football club
Linfield Football Club is a professional football club based in Belfast, Northern Ireland, which plays in the NIFL Premiership – the highest horizontal surface of the Northern Ireland Football League. The cabaret was founded in 1886 as Linfield Athletic Club and in 1905 moved into their current dwelling of Windsor Park, [ 1 ] which is besides the home of the Northern Ireland national team. The club ‘s badge displays Windsor Castle, in citation to the anchor ‘s namesake. [ 2 ]
Reading: Linfield F.C. – Wikipedia
historically, Linfield ‘s chief equal has been Glentoran, with the couple known as the Big Two. This competition traditionally includes a league bowler hat played on Boxing Day each year, which normally attracts the largest league attendance of the season. Linfield ‘s median league home attendance is approximately 2,500, the highest in the division and more than doubling the league ‘s overall average of about 1,000. The club, nicknamed the Blues, are managed by former Northern Ireland international and current all-time nickel record goalscorer, David Healy. Healy was appointed on 14 October 2015 to succeed Warren Feeney, [ 4 ] who had resigned in ordering to become adjunct coach of Newport County. [ 5 ] Linfield holds several domestic and world records. The club was inaugural winners and one of the eight founding members of the Irish League in 1890, and is one of only three clubs ( along with Glentoran and Cliftonville ) to have remained in the top division endlessly since the league ‘s formation ; a joint universe read ( shared with scots club Celtic ) for the longest unbroken spell as a penis of a national league ‘s peak division. Linfield has won 55 league championships to date – more than twice as many titles as any other Northern Irish club, and a joint universe record for the most top division league titles won by any clubhouse ; a record shared with Rangers, who have won 55 scots titles. In the 1921–22 season, Linfield completed an unprecedented clean brush of all seven available trophies – to date, this is the only recorded case of a seven-trophy temper being achieved in universe football. [ 6 ] [ n 1 ] In 2006, the club won all four available domestic trophies, to achieve a domestic quadruple. They have besides won three domestic trebles along with a world commemorate 25 domestic doubles. [ 7 ] The club has lifted the Irish Cup 44 times, the second-highest number of national cup wins by any club in the global, behind alone the 47 Liechtenstein Cup wins by Vaduz. Linfield has besides won the League Cup a commemorate ten times, and has won 4 all-Ireland cup competitions – the 1960–61 North-South Cup, [ n 2 ] 1970–71 Blaxnit Cup, 1980–81 Tyler Cup and the 2005 Setanta Cup. The club has never won a european trophy, but did reach the quarter-finals of the 1966–67 european Cup .
Club history [edit ]
constitution and early years ( 1886–1918 ) [edit ]
The club was founded in March 1886 in an area of south Belfast known as Sandy Row by workers at the Ulster Spinning Company ‘s Linfield Mill. [ 8 ] primitively known as Linfield Athletic Club, the team played on footing owned by the company at the back of the grind known as the Meadow. initially, it was planned to have a convention in rate to limit membership of the club to employees of the mill alone. [ 9 ] however, this was quickly changed to allow for the strongest team possible, with six of the clubhouse ‘s first football team being non-employees. Credited with originating the pass game in Ireland, where a dribble based approach had been the average until around 1890, [ 9 ] for three seasons during the club ‘s early years they competed in the English FA Cup. In the 1888–89 qualifying rounds they defeated Ulster and Bolton Wanderers to reach the fourth modification circle, where they faced Cliftonville. After two draws, they won 7–0 in the second play back, which was played on 25 December 1888. This is luminary for being the entirely FA Cup match ever to be played on Christmas Day. [ 10 ] This victory meant they qualified for the first rung proper for the first and only fourth dimension, where they were drawn to face Nottingham Forest in what would turn out to be a controversial tie. Linfield had earned an impressive 2–2 draw in Nottingham, which meant a replay back in Belfast. In an apparent cup disorder, Linfield then defeated Forest 3–1 at the Ulster Cricket Ground in Ballynafeigh, with the large crowd celebrating the fact that Linfield had progressed to the second round. however, a few days former the Belfast Telegraph revealed that the ‘replay ‘ had actually been played as nothing more than a friendly. Prior to the equal, Linfield had conceded the tie after discovering that they had unwittingly fielded an ineligible actor, William Johnston, in the beginning match. Officials from both clubs had agreed to keep this information a unavowed from the players and the populace in order to play the match as planned. [ 11 ] In any character, Linfield would have been improbable to have played any further function in the cup, as the costs of travelling to Kent to play the second round connect against Chatham at an open ground with no gate money would have been prohibitive. Linfield made their final FA Cup appearance during the 1890–91 first qualifying cycle, being defeated 5–4 by Nantwich. This was the last season in which Irish clubs competed in the competition. success on the field meant that the club had to accommodate bigger crowd, so this bring about a move to Ulsterville Avenue in 1889. In 1890, Bob Milne signed for the club from the Gordon Highlanders. The Scot would soon become a key extremity of the team, helping the Blues to lift the irish Cup at the young historic period of 20. [ 12 ] The baseball club stayed at Ulsterville for five years before caparison development on the crunch in 1894 think of that the club had to move on once again. between 1894 and 1897, Linfield played all of their home games at opponents ‘ grounds until the president of the united states of the baseball club, Robert Gibson – who had donated the Gibson Cup trophy to the Irish League for the championship – along with early clubhouse members finally secured a background lease at Myrtlefield in the Balmoral area of the city. however, this was another temp home. The baseball club stayed here until 1905, when they moved into Windsor Park. [ 1 ] The cabaret ‘s first gear silverware at Windsor arrived in the 1906–07 temper, with the club lifting both the league entitle and the County Antrim Shield. This would be the first of a three of league titles, with the 1907–08 and 1908–09 league titles to follow. In 1910, team captain Bob Milne left the clubhouse with a bequest as one of Linfield ‘s best ever players. He had amassed nine irish Cups, eight league titles, and had earned 27 international caps for the Ireland home team during his clock at the cabaret. [ 12 ] Another Scottish actor, Marshall McEwan, joined the baseball club in 1911 at the age of 26. [ 12 ] He had previously played for English clubs Blackpool, Bolton Wanderers and Chelsea. McEwan is possibly best remembered for his performance in the 1913 irish Cup final examination, described by some fans as the best in years. [ 12 ] McEwan retired in 1916, but remained in Belfast and late opened several businesses in the city. [ 12 ] In 1915, the Irish League was suspended as a result of the First World War. In its place, a impermanent unofficial league known as the Belfast & District League was set up and ran for four seasons until the refund of the Irish League in 1919. As this was an unofficial competition, any titles during this time are not counted as Irish League Championships. [ 13 ] Linfield won this rival doubly, in 1915–16 along with the irish Cup, and in 1917–18 .
