UCD Women's Soccer Club

UCD Women's Soccer Club is an Irish association football club based in Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown. It is the women's association football team of University College Dublin. Founded in 1966, UCD are one of the oldest women's football clubs in the Republic of Ireland. Like the UCD men's team, the women's football team has competed in national competitions, such as the FAI Women's Cup and the Women's National League, as well as intervarsity competitions. UCD has also represented the Republic of Ireland in the UEFA Women's Cup. Between 2014 and 2018, following a merger, with DLR Waves, the club played in the Women's National League and FAI Women's Cup as UCD Waves. However in 2018 UCD withdrew from the WNL. DLR Waves was subsequently revived as a separate club, taking UCD Waves' place in the WNL.

UCD Women's Soccer Club
Full nameUniversity College Dublin Women's Soccer Club
Nickname(s)Belfield's Belles[1]
Founded1966
GroundJackson Park
UCD Bowl
Belfield Park
LeagueWomen's National League
WSCAI Premier Division
Dublin Women's Soccer League

History

Intervarsity level

According to Professor Meenan's History of UCD Sport, the UCD women's association football team was founded in 1966, playing their first games in 1967, including one against Dublin University. However it was not until the early 1980s that the club began to play regularly. In 1983 and 1984 they finished as runners-up in the LSCAI Intervarsity Cup. In 1991 UCD joined the national colleges league, which was organised by the Ladies Soccer Colleges Association of Ireland (LSCAI) and then by the Women's Soccer Colleges Association of Ireland (WSCAI). The club won its first Colleges Premier Division title in 1994–95 with a 100% record and without conceding a goal all season. The club completed an Intervarsity double after also winning the Intervarsity Cup for the first time. A second Intervarsity double was completed in 1996–97.[2][3]

FAI Women's Cup

UCD entered the FAI Women's Cup for the first time in 2002 and won it on their first attempt after defeating Shamrock Rovers 2–1 in the final.[3][4] With a team that included Sylvia Gee, Mary Waldron, Valerie Redmond, Caroline Thorpe and Nora Stapleton, UCD retained the cup in 2003 after defeating Lifford Ladies in the final. Carmel Kissane scored both goals in a 2–0 win.[5][6][7][8] Under coach Larry Mahony, UCD completed a three-in-a-row of FAI Women's Cup wins when they defeated Dundalk City 4–1 in the 2004 final.[9][10][11] UCD were also finalists in 2006 but they lost 1–0 to the Mayo Ladies League.[12][13] As UCD Waves, the club were also runners up in 2014 and 2017.[14][15]

Dublin Women's Soccer League

In 2002 UCD also began entering a team in the Dublin Women's Soccer League. After finishing as runners up in their debut season, UCD completed a four-in-a-row of DWSL titles between 2003 and 2006. [3][8][9][16][17][18] The also won the DWSL's main league cup competition, the DWSL Premier Cup in 2004, 2005 and 2007.[19]

Early seasons

The UCD women's team applied to join the Women's National League for the inaugural 2011–12 season. However their application fell through when the university couldn't guarantee them regular access to UCD Bowl. The men's football team and men's rugby union team were given priority access. During the 2011–12, 2012–13 and 2013–14 season the majority of UCD women's team and several alumni played in the WNL for other clubs.[20] Louise Quinn, Dora Gorman, Julie-Ann Russell, Caroline Thorpe and Chloe Mustaki all played for Peamount United[21][22] while Siobhán Killeen, Ciara Grant and Mary Waldron played for Raheny United.[23] Nicola Sinnott also played for Shamrock Rovers[24] before switching to Wexford Youths.[25] Meanwhile, Dora Gorman, Julie-Ann Russell, