Waterford Football Club ( irish : Cumann Peile Phort Láirge ) is an irish association football golf club based in Waterford who play in the League of Ireland First Division. The club was founded and elected to the league in 1930. [ 1 ] Originally the club was based at the greyhound stadium known as Kilcohan Park, but has now moved to the Waterford Regional Sports Centre .
history [edit ]
Waterford FC 1930–1982 [edit ]
Waterford beginning participated in the league in the 1930–31 season finishing one-ninth and again from 1931–32 before dropping out of the league for two seasons. Waterford re-entered the league in the 1935–36 season along with Sligo Rovers. Waterford won the Shield in their first season.
Reading: Waterford F.C.
Waterford won the FAI cup for the beginning prison term in their history in 1937 beating St. James Gate and besides won the Shield. The cabaret were league runners up in 1937–38 season and again in the 1940–41 season. Both Waterford and League winners Cork United finished on equal points but Cork were awarded the title as Waterford were unable to compete in the play-off due to a quarrel regarding requital to players. At the end of the campaign, the original Waterford resigned from the League of Ireland, only for a newfangled entity, with the like name, to be elected in, for 1944–45 season. Waterford won the Shield again in the 1952–53 temper and were again runner-up in the League this time to St. Patrick ‘s Athletic in the 1954–55 season and again in the 1962–63 season. The club finally won the league claim for the foremost time in the 1965–66 season, ( under director Paddy Coad ) setting a then league record of 13 straight league victories. The 1965/66 title was the begin of a enormously successful spell for the club domestically. The following season they played in the preliminary round of the Champions cup against Vorwärts Berlin, an east german and Army side, losing 6–1 at Dalymount Park and 6–0 in East Berlin. They won the Shield once again in 1968–69 season. Waterford won the league title three times in a course, in 1968,1969 and in 1970. The title was won by Cork Hibernians in 1971 but returned to Waterford in the 1971–1972 season and again in the 1972–73 season. The play along season Waterford won the League of Ireland Cup, however failed to regain the league deed. The Club won the FAI Cup for the second base time under Tommy Jackson in 1980 beating St Patrick ‘s Athletic with the achiever from Brian Gardner. [ 2 ] Waterford ‘s success in the league over the years brought european football where they played against celebrated clubs such as Manchester United [ 3 ] and Celtic. [ 4 ] [ 5 ] Bobby Charlton had a brief spell at the cabaret in 1976, playing three times and scoring one goal. [ 6 ]
Waterford United 1982–2016 [edit ]
In May 1982, the Club changed its name to Waterford United. Alfie Hale was appointed director. In 1985 the league ‘s membership rose to 22 clubs with the election of six new clubs in 1985. This resulted in the introduction of the give two Division ( Premier and First ) structure in 1985/86 of which Waterford was a member of the Premier Division. Waterford were relegated to the First Division in the 1988–89 season. Their persist there was brusque, gaining promotion and winning the First Division title the comply season 1989–90. They were ineffective to retain their Premier Division status the following season finishing in eleventh. The club was promoted to the top flight in the 1991–92 season finish as runners up to Limerick. But again the cabaret were unable to remain in the Premier Division for more than a single season suffering delegating on goal deviation to Drogheda United. Waterford United were promoted to the Premier Division, finishing top of the First Division in the 1997–98 season and remained there until the 1999–00 season suffering delegating in the playoffs to Kilkenny City. Jimmy McGeough was appointed director in 2002. [ 7 ] In his first season he led the club to promotion to the League of Ireland Premier Division in the 2002–03 season. The League of Ireland changed from a winter league to a summer league for the 2003 season. Waterford finished 6th under Jimmy McGeough. Despite the dear season he was controversially sacked, the decision was very unpopular with the club ‘s supporters. [ 8 ] In 2004 The Blues finished 5th and they reached the FAI Cup Final, their first since 1986 under Alan Reynolds as player-manager and Paul McGrath as conductor of football but lost 2–1 to Longford