A NEW book celebrating St Kilda’s history has been released to coincide with the club’s 140^th birthday celebrations.

Strength Through Loyalty – The Saints at Moorabbin and Beyond focuses on the last 48 years of the club’s history since moving from its Junction Oval base at the end of 1964.

It is the third St Kilda book written by club historian Russell Holmesby who had previously authored The Point Of It All in 1992 and Heroes With Haloes in 1995.

The book explores the St Kilda culture and is anecdote rich, with wide-ranging interviews of key figures in the club’s history.

Stories that have never before heard and photos that have never before been seen feature prominently in the book that will be officially launched at this Saturday’s 140^th birthday and Hall of Fame celebration.

“Strength Through Loyalty” tells the inside story of this fascinating and often frustrating club over the past half century. Following the ground-breaking move to Moorabbin, the book tracks St Kilda’s rise to a premiership, the perilous depths of the mid 1980s, through to the Grand Finals of 1997 and more recent years. Told through the eyes of players, coaches and officials it examines the drama and delights that have enthralled Saints’ fans. It is illustrated by magnificent images – some of which have never been seen before.

More than 100 interviews give an unprecedented insight to everything from the club’s culture through to the infamous local showers at Moorabbin. The eras of coaches from Allan Jeans to Scott Watters  are analysed as never before. 

This book is a must for anyone whose heart beats to the red, white and black. It is for the true believers who have never given up.

Available in both hard cover and a Limited Edition of only 300 superb leather-bound volumes, personally signed by our four 300 game players Robert Harvey, Nathan Burke, Stewart Loewe and Barry Breen.

Saints.com.au will be releasing excerpts from the book in the coming days.

 “Strength through Loyalty” will be available from the Saints Shop at Linton Street Moorabbin from Monday May 6 (Hard Cover RRP $49.95, Leather Bound Limited Edition $395) The hard cover version can be ordered here and the limited edition version can be ordered here.