The team that lifted an unprecedented seven trophies in the 1921–22 season .
Two seven-trophy seasons ( 1921–22 & 1961–62 ) [edit ]
In the 1921–22 temper, the cabaret achieved a clean sweep of all the domestic competitions they entered – the Irish League, Irish Cup, County Antrim Shield, Alhambra Cup, Belfast Charity Cup, Gold Cup and the City Cup. [ 14 ] The club followed this up the next season by winning a soprano including the Irish League, Irish Cup and County Antrim Shield in 1922–23. In 1927, Joe Bambrick signed for the Blues, and would become one of the club ‘s all-time top goal scorers. [ 12 ] In the 1929–30 season, Bambrick scored a remarkable 94 goals – a record that surprisingly stood for merely one season, until Glentoran ‘s Fred Roberts scored an incredible 96 goals during the following campaign. [ 12 ] In 1930, Bambrick scored six goals in one plot for Ireland – a 7–0 gain over Wales. [ 12 ] The 1931–32, 1933–34 and 1934–35 league titles followed for Linfield, before Bambrick left the club to join Chelsea in 1935 having scored 286 league goals in just 183 games for Linfield – a remarkable proportion of 1.56 goals per plot. [ 12 ] The Irish League was once again suspended in 1940 as a result of the Second World War, with another irregular unofficial league set up which was called the Northern Regional League. Linfield won this league three times – in 1942–43, 1944–45 and 1945–46. This league ran for seven seasons until the render of the Irish League once again in 1947. In 1957, Jackie Milburn excellently signed for the Blues as player-manager from Newcastle United, and won the Ulster Footballer of the Year prize for his performances during his beginning season at the baseball club. [ 12 ] Milburn ‘s presence dramatically increase average herd at matches, with the Belfast Telegraph calling it the “ signing of the century “. [ 12 ] Milburn is celebrated for scoring Linfield ‘s first ever goals in european rival. In September 1959, he scored both goals against IFK Göteborg in a 2–1 Linfield win at Windsor Park in the first gear peg of the 1959–60 european Cup preliminary round tie – the club ‘s european debut. [ 15 ] Milburn was besides the Irish league ‘s top goal scorekeeper on two occasions before leaving the club in 1960 to join Yiewsley. [ 12 ] In 1962, forty years after Linfield ‘s noteworthy seven-trophy season, the club repeated the feat in the 1961–62 season under coach Isaac McDowell. They won another seven-trophy haul including the Irish League, Irish Cup, County Antrim Shield, Gold Cup, City Cup and the Ulster Cup. [ 6 ] They besides won the North-South Cup final examination that season, but it was actually the decision of the 1960–61 competition. fastness congestion had meant that the final examination could not be played before the end of the previous season, so it was rescheduled to take locate during the 1961–62 season. A commemorative consequence was held in April 2012, celebrating the 90th and fiftieth anniversaries of the 1921–22 and 1961–62 seven-trophy-winning teams. [ 16 ]
Roy Coyle ‘s 31-trophy haul ( 1975–1990 ) [edit ]
Following a enchantment in England playing for Sheffield Wednesday and Grimsby Town, Roy Coyle joined the club as player-manager, taking over the reins from outgoing coach Billy Campbell. [ 17 ] After a hood begin to his managerial career at the club, Coyle went on to become the most successful Linfield director in history, winning numerous trophies during his time at Windsor Park. His first season in charge was without silverware. In fact, having been irish Cup runner-up the previous season when Coleraine defeated the Blues 1–0 after two replays, Linfield suffered one of the biggest upsets in Northern Irish football history when B Division club Carrick Rangers defeated the Blues 2–1 in the 1975–76 irish Cup final on 10 April 1976. [ 18 ] This giant-killing act in which a junior clubhouse defeated a senior club in the irish Cup concluding had only happened twice ahead in the cup ‘s history, and not since 1955. The club stuck by Coyle however, and it was not long before he brought silverware to the club. His first honor arrived in the 1976–77 season in the form of the County Antrim Shield. however, the Blues suffered kill in the irish Cup final examination for the one-third consecutive season when they lost 4–1 against Coleraine. The 1977–78 season saw the cabaret win an Irish League, Irish Cup and Ulster Cup double. runner-up in the final three irish Cup finals, this time they were not to be denied. A 3–1 victory over Ballymena United secured the golf club ‘s third trophy of the season. Coyle retired from playing duties in 1980, but continued as director. In 1982, future director David Jeffrey joined the cabaret following a stint in the Manchester United youth team and played for Coyle under many of his trophy successes, captaining the side for much of that time. One of Coyle ‘s biggest achievements as director was leading the club to six straight league titles between 1981–82 and 1986–87, equalling the record for the most consecutive titles which was set by Belfast Celtic in 1947–48. 1986 was the class that Noel Bailie began what would turn out to be a 25-year career at the club. Although a defender for most of that clock, Bailie began as a left midfielder. [ 12 ] Coyle ‘s final examination trophy as Linfield director was the Gold Cup in 1989–90. During his 15 years at the cabaret he had amassed 10 League titles, 3 irish Cups, 7 Gold Cups, 4 Ulster Cups, 5 County Antrim Shields, the Irish League Cup, and the Tyler Cup – 31 major honours in total. Coyle left the club in April 1990. [ 19 ] Eric Bowyer was appointed as Coyle ‘s surrogate, but it was a relatively abortive reign that only lasted for two years until he was sacked in 1992, [ 20 ] with David Jeffrey besides leaving the club that year to join Ards. Next into the managerial hot seat was Trevor Anderson, who brought more silverware to the club during his five years in mission between 1992 and 1997, including 2 irish League titles and 2 irish Cups. After retiring as a musician in 1996 following a annual spell at Larne, David Jeffrey returned to the cabaret as Anderson ‘s assistant director. This partnership lasted until Anderson resigned on the dawn of 4 January 1997. Anderson by and by became Director of Football at Newry Town. [ 21 ]
David Jeffrey was Linfield manager for 17 years, 112 days between January 1997 and April 2014, winning a record-equalling 31 trophies during that time.
The David Jeffrey years ( 1997–2014 ) [edit ]
Jeffrey took bang of the team in a caretaker capacity for a league match against Portadown that afternoon, and remained as caretaker director for the comply match against Ballyclare Comrades in the Floodlit Cup on 7 January. He was formally appointed as coach on a permanent basis on 8 January 1997. [ 22 ] In his beginning full season in charge he led the cabaret to three trophies – the League Cup, County Antrim Shield, and Floodlit Cup – and narrowly missed out on the league entitle to champions Cliftonville by four points. Jeffrey won his first base league title as coach in the 1999–2000 season however, along with a third gear straight League Cup victory. The Blues retained the league title the come season, and besides won the Charity Shield and the County Antrim Shield. The 2001–02 season saw the club win a cup double, lifting both the irish Cup and the League Cup. In 2005, the inauguration of the Setanta Cup meant the refund of an all-Ireland cup contest for the first clock since 1980. The Blues qualified as league champions, but started the competition ill – losing 2–1 aside to Longford Town. They recovered from that opening frustration to finally reach the final against Shelbourne, with the Blues being major underdogs going into the equal against full-time professional League of Ireland enemy. however, they overcame the odds with a 2–0 victory to become inaugural address winners of the contest. [ 23 ] Incidentally, Linfield were in fact the reigning all-Ireland champions at the fourth dimension, having won the final examination staging of the Tyler Cup in 1980 before the competition was discontinued. The 2005–06 season was the most successful of Jeffrey ‘s tenure, with the Blues achieving a clean sweep of all four domestic competitions ; the Irish Premier League, Irish Cup, Irish League Cup, and County Antrim Shield. however, they failed to retain the Setanta Cup as defending champions when they were narrowly beat 1–0 at Windsor Park in the semi-finals by eventual winners, Drogheda United. In April 2010, early captain Noel Bailie made his 1,000th appearance for the golf club when he played in a 0–0 draw against Crusaders in the league. [ 24 ] A few days later, Linfield won their 49th league title after a 1–0 home win against Cliftonville. [ 25 ] The succeed class, a landmark 50th league claim arrived during the club ‘s 125th anniversary year. [ 26 ] Bailie retired from football in April 2011 at the historic period of 40, after making 1,013 appearances for the club in all competitions since making his debut against Ballymena United in March 1989. Linfield subsequently retired the number 11 shirt in his respect. [ 27 ] In the 2011–12 season, Linfield won a league and cup double for the third base straight temper and the sixth prison term in seven seasons – a record 51st league title, 42nd irish Cup gain, and 23rd double overall. [ 28 ] [ 29 ]
Linfield and Crusaders lining up before the 2013–14 County Antrim Shield final. Linfield would go on to win the Shield 4–1 on penalties. It was David Jeffrey ‘s final trophy as Linfield director. The 2012–13 season was undoubtedly a first gear ebb for the club under Jeffrey ‘s predominate. The Blues were off the pace for most of the league campaign – their temper encapsulated in a 3–1 home frustration by newly-promoted Ballinamallard United in October 2012. [ 30 ] Cliftonville were the eventual champions, securing their one-fourth league title after defeating Linfield 3–2 at Solitude on 13 April 2013. [ 31 ] Crusaders secured the runner-up station, leaving the Blues in third rate – a distant 29 points behind the champions. The club went out of the 2013 Setanta Sports Cup after a heavy aggregate frustration in the quarter-finals, [ 32 ] went out of the League Cup at the semi-final stage, [ 33 ] and exited the irish Cup in the fifth round after a replay. The club ‘s first irish Cup get the better of in four years was besides the beginning time in 16 years they had lost their hatchway tie of the contest. [ 34 ] When the 2014 Setanta Sports Cup was confirmed in December 2013, the club opted not to enter the competition, citing inconvenient repair schedule, reduced pry money, and the difficulties faced for Linfield supporters to attend away games as the reasons behind their withdrawal. At the time, the club did not rule out future engagement, [ 35 ] however, they would never enter the contest again. League champions Cliftonville besides withdrew from the competition for similar reasons, with the next two highest placed sides from the former season ‘s league table ( Ballinamallard United and Coleraine ) being drafted in as replacements. [ 36 ] In February 2014, Jeffrey announced that he would be stepping down at the end of the 2013–14 season, bringing an end to his trophy-laden reign after 17 years. [ 37 ] In March 2014, the Blues lifted the County Antrim Shield for a record 43rd time by defeating Crusaders 4–1 on penalties following a 0–0 attract after extra time in the final. [ 38 ] This was a significant milestone for Jeffrey – his 31st and final trophy as Linfield coach, equalling Roy Coyle ‘s record. [ 19 ] Jeffrey still had the opportunity to win a record-breaking 32nd trophy as director in the shape of the 2013–14 league title. however, despite topping the league mesa for much of the season, the Blues had to settle for the runner-up touch, six points behind champions Cliftonville. [ 39 ] Jeffrey ‘s reign came to a winning end with a 5–2 victory over Glenavon on the concluding day of the 2013–14 league season. [ 40 ]
Feeney & Healy ( 2014–present ) [edit ]
Former Northern Ireland international Warren Feeney succeeded Jeffrey as Linfield director. Feeney had been player-assistant coach at English Conference Premier side Salisbury City at the clock time of his appointment. His cousin, Lee Feeney, played for Linfield in two spells between 1997–1999 and 2002–2003. Former Blackburn Rovers player, Andy Todd, was appointed as Feeney ‘s assistant. [ 41 ] Feeney ‘s only full season in charge of the club ended without silverware. The Blues challenged for the league entitle for most of the season, but ultimately had to settle for the runner-up blot for the moment consecutive season, behind champions Crusaders. One cocksure for the season was the team ‘s record in the four “ bad Two ” league derbies against Glentoran, of which the Blues won three and drew the other. The lowest point of the season for the team was undoubtedly a shock 1–0 loss against second-tier english Ballyclare Comrades in the second round of the 2014–15 League Cup, [ 42 ] while their 2014–15 irish Cup campaign ended when they were eliminated in the quarter-finals after losing 3–2 to eventual runner-up Portadown. [ 43 ] In May 2015, the Blues were invited to compete in the Setanta Sports Cup scheduled to take identify in June 2015. The club declined once again, with inconvenient fixture scheduling still remaining a concern. [ 44 ] The competition was ultimately cancelled, when suitable fixture dates could not be agreed upon. [ 45 ] With the Blues circus tent of the table after 10 games of the 2015–16 NIFL Premiership temper, Feeney ‘s reign came to an end in October 2015, when he resigned to become assistant coach ( and subsequently the director ) of English Football League Two side Newport County. [ 5 ] Former Northern Ireland striker and the nation ‘s all-time criminal record international goalscorer David Healy was appointed as Feeney ‘s successor, [ 4 ] with Andy Todd staying on as Healy ‘s assistant director. however, in January 2016 Todd besides departed the club to join Newport County and reunite with Warren Feeney, who had subsequently been promoted to County ‘s coach following the passing of John Sheridan. Todd once again became Feeney ‘s adjunct coach. [ 46 ]
League and cup history [edit ]
recent seasons [edit ]
stadium [edit ]
Windsor Park anterior to the 2014 renovation. The background has been the club ‘s home since 1905. Since 1905, Windsor Park in south Belfast has been Linfield ‘s home land. In the initial years after the club was formed in 1886, Linfield had to change grounds several times for versatile reasons such as caparison exploitation. The numerous ground changes and the clubhouse ‘s desire to have a permanent home with which to build an identity resulted in the leverage of a piece of land known as the ‘bog meadows ‘ just off lower Windsor Avenue on 1 October 1904. belated known as Windsor Park, [ 1 ] this became the club ‘s permanent wave home arsenic well as the venue for international matches. The first game at Windsor took place on 29 August 1905, with Linfield playing out a 0–0 draw against Distillery in a friendly match arranged to formally commemorate the opening of the stadium. [ 47 ] The first competitive game played at the stadium took place merely a few days late on 2 September 1905, and ended with a 1–0 winnings for Linfield over Glentoran – the other half of the “ bad Two ” Belfast teams – though Belfast Celtic were Linfield ‘s chief rivals at the time. [ 48 ] Windsor Park is the largest Association football stadium in Northern Ireland, with Glentoran ‘s land, the Oval, being the future largest. The governing body of Northern Irish football, the Irish Football Association, manages the stadium, while Linfield retains ownership of the land. In 2012, Linfield and the IFA were in talks to agree a newfangled 51-year narrow for the use of Windsor Park. The club would receive an annual payment as rent for the IFA to use the ground for the Northern Ireland national football team, but would nobelium long receive 15 % of the tag sales, television receiver rights, and commercial rights from international matches as they did under the old agreement. [ 49 ] The 51-year agreement took effect from May 2014, with Linfield receiving an annual requital of £200,000 – subject to review ( being adjusted for ostentation etc. ) every four years. This was increased to £214,000 per year in 2018, and will increase again in 2022. The sign will expire in 2065. [ 50 ] In 2010, UEFA provided €500,000 towards substantial renovation of the stadium, to increase capacity and improve condom. [ 51 ] The follow year, the Northern Ireland Executive allocated £138 million for a major broadcast of stadium renovation throughout Northern Ireland, with £28 million allocated to the renovation of Windsor Park. [ 52 ] In June 2012, further details of the stadium ‘s renovation were released. The design was to redevelop Windsor Park into an 18,000 all-seater stadium with a series of phase works primitively intended to begin in the middle of 2013. The renovation would include the demolition of the existing East and South Stand structures, to be replaced by modern determination built stands that would partially enclose the stadium ; complete renovation of the existing North and West Stands ; and construction of both newfangled conferencing facilities and a newfangled headquarters adeptness for the IFA. [ 53 ] In February 2013, planning permission for the renovation was granted. The cost of the plan was estimated to be around £29.2 million, of which £25.2 million would come from government fund. It was initially planned for the work to begin in September 2013. [ 54 ] Two months late however, Crusaders began legal proceedings against the renovation. The clubhouse called for the action to be judicially reviewed, believing it to be against European Union rival laws and besides a shape of State care towards Linfield. They, along with other Irish League clubs, felt that this gives Linfield an unfair advantage by allowing them to offer more attractive wages and have a larger squad than all of the other clubs. [ 55 ] When Crusaders played Linfield at Windsor Park at the end of April, their baseball club officials were allegedly informed that they would not be welcome in the directors box or the boardroom during the game – an apparent reaction to Crusaders ‘ legal challenge of the stadium renovation. [ 56 ] In a hear that took place on 22 May 2013, Crusaders ‘ request was granted. It was ruled that it was a hypothesis for the renovation to be classed as express aid towards Linfield. The view of the challenge concerning rival police however, was dismissed. [ 57 ] In July 2013, Crusaders agreed to a possible village brought fore by the judicial review. The details of the liquidation were not made public, but Crusaders said that it had the “potential to benefit the entirety of the football family”. [ 58 ] In September 2013, sports curate Carál Ní Chuilín said that she was still committed to making surely the renovation went ahead as scheduled, after previously stating that she would not sign off on the fund until the IFA resolved “ government issues ” surrounding David Martin ‘s return to the function of deputy president. [ 59 ] In December 2013, three months after the work was originally scheduled to begin, the renovation was ultimately given the green luminosity. The sports minister signed off on £31 million to complete the project. The renovation ultimately got under means on 6 May 2014 after the 2013–14 domestic season had finished, eight months late than primitively planned. [ 60 ] On 31 March 2015, the West Stand of the stadium was sealed off after cracks in the structure were discovered. Construction solve related to the stadium renovation had been ongoing behind the stand in the weeks prior to the damage, but it was not known if that was directly related. [ 61 ] Originally planned for renovation as part of the renovation, the West Stand was demolished and rebuilt. [ 62 ] The renovation was completed in October 2016, [ 63 ] with an official capacity of 18,614 .
Supporters and competition [edit ]
big Two competition [edit ]
Linfield ‘s main rivals are Glentoran from east Belfast – a competition which is normally referred to as the Big Two. however, this condition did not constantly refer to Linfield and Glentoran ; up until 1949, the Big Two consisted of Linfield and Belfast Celtic, as they had traditionally been the two most successful clubs in Northern Irish football to that charge. however, after Belfast Celtic withdrew from the league in 1949, Glentoran gradually established themselves as Linfield ‘s biggest rivals. [ 64 ] The earliest recorded match between the two clubs was played on 1 October 1887 – good over a class after Linfield ‘s constitution. A friendly equal played at King ‘s Field, Westbourne in Ballymacarrett was won 3–1 by Linfield ( then known as Linfield Athletic ). [ 65 ] In 1890, the two teams played each other competitively for the first time, during the inaugural Irish League season. Linfield won 7–0 at Musgrave Park on 18 October, and 6–0 at Ulsterville Avenue on 21 March 1891. The first gear meet at the Oval took place on 8 October 1892, and the beginning meeting at Windsor Park took position 13 years late on 2 September 1905. During the second World War in 1941, the Oval – including most of Glentoran ‘s assets – was sternly damaged in a german antenna bombing raid on the nearby Harland & Wolff shipyard. [ 66 ] [ 67 ] Glentoran approached Distillery F.C to play at Grosvenor Park, which they did until the Oval was rebuilt with help from other clubs. During this meter, Glentoran considered resigning from elder football to become a junior cabaret, but after borrowing kits from Distillery and Crusaders they continued to compete at Grosvenor until 1949. [ 68 ] Out of 14 league games at Grosvenor Park however, they were merely triumphant over Linfield on one juncture. traditionally, the two clubs play each other in the league on Boxing Day every year, with the match normally attracting the largest attendance of any league match that season. In 2009, the Irish Football Association initially banned the regular from taking place on Boxing Day for two years due to crowd trouble oneself at Windsor Park. [ 69 ] however, this decision was late reversed on solicitation, and the regular returned to the calendar. [ 70 ] ultimately, however, the 2009 and 2010 fixtures did not take seat in the end anyhow, as they were both postponed due to bad upwind. The fastness returned to the fastness list in 2011, with each club hosting the peer in understudy years .
trophy dominance [edit ]
Linfield and Glentoran have been the two most successful clubs in Northern Irish football to date, regularly being the two chief contenders for the major domestic honours. They have won more league titles, Irish Cups, and League Cups than any early clubs. Linfield hold the record for the most League titles ( 55 ), irish Cups ( 44 ), and League Cups ( 10 ). In comparison, Glentoran have won 23 league titles, 23 irish Cups, and 7 League Cups. Almost half ( 47.5 % ) of the 141 irish Cup competitions to go steady have been won by one of the two clubs, with at least one of the clubs reaching the final examination on 92 occasions ( 65.2 % of all finals ), winning the cup a compound 67 times. Of those 92 finals, the two clubs have met in 15 of them – making it the most common concluding. Linfield have won eight of the neck and neck final examination meetings compared to Glentoran ‘s seven wins, with the most recent touch between the two clubs in the final occur in 2006, when Linfield won 2–1 to lift the Cup for the thirty-seventh time. Almost two-thirds ( 65 % ) of all Irish League titles have been won by one of the Big Two. Of the 120 completed league seasons, the claim has been won by either club on 78 occasions. The duet besides make up two of the three clubs that have appeared in every season of the Irish League since its origin in 1890 ; the other baseball club being Cliftonville. Up to and including the 2020–21 season, the two clubs have played each other 277 times [ newton 3 ] in the Irish League since its formation in 1890. Linfield have won 125 of the meetings, with 76 Glentoran victories and 76 disembowel matches. Linfield ‘s record victory over their rivals is 8–0. This occurred on 21 November 1891, during the 1891–92 Irish League season. Linfield ‘s record post-war gain over Glentoran in all competitions is by a six-goal margin – a 7–1 winnings over the Glens at Grosvenor Park in the 1961–62 North-South Cup, and a 6–0 victory at Windsor Park in the 2006 Setanta Sports Cup group degree. Since 2009, the competition has not been adenine intense as it once was, with the Big Two ‘s domination of the domestic game decreasing as competitiveness across the league has improved. This is partially due to the revival of North Belfast bowler hat rivals Cliftonville and Crusaders, and to a lesser extent Coleraine and Glenavon. In 2013, Cliftonville became the first cabaret early than Linfield or Glentoran to win the league claim since Portadown in 2002. In 2014, Cliftonville went on to retain the title for the first time in their history, with Crusaders then winning the 2014–15 title in convincing fashion, finishing 10 points ahead of runner-up Linfield. During this meter, Glentoran lifted the irish Cup in 2013, 2015 and 2020, however the cabaret has gone 12 years without a league title, winning alone three titles since the turn of the twenty-first hundred ; in 2002–03, 2004–05 and 2008–09. Since then, they have finished adenine low as ninth place in the 2016–17 season. The last season in which the two clubs finished as champions and runner-up in either decree was 2008–09, and they have not met in a major domestic cup final since 2006, when they contested both the irish Cup and the League Cup finals .