Town. [ 9 ] In 2006 Waterford United were relegated to the First Division. The FAI took over the running of the League of Ireland at the end of the 2006 season. separate of this takeover involved the assessment of all League of Ireland sides and the manner in which they were being run including finances, infrastructure, future plans, marketability and former finish positions since the 2002 season, ( this was due to Kildare County merely joining the Eircom League in 2002 ). Despite finishing in 11th and last place ( Dublin City being the 12th team in the league and subsequently folding during the season ) the club were forced to play a relegation/promotion playoff against Dundalk. Despite being defeated Waterford United still stood a probability of remaining a Premier Division side due to the FAI appraisal. however, on 8 December 2006 the FAI decided to relegate Waterford to the 1st part with Shamrock Rovers and Galway United replacing them and the now defunct Dublin City. Dundalk, despite beating Waterford in a playoff, [ 10 ] were controversially overlooked and remained in the First Division. however, on 20 February 2007 it was announced that Waterford United had been invited to participate in the Premier Division for the forthcoming season. Club secretary Larry Gough stated “ The club considered the marriage proposal carefully and decided to accept the invitation in the best interests of football in Waterford and the eircom league ”. [ 11 ] however, The “ Blues ” were relegated that season via the play-offs losing 6–3 on aggregate to Finn Harps. [ 12 ] After the club ‘s delegating Waterford went into the 2008 season knowing that only one team from the First Division would be promoted as the FAI planned to revamp the league. A valiant campaign from Cronin ‘s Blues saw them come therefore close yet therefore far as the “ Blues ” fell away towards the commercial enterprise conclusion of the temper leaving Dundalk and Shelbourne to compete for promotion on the concluding day of the season. In 2009 early Bohemians musician, Stephen Henderson took over as boss at the Club and in his first season, the Blues narrowly missed out so far again for the playoffs and reached the EA Sports Cup Final where they were defeated 3–1 by Bohemians [ 13 ] and the FAI Cup semi-finals. [ 14 ] The cabaret besides finished in 4th in the League, missing out on the play offs. Henderson signed a annual extension to his contract for the 2010 season. His side finished in 2nd place just three points off champions Derry City. His side came up against Monaghan United in the play offs but were defeated 3–1 in the RSC. [ 15 ] In May 2011 Henderson was sacked after a race of poor class. [ 16 ] Waterford native, Paul O’Brien was appointed coach for the duration of the season. [ 17 ] Waterford United finished 5th in the 2011 League of Ireland First Division. The board in the off temper then appointed Paul as full-time director on a year narrow for the 2012 season. Paul O’Briens side fell narrowly short-circuit of promotion, they defeated champions Limerick four times in four games but inactive finished 4 points behind them. This meant the bid offs once again for Waterford. In the beginning section of the play offs Waterford beat 3rd placed Longford Town 3–1 on aggregate. [ 18 ] This set up a tie with Dundalk of the League of Ireland Premier Division. The first leg ended in a 2–2 draw in Oriel Park but Waterford were defeated 2–0 in the second base leg at the RSC and would once again remain in the First Division. [ 19 ] The Blues were favourites to lift the Title in 2013 but during the season O’Brien resigned due to poor shape. [ 20 ] Waterford finished in 4th, missing out on the play offs. During the 2013 season erstwhile coach Stephen Henderson was seeking recompense from his former contract, Henderson claimed he was sacked despite the golf club claiming he resigned, the club ‘s supporters were forced to step in and raise the money Henderson was owed before the clubhouse could be wound up. [ 21 ] Tommy Griffin was appointed director for the 2014 season. [ 22 ] The cabaret encountered fiscal difficulties once again, this led to the club slipping down the mesa to a 7th-place finish. After a disappoint start to 2015 Griffin stepped digression into a raw role in the club and Roddy Collins was appointed as coach on a two-and-a-half-year deal. [ 23 ] Collins side finished 7th in his first season. In the 2016 temper, Collins signed a draw of players he worked with ahead such as Philip Gorman, James O’Brien and his son, Roddy Collins Jr, and many others. With two games left in the 2016 season and Waterford in 6th it was announced Roddy Collins would leave the baseball club. [ 24 ]
