggled near the foot of the division for two seasons, before finishing in third place in our third season.
The first team entered Division 1 in season 2011-12 and for the next three seasons spent life at the bottom end of the division. The following season proved to be disastrous for the club. An early season exodus of players resulted in the reserve team squad stepping up several divisions to complete their season.

Unfortunately, they were subjected to several heavy defeats ending the season on zero points. The reserve team were removed from their division as a result.
For season 2015-16, the club went through a restructure and it was decided to stay with just the one team.

There was a complete overhaul of the playing squad. A couple of long serving players returned to the club. After a request to drop down the leagues, the club were placed in Division A.
After a mixed season there was a move up to Division 3 where the club spent the next two campaigns, before another move up followed, after a league restructure.

It was back where we started life in Division 2 for 2018-19 season. After another disappointing season for the club, without a win until February, the club had a heartening end to the season. However, it was too late to prevent finishing bottom.
Gaining a reprieve in the latest season, early results meant that a hopefully productive season was a possibility. Unfortunately, a mid-season slump means that at the time the season was ended, Santos were third from bottom.

After several seasons playing home fixtures around the Middleton area, the club has now found its home in Royton – where the club originates from – at a new facility provided by The Oldham Academy North since 2014.
This is a good facility with a 3G pitch. Royton Town from the Manchester League are also based at this facility as well.

Santos, has to compete with several local clubs playing in the Manchester Leagues, and also long established Lancashire & Cheshire clubs. The club has a good squad of players, the majority have now been together for the last five seasons and there is a good spirit between them.

Looking towards the future of the club, Santos formed a Junior section.
A soccer school for school Y1 was formed. The children who joined the soccer school have now progressed through the years, meaning that this season the club has reached U16s level.
There are also teams, all playing in the East Manchester Junior Football League, at U7s, U8s, U9s (x2), U12s, U12s Girls, U13s, U14s, and U17s level and the Junior section are always on the look-out for new players.

SANTOS FIRST EVER GAME TEAM PHOTO