The National League Clubs
These are the clubs
currently in the Harp Lager National League.
Where possible, there are website links to the clubs' fanpages in
place. Hopefully, before too long, every name here will be
hyperlinked. Come on, LOI fans, get your fingers out!
Premier Division:
Bohemian F.C.
The Gypsies are, with Shelbourne, the only founder
members of the League of Ireland (formed 1921) left. The
Phibsborough outfit, the oldest league club in Dublin
(founded 1890) are at home at Dalymount Park, which was
also home to the Republic of Ireland until the mid
eighties. Always known as the side to beat, they have
been League Champions 7 times, and runners-up 11. Five
Cup wins puts them jointly in third place in the history
books, along with Drumcondra and Shelbourne (with whom
their story has been inextricably linked through the
years). They almost provided the shock of the decade last
time out as they were forced to play Cobh Ramblers in the
relegation play-off, but won through in style in the end.
- Cork City
Another
Cork City
Cork City have only been going under that name since
1984, when the two Cork teams that had been changing
names and league status since 1924 merged. Since then
they have won the title in 1993, in that famous, but
ill-advised, series of play-off games. Slightly lucky to
be still in operation after a move to a shiny new stadium
collapsed amid financial chaos, City have returned to
their spiritual home of Turner's Cross, where they are
now under the guidance of their most renowned soccer son,
Dave Barry. They lifted the FAI Cup two seasons ago,
beating Shelbourne 1-0 in a replay, and just missed out
on the title on the last day of last season.
- Derry
City
Derry City official
- but very good
Founded in 1928, Derry City joined the League of Ireland
in unusual circumstances in 1985, after sectarian
troubles in the North forced them to secede from the
Irish League a couple of years before. Three years later
they did the League and Cup double, and have since won
the Cup again (1995). Nicknamed for their distinctive red
and white jerseys, the Candystripes are at home at the
Brandywell. In 1997, they added a second League title,
but just missed the double, being beaten by Shelbourne in
the Cup Final.
- Drogheda United
Drogheda United are more at home in the Premier League
than the First, but have spent 5 seasons at the lower
level in recent years. Elected in 1963. their only major
trophy was the League Cup of 1984, and three First
Division Championships won in '89,'91 and '99. Their
highest place was as League runners-up in 1983. Famous
connections include Ireland internationals Gary Kelly and
Ian Harte. The County Louth side play at the
imaginatively titled United Park. Promoted three seasons
ago, they struggled in their next season and went
straight back down again, along with with Kilkenny City.
Unlike Kilkenny, though, they came straight back up as
First Division Champions, and are looking this time out
to consolidate in the top flight.
- Finn
Harps
The famous Donegal side joined the League in 1969, and
enjoyed their best spell of success in the '70s, when
they were League runners-up three times, and Cup winners
in 1974. From 1985 on they spent a number of years
languishing in the First Division, but since 1996 are
back in the Premier, even if not exactly setting it
alight. The last word in chic last season with their
day-glo Dortmund style away kit, they play at Finn Park,
Ballybofey.
- Galway
United
Another
one, linked to the first
The Tribesmen joined the League in 1977, forty years
after coming into being, but were known as Galway Rovers
until 1981. Taking to League football instantly, they
managed to stay in the top flight until 1992, were then
relegated, but bounced straight back with the First
division title the next year. Relegation three seasons
ago has coincided with poor attendances, and Galway very
nearly went bankrupt two years ago. However they turned
things around this past season, comfortably gaining
promotion in second place. Their best League performance
was as runner-up in 1986, and they won their one Cup in
1991. They are at home at Terryland Park.
- St. Patrick's
Athletic
The Saints play at Richmond Park, in the Inchicore area
of Dublin, and are the reigning League champions. Like
many Dublin clubs they were running for many years before
being elected to the League - from 1929 to '51 in this
case. In addition to winning the title of four seasons
ago, they were narrowly beaten by Shelbourne in a replay
of that year's Cup Final. Last season, they lifted their
third title in four years, the first side to successfully
defend a title since Shamrock Rovers in 1987. They have
been League Champions six times in total, and Cup winners
twice. Their most famous exports are Paul McGrath and
Curtis Fleming.
Shamrock
Rovers
And
a Rovers photo page
Shamrock Rovers are the most successful Irish club by
such a long way it's almost untrue. Fifteen League titles
and 24 Cups in the 75 years of their League history
stands as a record that will probably never be equalled.
Six League and Cup doubles form part of that record,
including the unprecedented three-in-a-row in 1985, '86,
and '87. The Hoops have hit something of a lean patch
lately, as their last silverware was the League title of
'94, and prior to that '87. This neatly coincides with
their ridiculous ground problems; their spiritual home of
Milltown was sold out from under them without an adequate
replacement ever found. An unhappy tenure at the R.D.S.
has been replaced by a temporary moving-in at Tolka Park.
However a brand new facility in Tallaght is hopefully
soon to become a reality.
Shelbourne
Shelbourne, like Bohemians, have been ever present in the
League since its inception in 1921, but are slightly
younger, being first formed in 1895. Known for many years
as the most attractive side to watch in Ireland, they
have not really turned their excellent football into
trophies. Six of their seven titles date to 1962 or
before, but they have won three of their six Cups in the
last seven years, most recently 1997. Playing at Tolka
Park in Dublin 3, they have had the distinction of having
top-scorer Stephen Geoghegan called up to the senior
Ireland international squad three seasons ago - a rare
honour for a League of Ireland player. Two seasons ago,
disapointment upon disapointment was heaped on the club,
as they finished runners-up in the League Cup and FAI Cup
finals, and in the League Championship.
- Sligo
Rovers
Sligo Rovers were founded in 1928, and elected in 1934.
Since then they have lost League status twice, and, since
being re-admitted in 1963, have yo-yoed between First and
Premier divisions. In 1993 they lead the way in Ireland
for floodlit, Friday night football, and as a consequence
of the increased crowds, raced to a First division title
and F.A.I. Cup double in 1994. The Bit o' Red have won
two League titles and two Cups in all, and their home is
the Showgrounds.
- U.C.D.
U.C.D. are another ancient outfit, having been founded in
1895, the same year as Shelbourne. Happy with the
inter-varsity scene for most of their history, they were
not elected until 1979. Their best spell to date came in
the mid eighties, with a fourth place in the League in
1985, and the F.A.I. Cup in '84. Since then it has been
mostly First division football for the Stillorgan club,
who play at Belfield. Promoted most recently in 1995,
they kept their precarious grip on top-flight football
two seasons ago with a play-off victory over Limerick,
but finished quite comfortably in 6th last time out.
- WATERFORD UNITED - alternative fan pages
Blues.ie
Derek
Troy's pages
Waterford are the archetypal sleeping giants of Irish
soccer. Since election in 1930, and two short spells out
of League action from '32-'34 and '41-'45, they have won
six Championships and two Cups. The League titles came in
an all-conquering period from 1966 to '73, and since the
last Cup win in 1980, there has been very little to cheer
for Blues fans. Relegated in 1993, they found it hard to
get going for several years. Three seasons ago, a
controversial play-off defeat to Dundalk cost them
promotion, but the following season they roared back to
the top flight, running away with the First Division
title in the process. A seemingly inevitable return to
the lower reaches was on the cards last season, but a
miraculous run of a draw and seven wins in the last eight
games saw them finish a comfortable 7th. See the About
Blues page for more details.
First Division:
- Athlone Town
Athlone are, surprisingly, the oldest League of Ireland
club in existence, having been formed in 1887. They were
elected to the League in 1922, but resigned six years
later, and were not re-admitted until 1969. They won
their two League titles in the early eighties, and their
single Cup success was in 1924. Since the two division
system was introduced in 1985 they have been bouncing
between Premier and First. They are at home at St. Mel's
Park.
- Bray
Wanderers
Bray Wanderers have been a League team only since the
expansion of 1985, although a team by the curious name of
Bray Unknowns were League members between 1924 and '42,
the year Wanderers were founded. Their best League
position was eighth (twice), and they lifted the F.A.I.
Cup in 1990. They have yo-yoed a bit in the last few
years, and were consigned to Division One again last
season in the second last game. They play at the Carlisle
Grounds.