takeover and back to master name [edit ]
After the suffering many years both on and off the pitch, the Club needed a big trill up from circus tent to bottom. After weeks of guess on social media the Club formally announced that Swindon Town president Lee Power had assumed dominance. [ 25 ] curtly after taking control, he outlined his plan to rebrand the Club from top to bottom, removing ‘United ‘ from the Club ‘s mention, going rear to the original name of Waterford FC. He besides wished to change the Club ‘s crest and jersey to something more traditional. On 2 January 2017, the Club announced the raw managerial team for the coming temper. The new head passenger car was former actor and director Alan Reynolds and Pat Fenlon was appointed as the Club ‘s fresh director of football. [ 26 ] As the squad started to take form, the Club officially announced on 20 January 2017 that they would change back to the Club ‘s original identity with a name change to Waterford FC. They besides unveiled the modern crest which was a modernize adaptation of the Club ‘s first always crest from 1930. [ 27 ] Under the modern leadership Waterford FC signed high-profile players and ran the club in a new professional room. The clubhouse has developed a hard fanbase over the 2017 temper and this was coupled with promotion to the League of Ireland Premier Division. After Waterford beat Wexford 3–0 and Cobh Ramblers were defeated 3–0 by Cabinteely Waterford were officially crowned league champions and promoted binding to the Premier Division for 2018. [ 28 ] Waterford qualified for the Europa League beginning qualifying round by finishing fourth in the 2018 League of Ireland Premier Division, but were ruled by UEFA to have not passed the “ three-year rule ” as the golf club were reformed in 2016. As a consequence, the berth was given to the fifth-placed team of the league, St Patrick ‘s Athletic. [ 29 ]
Reynolds resigned as director on 16 June 2020. [ 30 ] On 4 June 2021, with the club penetrate of the table, it was announced that Lee Power had sold the club to R & S Holdings Ltd, fronted by UK entrepreneur Richard Forrest who had bought the remaining stakes in the club having previously bought 33 % earlier in the year. [ 31 ]
Players [edit ]
current police squad [edit ]
note : Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality .
Out on lend [edit ]
eminence : Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality .
technical foul staff [edit ]
Position
Staff
Manager
Marc Bircham
Assistant Manager
Dave Bell
Goalkeeping coach
Dirk Heinen
Head of Academy
Mike Geoghegan
U19’s Head coach
Gary Hunt
U19’s Assistant coach
Craig Maher
U17’s Head coach
Conor Coad
U17’s Assistant coach
Shane Nolan
U15’s Head coach
Derek O’Brien
U15’s Assistant coach
Derek Browne
U15’s Assistant coach
Brendan White
U13’s Head coach
Mike Geoghegan
U13’s Assistant coach
Seán Geoghegan
U13’s Assistant coach
Mark Downey
Academy Strength & Conditioning coach
David O’Brien
Academy Technical coach
Oisín Seager
Academy physio
Brian Kennedy
Child welfare officer
Mary Ray
Academy kitman
Richie Flynn
Doctor
Sinéad Fitzpatrick
Physio
Micheal O’Sullivan
Equipment management
Michael Walsh
cabaret structure [edit ]
Position
Name
Chairman
Richard Forrest
Vice chairman
General manager
Jack Power
Club secretary
Sandra Burke
Operations manager
Tony Burke
Events officer/event controller
Mark Dunne
Official photographer
Noel Browne
stadium [edit ]
Waterford FC play their family games at the Waterford Regional Sports Centre, more normally referred to as the RSC. They have played at the RSC since 1993. [ 32 ] The stadium has two stands and holds a capacity of 5,154 with 2,978 seats. The record attendance at the RSC was for an FAI Cup semi final game in 1997 against Shelbourne where Waterford were defeated 2–1 in front of 8,500 people, this was when spectators were permitted to stand on the running chase in the ground. [ 33 ] The RSC besides hosted the 2009 League of Ireland Cup final where Bohemians defeated Waterford 3–1. [ 13 ] Before moving to the RSC Waterford played at Kilcohan Park .
Supporters and rivalries [edit ]
Supporters [edit ]
The club draws its digest not only from Waterford City, but besides from Waterford County and the South East region as a whole. Waterford fans have organised themselves into 3 fan groups .
