The Association Jeunesse Auxerroise was founded in 1905 as a direct reaction to a law enshrining the separation of Church and State. An abbot, Ernest Deschamps, created what was a general sports club to begin with as a way of trying to keep local youngsters on the right track, and Catholic ceremonies were an integral part of AJA's activities in the early days.
The football section was launched in 1906 with l'abbé Deschamps as 'general manager', and the team first wore black before today's combination of blue and white (representing the Virgin Mary) was adopted in 1909. One of 48 sides to take part in the inaugural Coupe de France tournament in 1918, Auxerre nonetheless failed to progress beyond the regional amateur Leagues and were delivered a blow when l'abbé Deschamps died in 1949.
Their stadium was renamed in his honour the following year, and, just two years after that, the second legendary figure in the club's history emerged. Guy Roux began his long association with Auxerre in the youth side in 1952, and by 1961 he was installed as player-Coach. He bossed the first team for the next 44 years, with just one year out from 2000-01, and retired in June 2005 after establishing Auxerre in the top flight, and winning a famous League and Cup double in 1996. He also won the Coupe de France on three other occasions, led Auxerre into Europe 16 times and unearthed a constant stream of talented youngsters.