- Cobh Ramblers
Cobh were founded in 1922 at the same time as many other
League clubs, but did not attain League status until the
expansion of 1985. The County Cork club, famous as the
discoverers of Roy Keane, have not yet had success to
match their ambition, and their highest League placing
(10th) came in the one season they managed to avoid
relegation. They have been First division runners-up
twice, and F.A.I. Cup Semi-Finalists in 1983 as a
non-league side, and last season's third place in the
division saw them play Bohemians for a Premier berth, but
unfortunately they were somewhat overwhelmed. They are at
home at St. Coleman's Park.
Dundalk
(Mark McGuinness)
Dundalk
(Daniel McDonnell)
Dundalk have a perhaps surprising pedigree in the
National League, given that they are not one of the
'glamour' sides. They have been Champions nine times
(most recently '94-'95), and runners-up 10, a record
second only to Shamrock Rovers. For the last two seasons,
however, they spent most of their time towards the lower
end of the table, and were the first team to be relegated
last time out. They are at home at Oriel Park.
Home
Farm Fingal
Home Farm are a venerable club from the Whitehall area of
Dublin. Founded in 1928, they were elected to the League
in 1972, but do not have much of a record, never
finishing higher than ninth in the top flight. They did
lift the F.A.I. Cup in 1975, however. Best known as a
breeding ground for young talent, their most famous
ex-player is Ronnie Whelan, and they briefly enjoyed a
mutual benefit deal with Everton which, tellingly,
preceded their return to the Premier after a nine year
absence. Relegated three seasons ago, they have
languished in the lower reaches of the table, but are
looking to turn their fortunes around with another name
change and a total restructuring of the club.
- Kilkenny City
One of the League's newer clubs, Kilkenny were founded as
the curiously named EMFA, in 1966. Elected to the League
in 1985, they changed names to Kilkenny City in 1989.
Never promoted, their best return was fourth in Division
One in 1990. Things took a dramatic turn in 1994,
however, when a concious decision was made to channel all
funds into the redevelopment of Buckley Park. As a
consequence, one of the worst seasons every recorded by
any club returned the grand total of two points! The
hardship paid off, however, as booming crowds, in their
spanking new ground, watched Kilkenny run away with the
First Division in 1997, with the help of manager Alfie
Hale and his 10 ex-Waterford players (and no, I'm not
bitter :) Two seasons ago, however, a failure to
strengthen the side for the greater demands of the
Premier Division cost them dear, and they came straight
back down along with Drogheda United, and, like so many
before them, could not get themselves sorted out enough
to bounce straight back. New manager Pat Byrne has his
ambitious sights set on an early return, however.
- Limerick F.C.
Limerick were founded and admitted to the League in 1937,
and since then have had a topsy-turvy time of it. League
Champions in 1960 and '80, and Cup winners in '71 and
'82, they have also had to seek re-election 10 times up
to 1976, and have been relegated twice since the
introduction of the second level in 1985. Two seasons
ago, they turned their season around to finish in the
promotion play-off spot, but went down 4-1 to U.C.D. in
two bad-tempered games. Since the middle of last season
they are under the guidance of Tommy Lynch, who hopes to
pull off the same trick as he did with Waterford Their
home ground is Hogan Park, Rathbane.
- Longford
Town
Longford were elected in 1984, having been formed many
years previously (1924). Since the split in 1985 they
have never left the First division, and their best result
was a fifth place in 1993 and again in '94. They have
reached three Cup Semi-Finals, two as a non-league side.
They play at Strokestown Road.
- Monaghan United
Monaghan are real new boys to football, only coming into
being as late as 1979. They joined the League when it
expanded in 1985, but have since done little, although
they did spend two years in Premier division in 1993-'94
and '94-'95. In the year of their promotion they beat
Waterford in the play-off, and went on to a best League
place of 7th the next season. Their home ground is
Gortakeegan.
St. Francis
St. Francis are the newest members of the League, their
debut being the 1996-97 season. The Dublin club, going
since 1958, were elected to replace St. James' Gate when
it became apparent at the start of that season that they
weren't going to be able to continue operating as a
League club, mainly for financial reasons. Consequently
the Saints have no League record to speak of, but they
did reached the F.A.I. Cup Final in 1990 as a non-league
side, losing out to Bray.
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