Groups [edit ]
Blues Supporter Club (B.S.C) The Blues Supporters Club is the official Waterford FC fans group. It was formed in December 2009 after members of the IBSC ( Independent Blues Supporters Club ) voted to become an official fans group. From the 2010 season, the BSC organises transport for Blues fans to away games, run the Club shop arsenic well as mastermind numerous fund raise activities and other match day activities for Waterford FC. There is besides a branch of the BSC based in Dungarvan that accommodates Blues fans living in West Waterford. Membership is now open for the 2018 season and information can be found on Waterford FC family page and on Facebook. The stream president of the BSC is Shane Murphy. Dublin Blues Supporters Club (DBSC) The DBSC was formed in January 2007 as an mugwump release for Dublin and East Leinster based Waterford FC fans. The DBSC organises transmit, normally trains for Dublin-based fans to away matches. Despite repeated attempts by the BSC to co-opt the DBSC into its organization, the then DBSC President, Niall Doherty announced publicly that the DBSC would remain an independent supporters group. The DBSC operated a fan operate radio post, Radio DBSC, established in May 2012 which provided internet radio comment for Waterford United aside games. In December 2013, the Radio DBSC Board voted to dissolve itself and merged with local radio receiver station OpenTempo 105.1FM rebranding itself under the name, OpenTempo FM Sports Online. OpenTempo stopped broadcasting Blues games in the early part of the 2016 season. In April 2014, Niall Doherty stepped down as President of the DBSC and handed over the reins of baron to his designated successor, Patrick Lynn. Block E Boys The BAU was formed in January 2006 to bring an Italian-style Ultra atmosphere to the RSC and to away matches. [ 34 ] During the 2016 season, the group went through a rhenium structure and changed the name to “ The Block E Boys ”. [ citation needed ]
Rivals [edit ]
Waterford contest the Munster Derby with Cork City. Waterford had big derbies with Cork City in the 2000s when Waterford were in the Premier Division and then again when Cork City Foras entered the First Division in the early 2010s. The bowler hat with Cork always being Munsters biggest brush died off when Cork City started challenging the circus tent of the table in the Premier Division and Waterford plummeted to the bottom conclusion of the First Division around 2014. [ 35 ] When Waterford drew Cork in the cup the cabaret would normally be easily beaten. When Waterford played Cork in Turners Cross in the EA Sports Cup in 2016 they were beaten 7–0. however the competition was slightly rekindled in 2017 after Waterford were taken over by Lee Power, a heavy challenge by Patrick McClean on Corks Sean Maguire caused controversy, it led to a huge challenge on social media between Waterford and Cork players with irish internationals James McClean and Shane Duffy besides getting involved defending Patrick ‘s harness. [ 36 ] [ 37 ] And despite Waterford being in the First Division they manage to secure the sign language of Waterford born Cork concentrate back Kenny Browne who was on the back of a bang-up season where he starred for the rebels as they won the FAI Cup. The go caused huge controversy with Cork coach John Caulfield. [ 38 ] [ 39 ] Both clubs are now back in the top division for 2018 along with Limerick. Waterford have besides had a local confederacy east bowler hat game against near neighbor Wexford since 2007 but there has never been any significant competition between the clubs. Waterford had a large competition with Shamrock Rovers in the 1960s and 70s. The and is referred to as the ‘old feud ‘ in holocene times .
Honours [edit ]
european criminal record [edit ]
overview [edit ]
Competition
P
W
D
L
GF
GA
GD
European Cup
14
3
0
11
15
47
– 32
European Cup Winners’ Cup
8
1
1
6
6
14
– 8
TOTAL
22
4
1
17
21
61
– 40
Matches [edit ]
- Notes
- PR: Preliminary round
- 1R: First round
- 2R: Second round
noteworthy former players [edit ]
- Republic of Ireland internationals
- League of Ireland XI representatives
- Republic of Ireland U23 internationals
- Republic of Ireland U21 internationals
- Republic of Ireland B internationals
- Republic of Ireland U17 internationals
- Other Internationals
former managers [edit ]
Kits and colours [edit ]
The cabaret ‘s colours have constantly been primarily blue with white trim since the 1930s influenced chiefly by the colours of County Waterford. The club ‘s current kit for the 2020 season is manufactured by Umbro with the traditional aristocratic home kit and a white off kit out. The baseball club are besides presently sponsored 24/7 Cardiac Cover for the Southeast. [ 40 ] The aside kits over the years have chiefly been white with blue trim, however the club has had a number of scandalmongering kits throughout the years, the final yellow kit the club had was in the 2016 temper, for the 2012 and 2013 season Waterford has a green third kit out with white pare like to the Republic of Ireland national team ‘s kit. In 2010 Waterford had a identical rare red away kit with white trim that was n’t received well with supporters. Some of the kit manufactures for the cabaret over the years include Umbro, Adidas, Nike, Uhlsport, Macron, Azzurri and Diadora .
References [edit ]
Read more: Sevilla FC