action from a Big Two Derby played at the Oval in February 2014. Linfield won the peer 1–0 .
sectarianism and violence [edit ]
Linfield are regarded as a ‘Protestant cabaret ‘ [ 71 ] and draw the huge majority of their defend from that side of the community. The club has besides been regarded as sectarian in the past, both in deference of its allege employment policy and of the repeat demeanor of its fans. [ 72 ] This sectarian reputation is partially the result of the actions of fans who have a history of anti-Catholic behaviour ranging from sectarian chanting on the terraces to outright physical violence. [ 73 ] Part of the problem has been attributed to Windsor Park ‘s localization in a region of Belfast that was once predominantly Protestant. [ 74 ] A relatively minor count of local Catholics played for the club during the Troubles, [ 75 ] which led to a far-flung accusation that the golf club held a historical policy of not signing Catholic players. [ 76 ] however, the being of such a policy has been continually refuted :
“Linfield’s following has historically been drawn from the Protestant loyalist community, particularly in the greater Belfast area. That is a fact of life which cannot be disputed and, although in the past there have been accusations of sectarian bias such as not signing Roman Catholic players, contrary to opinion and myth, no ban was ever imposed. That even applied in the early stages, during the Second World War and from then there has been a plethora of all creeds and classes wearing the Blue jersey.”
Malcolm Brodie [ 77 ]
sectarian tensions have long been a cause of conflict at football matches in Northern Ireland since the 1920s, and crowd disturb occasionally marred games involving Linfield throughout the twentieth century. [ 78 ] One of the most celebrated such instances occurred in 1948, at a Boxing Day match between Linfield and Belfast Celtic ( a team whose patronize was largely composed of Catholics and Irish nationalists ). immediately following a 1–1 draw in which Linfield scored in the concluding minute, there was a pitch invasion by Linfield supporters. In the ensuing violence, three Belfast Celtic players were badly injured, including Protestant striker Jimmy Jones, who was left unconscious mind and suffered a broken leg. Belfast Celtic subsequently withdrew from the league in protest at the end of the 1948–49 season. [ 79 ] In the 1979–80 european Cup, Linfield were drawn to face Dundalk from the Republic of Ireland. In the first leg, which was played in Dundalk and ended in a 1–1 draw, crowd perturbation prompted UEFA to switch the second leg to the Haarlem Stadion, Netherlands. Linfield were held about entirely accountable for the events, and were forced to pay Dundalk ‘s costs to travel to the Netherlands a well as an extra £5,000 for damage sustained to Oriel Park. Dundalk were fined £870 for providing insufficient security at the match. Dundalk finally won the equal 2–0 to progress 3–1 on aggregate. [ 80 ] In the 1987–88 campaign, Linfield ‘s home game against Lillestrøm was marred by missile throw, resulting in UEFA sanctions which meant that the baseball club had to play their adjacent two home games in european competitions at Welsh cabaret Wrexham in 1988–89 and 1989–90. A 1997 equal against Coleraine was abandoned when Linfield fans hurled bottles onto the pitch after two Linfield players were sent off. [ 81 ] In May 2005 there were disturbances in Dublin at the Setanta Cup concluding between Linfield and Shelbourne. [ 82 ] In the lapp month, Linfield fans were banned from travelling to the Oval for a equal against Glentoran, allegedly as a solution of disturbances involving both sets of fans the former month. however, Glentoran denied this was the reason behind the ban, citing health and safety regulations that forced them to close the away stand. [ 83 ] In 2008, three Linfield fans were charged in a Dublin court with public holy order offences at a Setanta Cup match against St Patrick ‘s Athletic, [ 84 ] but were released.
