Dublin University A.F.C.

Dublin University Association Football Club is an Irish association football club based at Trinity College Dublin. Founded in 1883, Dublin University A.F.C. is the oldest surviving association football club in the Republic of Ireland. Their senior men's team currently competes in the Leinster Senior League. They have previously played in both the League of Ireland B Division and the League of Ireland U21 Division. The club also enters teams in the College & Universities Football League, the Women's Soccer Colleges Association of Ireland League, the Collingwood Cup and the FAI Intermediate Cup. The club has previously entered teams in both the Irish Cup and the FAI Cup.

Dublin University A.F.C.
Full nameDublin University Association Football Club
Founded1883
GroundCollege Park, Dublin
LeagueLeinster Senior League
College & Universities Football League
League of Ireland B Division
League of Ireland U21 Division
WebsiteClub website

History

Early years

In 1883 a group of former Trinity College Dublin students formed Dublin Association F.C., following a meeting in Tyrone Place, later to become Cathedral Street. Shortly after, the current students at TCD formed Dublin University A.F.C. and on 7 November 1883 the two clubs met in one of the earliest organised association football games played in Dublin. Dublin Association won the game 4–0. By 1890 Dublin Association was disbanded, leaving Dublin University A.F.C. as the oldest surviving association football club in the Republic of Ireland.[1][2][3][4] On 30 November 1883 at College Park, Dublin University A.F.C. also played in the first ever game between a Belfast and Dublin team, losing 6–0 to Belfast Athletic. In 1883–84, together with Dublin Association, they became one of the first two Dublin clubs to compete in the Irish Cup. They continued to compete in the Irish Cup between 1883–84 and 1888–89, again from 1893–94 to 1899–1900 and then sporadically until 1912–13. Their best season came in 1885–86 when they reached the semi-final after scoring 18 goals without reply in the first four rounds. Ireland international, William Eames, captained the team from half-back. On 19 December 1885, Eames scored a goal in the 7–0 defeat of Clifton Park in the third round, adding three further goals in the 6–0 defeat of Banbridge in the next round. However in the semi-final on the 13 February 1886 they lost 4–0 to Distillery.[5][6][7][8][9]

On 27 October 1892 Dublin University A.F.C. became founder members of the Leinster Football Association. The LFA soon organized their own cup competition, the Leinster Senior Cup which was first played for in 1892–93. The inaugural final saw Leinster Nomads defeat Dublin University 2–1. Dublin University also played in the 1893–94 and 1894–95 finals, losing both to Bohemians after replays. Dublin University also became founder members of the Leinster Senior League.[1][9]

Intervarsity

Dublin University A.F.C. is affiliated to the Irish Universities Football Union and regularly competes in annual intervarsity competitions such as the Collingwood Cup, the Farquhar Cup, the Crowley Cup and the Harding Cup.[10] In 1914, together with University College Dublin, Queen's University Belfast and University College Galway, Dublin University entered the inaugural Collingwood Cup tournament.[4] However during the First World War/Irish War of Independence era, the club ceased to exist and despite several attempts at a relaunch, it was not until 1939 that the club was reformed.[5] In 1947 and 1949 Dublin University shared the Collingwood Cup with QUB and UCD respectively. However the club would have to wait until 1967 before it won the Collingwood Cup outright for the first time. In the final at College Park they defeated QUB 1–0 with a penalty scored five minutes from the end. In 1979 with a team featuring Hugo MacNeill and coached by Liam Tuohy, Dublin University won the Collingwood Cup outright for a second time. MacNeill scored twice in the final as Dublin University defeated Maynooth University 2–0.[5][11][12][13]

National level

In the late 1960s Dublin University rejoined the Leinster Senior League and in 1975 they were elected to the League of Ireland B Division. In 2005 when the B Division was reformed as the League of Ireland U21 Division, they remained in the new division. However the U21 Division operated as a summer league and Dublin University struggled to field teams during the summer months when the university was closed. After three years of summer football, Dublin University's senior team re-joined the Leinster Senior League in 2008–09.[5]

Grounds

Dublin University play their home matches at College Park, Dublin. They also play at their grounds in Santry. Throughout their history, the club has also played at grounds in Clontarf and Grangegorman. They have also ground shared with both Jacobs Football Club and St Patrick's Athletic.[5]

Notable former coaches

Source:[5]

Notable former players
Ireland (IFA) internationals

Frederick Moorhead and William Eames were the first two Dublin University players to represent Ireland when they played against England on 28 February, 1885. They were also the first two Dublin-based players to be selected for Ireland. Between 1885 and 1895 nine Dublin University players were capped by Ireland in the British Home Championship. These include Willoughby Hamilton who was a Dublin Association player when capped. Lewis Scott was the last Dublin University player to represent Ireland at senior international level when he played against Scotland on 30 March 1895.

  • Lionel Bennett
  • William Eames
  • Manliffe Goodbody
  • Lewis Scott
  • Richard Smyth
  • Edward Whitfield
Ireland Amateurs (IFA) internationals
  • H.E. Rutherford
  • P.A. Meldon
Ireland rugby union international
Ireland women's rugby union international

Source:[5][6][12]

Club presidents

Source:[5][12]

Honours

Source:[6][11]

Notes

  • ^1 Dublin University and QUB shared the cup in 1947.
  • ^2 Dublin University and UCD shared the cup in 1949.

References
  1. Byrne, Peter (1996). Football Association of Ireland: 75 years. Dublin: Sportsworld. ISBN 1-900110-06-7.
  2. Garnham, Neal (2004). Association Football and society in pre-partition Ireland. Belfast: Ulster Historical Foundation. ISBN 1-903688-34-5.
  3. Byrne, Peter (2012). Green Is The Colour: The Story of Irish Football. Andre Deutsch.
  4. "Irish Third Level Football - Irish Universities Football Union - Competitions - Collingwood Cup - History And Winners". thirdlevelfootball.ie.
  5. "Dublin University A.F.C. – History". duafc.ucoz.com. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  6. "The Dublin University Connection". Northern Ireland's Footballing Greats. 23 July 2010. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  7. "William Eames". Northern Ireland's Footballing Greats. 12 November 2006. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  8. "Northern Ireland Cup Semifinals and Finals 1880-1950". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 30 May 2017.
  9. Priestley, Ciarán. The Bohemian Football Club: The Enduring Legacy of an Idle Youth.
  10. "Trinity College Dublin". www.thirdlevelfootball.ie. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
  11. "Collingwood Cup Winners 1914-2013". collingwood2014. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
  12. "Tuohy's wit and wisdom a legend with Trinity boys". Irish Independent. 22 August 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
  13. "Irish Lions who played League of Ireland". www.munsterfans.com. 2 December 2014. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
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