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.

Back to Blues page