Read more: Ex on the Beach (British series 6)
The management of Linfield has continually attempted to reverse the stigma of negative press attached to the club. The club has moved forward in co-operation with the Irish Football Association, which has launched a campaign called “ sacrifice sectarianism the kick. ” It assisted a local anesthetic Camogie team who needed space to train in 2005, and besides built links with the Gaelic Athletic Association which has traditionally had fiddling support from the Protestant residential district in Northern Ireland. [ 85 ] In 2006 FIFA officially commended Linfield for their anti-racism initiatives. [ 86 ] A play dealing with the conflict between Linfield and Belfast Celtic, Lish and Gerry at the Shrine, was staged by the IFA at Windsor Park in October 2010, with the co-operation of the Linfield management. [ 87 ] Since 2008, the total of incidents has importantly decreased. however, in February 2014, Linfield were fined £3,000 and Cliftonville were fined £3,250 by the IFA following sectarian chanting from sections of both sets of supporters during a County Antrim Shield semi-final at Windsor Park in October 2013. Cliftonville ‘s finely of an extra £250 came as a result of their fans causing a large slam during the game. [ 88 ] Both clubs criticised the decision, and expressed their intent to appeal against the fines. [ 89 ] In April 2014, the punishments were rescinded on appeal. [ 90 ] There was besides herd trouble at a league fixture between the clubs at Windsor Park in March 2014, with reports of missiles being thrown after the game. The Northern Ireland Football League condemned the actions of a “ small minority “ of supporters. [ 91 ] In May 2014, Linfield were fined £1,200 by the Irish Football Association over the tattle of sectarian songs by supporters, ruling that Linfield fans had been guilty of breaching the code of demeanor during a league game at Coleraine. [ 92 ] In a Champions League qualifier match on 14 July 2017, some Linfield supporters threw bottles and coins at Celtic players and american ginseng sectarian songs throughout the game. [ 93 ]
european record [edit ]
As Northern Ireland ‘s most prevailing club side, Linfield have been regular competitors in european football. The cabaret inaugural participated in european competition in 1959 against Göteborg in the 1959–60 european Cup. [ 94 ] In the beginning circle of the 1961–62 european Cup, Linfield were drawn to face an east german team, Vorwärts. The away branch was played, which Linfield lost 3–0. however, Vorwärts were denied visa to enter the UK to play the second base leg, and ( similarly to Glenavon the previous season ) travel to play the second stage in a neutral country was not financially feasible for Linfield. They were consequently forced to withdraw from the competition. [ 95 ] Linfield ‘s most luminary accomplishment in european competition to date is reaching the quarter-finals of the 1966–67 european Cup. [ 94 ] After beating Aris of Luxembourg and Vålerenga of Norway they faced CSKA Red Flag of Bulgaria in the last eight. This resulted in a 2–2 draw at home and 1–0 get the better of away. [ 96 ] In the 1984–85 temper, after overcoming Shamrock Rovers on away goals ( the foremost and then far alone series of meetings between the two irish superpowers outside all-Ireland tournaments ), [ 97 ] Linfield faced eventual semi-finalists Panathinaikos in the second gear round. After a 2–1 defeat in Greece, Linfield raced into a 3–0 go at half-time in the moment leg at Windsor Park. [ 94 ] however, Panathinaikos staged a noteworthy rejoinder in the second gear half to level the match at 3–3 and eliminate Linfield 5–4 on aggregate. [ 94 ] The 1993–94 UEFA Champions League saw Linfield draw with Dynamo Tbilisi of Georgia. After losing 3–2 on aggregate, they were late reinstated when the georgian side were expelled from the competition for allege pit fastener and bribe officials. Linfield faced Copenhagen in the first round proper. [ 94 ] They won the first leg 3–0, but lost the moment leg 4–0 after extra time. This proved dearly-won, as victory would have meant a financially lucrative link against eventual champions A.C. Milan in the next round. [ 94 ] The club then had to wait seven years to participate in the competition again, due to the format of the two european competitions being altered. The league ‘s relatively low rate in the UEFA coefficient system has meant that the club has entered in the early modification rounds of either the UEFA Champions League or the UEFA Cup/Europa League, [ 94 ] with the Blues becoming the first Irish League side to reach the play-off round of the Europa League in 2019. In the 2012–13 UEFA Champions League, the Blues entered the competition in the first qualify round, and defeated B36 Tórshavn 4–3 on penalties to progress to the second qualify round, after both legs ended as 0–0 draws. [ 98 ] This was the first gear clock time since the 1984–85 season ( excluding their opponent ‘s extrusion in 1993–94 ) that the club had won a marry in the contest. however, they were defeated 3–0 on aggregate in the adjacent round of golf by AEL Limassol. [ 99 ] The 2013–14 UEFA Europa League campaign started in record-breaking manner. In July 2013, the club won 2–0 aside from base against ÍF Fuglafjørður of the Faroe Islands in the first qualify round. This was the Blues ‘ first acquire in Europe since 2005, and their first gear away win in Europe since 1966, when they defeated Vålerenga 4–1 during their run to the quarter-finals of the 1966–67 european Cup. [ 100 ] In the moment leg at Windsor Park, the Blues won 3–0 to go through to the following round 5–0 on aggregate. [ 101 ] This was the clubhouse ‘s largest aggregate victory in a european bind since defeating Aris Bonnevoie 9–4 on aggregate in the first base round of the 1966–67 european Cup. It was besides the first time that a Northern Irish baseball club had won both legs of a european tie in any rival. They followed this up in the adjacent round by winning aside from home again. Despite being massive underdogs for the link, a 1–0 victory off to Xanthi of Greece made it three consecutive victories in Europe, without conceding a goal in the procedure – another first for the club. [ 102 ] however, in the second branch at home they went down 2–1 after extra prison term, which eliminated them on the away goals convention. [ 103 ] The following season, Linfield ‘s first gear venture into Europe under modern coach Warren Feeney was in the Faroe Islands against B36 Tórshavn in the 2014–15 UEFA Europa League first gear qualifying round, which was besides Feeney ‘s foremost competitive game in charge of the club. Linfield came out 2–1 victors with goals coming from Jamie Mulgrew and Michael Carvill. [ 104 ] The return leg was played at Glenavon ‘s ground, Mourneview Park, due to the renovation of Windsor Park. Linfield had to settle for a 1–1 draw, but that was enough to secure passage into the second modification round for the second consecutive temper, where they were drawn to face AIK from Sweden. [ 105 ] An 87th-minute Andrew Waterworth finish in the home leg at Mourneview Park ensured a 1–0 acquire for Linfield in their 100th competitive european match since their debut in 1959. [ 106 ] however, the Blues fell to a 2–0 get the better of in the away stage, which meant they were eliminated 2–1 on aggregate .
