In Lurgan in 1971, two neighbours in the newly built district of Taghnevan, Clem McCavigan and Michael Fitzsimmons, discussed at length, the possibility of forming a G.A.A club to address the needs of the people of the area. Both men were Aghagallon-born and both had played for Aghagallon Mitchells.

It is extremely difficult to believe that people born in Lurgan would ever have taken seriously the establishment of a new local club. Taghnevan lay just a few hundred yards from Francis Street, Edward Street and Shankill Street, the heartland of Clan Na Gael, not merely a successful G.A.A. club, but a revered institution. Cock-of-the-north in the late '40's and early '50's, Armagh County championship and league winners many times over, Clan na Gael generated an allegiance among people which epitomised the great loyalty so much sought by voluntary associations and organisations throughout the county.

And along comes two men; modest and committed footballers in their own right; family men who saw the need for the young to have sporting facilities on their doorstep; concerned citizens who realised that the new housing development of Taghnevan had no real social focus; and their solution was - let's plan for a new football club.

To Clem McCavigan and Michael Fitszimmons, two men from the rural area of south-west Antrim, Clan na Gael was a great club with an exemplary tradition but it was somewhat remote from the area. The important telling factor was that the families who had come to Taghnevan's new housing development were from districts throughout Lurgan, and from many surrounding rural areas. The idea had been conceived. What body or vehicle could bring it through its gestation period?

In 1965, the first families moved into three-bedroom houses in the Taghnevan estate. Problems arose as a result of stringent smokeless zone stipulations and a Taghnevan Tenants Association was formed. This grouping was to provide much tangible and moral support for the fledging club in its infancy. Among those who worked hard for both the Tenants Association and the infant club were; Maurice Magee, Chairman; Phillip Mallon, Treasurer; Danny Barr, Secretary; Laurence Dempsey; Vincent Riley; Vincent McGibbon; Jim Lappin and Desmond Smyth.

The Tenants Association members met on a very regular basis in each other’s houses, with each committee member taking responsibility for a particular aspect of tenants’ concerns. Drumlin Drive and Monbrief Walk, the first built sections, were the streets closely associated with members and meetings.

The first meeting of the new St Paul’s club took place in Clem McCavigan’s house, in mid-April 1971. Whatever the ultimate vision of each person present was, on the future of Gaelic football in Taghnevan Estate, the first step was to seek registration from the County Board’s books and to enter an u14 team in the Sunday morning summer league. The view of one member present at that initial meeting was that the exercise was a ‘summer league venture, nothing more’. It is likely, however, that more long term aims and views sat quietly alongside, awaiting developments. 

The first set of jerseys, yellow in colour, were purchased at 4s.6d (22.5p) per jersey for 20 players; money was donated by the Taghnevan Tenants Association to defray the initial expenses but a small group of interested men began the task of raising funds for the club viz. Eugene Horisk, Henry Smit, Frank McConville, Denis Seeley, Jim Coleman and Leo Seeley.

The fruits of their fund raising were crystallised in the cheque for £82.00 paid to Messrs. McGlade & Co. for the club’s brand-new rig; the cheque, the first of many to be written, was dated February 23rd, 1972, and bore the signatures of Phillip Mallon and Vincent McGibbon. 

The St Paul’s colours of green, white and gold were adopted as a result of Offaly’s image of a cultured and masterful team who had won the All-Ireland Senior Championship in style the previous year. The mainstay of the clubs early financial drive was the weekly draw, affectionately known as the ‘hamper’, which offered three prizes, £5, £2 and £2, for a 10p weekly contribution. How else could a fledging club without pitch or clubrooms survive? The hamper draw lasted for years through the commitment and zeal of the McCavigan, Seeley, Fitzsimmons, McConville and Mallon families.

In 1971, in the u14 North Armagh League, the club played under the name Taghnevan. Clem McCavigan was manager and Sean Coleman was appointed as the first captain. Success was immediate, with the team winning the league at their first attempt.

In 1972, the committee capitalised on one of the most important contributory factors to the club’s expansion, namely, Taghnevan was growing rapidly, and becoming a very pleasant place to dwell and put down roots. Young families were moving into the district and as a result teams were entered into both the u14 and u16 leagues and, for the first time, the name St Paul’s was used as the club’s official name.

This indeed was symmetry, St Peter’s G.F.C. at one end of Lurgan town, St Paul’s G.F.C at the other, with Clan na Gael and Clann Éireann well established and highly respected in between.

Back Row (L to R) Jim Smyth, Peter Murtagh, Aidan McKenna, Laurence Green, Joseph Fitzsimmons, Martin Seeley, Maurice McNally,
Middle Row (L to R) Henry Smyth, Leo Seeley, Michael Fitzsimmons, Denis Seeley, Eugene Kelly, Greg Ruddy, Sean Seeley, Jim Coleman, Clem McCavigan, Frank McConville,
Front Row (L to R) Jim McCorry, Sean McCann, Brian McAlinden, Sean Coleman, 9captain), Frank McAlinden, Harry McAlinden, Gregory Seeley.

It is acknowledged that St Paul’s, tracing its origins to u14 and u16 football in both league and championship, were the dominant force in under age football in County Armagh during the 1970’s. Young players of that era, Jim McCorry, Denis Seeley and Michael McDonald, progressed quickly to represent the county at the highest levels, displaying skill, commitment and great services as they did so. Michael McDonald may have summarised succinctly the nebulous factor which generated the under-age enthusiasm and zeal which prevailed in St Paul’s G.F.C. throughout the 1970’s and beyond: - ‘I sensed a tremendous loyalty all around me when I was a young player: I had great pride in pulling on a St Paul’s jersey’.

On Wednesday the 8th of January 1975, Clem McCavigan and Sean Seeley attended a County Armagh Football League meeting to press the claim of St Paul’s G.F.C. for admission to the County’s Senior League. The application, which was accepted, was proposed by Arthur Campbell of Éire Óg and Seamus McConville of Clann Éireann. St Paul’s was now a Division Three team.

The first game was an away match against St Michael’s, Newtownhamilton: Bill McCorry was manager, and Colin Farnon was captain, and St Paul’s recorded a victory, 2-7 to 0-3. That occurred in late February 1975. By mid-April, the football pundits were becoming aware that a new football force had risen in North Armagh. Tony McGee, writing in the Sunday news on 13th April 1975, reflected thus: - ‘St Paul’s emerged a few years ago as a force at juvenile level. They won u16 honours and last season reached the Minor County Championship final but lost to Killeavy. This year they made their debut in Division Three of the all-county football league and to date are unbeaten. But how come there’s room for a new club in a town that already supports Clan na Gael, Clann Éireann and St Peter’s – three of the strongest units in the Association within County Armagh?