As 2018–19 NIFL Premiership champions, Linfield initially entered the 2019–20 UEFA Champions League first qualifying attack, where they were drawn to face Rosenborg. In naming Charlie Allen to the concluding 25 man police squad for this match, [ 107 ] the Blues set a raw record for the youngest UK musician named to a concluding squad for a equal in the Champions League. The norwegian champions had eliminated the Blues from the competition back in the 2010–11 season, and again they proved to be excessively strong. A 6–0 aggregate kill saw the Blues drop down into the UEFA Europa League second qualifying turn Champions Path, where they faced faroese champions HB Tórshavn – the fifth occasion since 2012 that they had faced faroese enemy in Europe. A 3–2 acquire on sum secured a place in the third qualifying round of the Europa League for the beginning time, and indeed the third stage of any european contest since a 5–2 aggregate acquire over Vålerenga in November 1966. More history was made in the next round when the Blues faced Montenegro champions Sutjeska. A 2–1 gain in the away stage was followed up with a 3–2 win in the irregular branch at Windsor Park, with the Blues winning 5–3 on aggregate to become the first Irish League side to reach the play-off round of the Europa League. It was only the second base clock time that the club had won both legs of a european link – the first being in 2013 against ÍF. additionally, it was only the second time that the club had always progressed through back-to-back rounds in Europe, again the first time since November 1966. In the play-off attack, the Blues were drawn to face Azerbaijan champions Qarabağ, with the winners qualifying for the Europa League group phase .
summary [edit ]
- As of 12 August 2021
Matches ( 1959–1999 ) [edit ]
Matches ( 2000– ) [edit ]
Key : PR – Preliminary round ; QR – Qualifying round ; 1/2/3QR – First/Second/Third qualifying round ; POR – Play-off round ; 1R/2R – First/Second round ; QF – Quarter-final ; SF – Semi-final ; F – Final ;
- Notes
UEFA cabaret rank [edit ]
Current ranking As of the 2021 UEFA Club Rankings. [ 108 ]
Ranking since 2017
| Year | Rank | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 |  312
|
3.650 |
| 2018 |  305
|
2.750 |
| 2019 | 336
|
2.250 |
| 2020 | 250
|
4.250 |
| 2021 | 226
|
5.250 |
current squad [edit ]
[ 109 ] note : Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality .
On loanword [edit ]
note : Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality .
Retired numbers
Numbers retired in June 2011. [ 110 ] 11 – In honor of Noel Bailie ( 1986–2011 )
13 – Unlucky issue
Non-playing staff [edit ]
- As of 17 August 2018[111]
|
|
managerial history [edit ]
Below is a list of the managers Linfield have appointed during the baseball club ‘s history. In the early years after the club was formed in 1886, the team was selected by the club committee, a standard rehearse by football clubs at the time. Since then, 25 unlike men have held the put of Linfield first team coach/manager. however, alone six have been appointed since Billy Campbell ‘s deviation in 1975. David Jeffrey holds the record for the longest reign as coach, having been in cathexis for 17 years and 16 weeks between 4 January 1997 and 26 April 2014. Jeffrey and Roy Coyle jointly hold the record for the most trophies won as director, having led the club to 31 major honours each. [ 113 ] Former Northern Ireland international Warren Feeney is the club ‘s previous coach, having been appointed in May 2014. [ 41 ] He resigned in October 2015 to become adjunct director of Newport County, [ 5 ] with stream director David Healy appointed as his successor .
Honours [edit ]
active competitions [edit ]
senior honours ( 152 ) [edit ]
defunct competitions [edit ]
elder honours ( 119 ) [edit ]
All-Ireland honours [edit ]
Intermediate honours [edit ]
Honours won by Linfield Swifts
Honours won by Linfield Rangers
- Irish Intermediate Cup: 2
- 1921–22, 1924–25
Junior honours [edit ]
- Irish Junior League: 4
- 1898–99‡, 1899–1900‡, 1900–01‡, 1903–04‡
- Irish Junior Cup: 3
- 1890–91†, 1893–94‡, 1905–06ƒ
- County Antrim Junior Shield: 1
- 1904–05ƒ
- Harry Cavan Youth Cup: 5
- 2003–04¤,2004–05¤,2006–07¤,2009–10¤,2016–17
- Belfast Youth Cup:2
- 2009–10¤,2010–11¤
- Lisburn League Shield: 1
- 2016–17¤
- IFA Youth Premier League: 4
- 2005–06¤,2006–07¤,2008–09¤,2012–13¤
- IFA Youth League Cup/NIFL Youth League Cup:5
- 2008–09¤,2012–13¤,2013–14¤,2014–15¤,2015–16¤
† Won by Linfield II ( reserve team ) ‡ Won by Linfield Swifts ( reserve team ) ƒ Won by Linfield Pirates ( reserve team ) ¤ Won by Linfield Rangers ( reserve team )
Records [edit ]
Doubles and trebles [edit ]
The clubhouse has achieved the double of winning the League deed and the national cup in the lapp season on 25 occasions – more than any other club in the world. [ 7 ] The club has besides achieved the domestic ternary of the League, national cup and League Cup in the same season on three occasions, and a domestic quadruple of those three trophies plus the regional County Antrim Shield in the same season once – in 2005–06. Most notably absent from the list are the seven-trophy haul in the 1921–22 and 1961–62 seasons [ north 2 ] – achieved anterior to the inauguration of the League Cup in 1987. [ 14 ] [ 16 ]
AAs separate of a domestic double.
BAs function of a domestic ternary ( including the County Antrim Shield ).
CAs depart of a domestic quadruple ( including the County Antrim Shield ) .
In popular culture [edit ]
The Northern Ireland comedy sketch usher Dry Your Eyes featured a quality called Derek, portrayed by Martin Reid, a fanatic, foul-mouthed fan of Linfield who is thrown into dangerous situations such as aircraft hijackings and bank robberies. [ 115 ]
Notes [edit ]
References [edit ]
Coordinates :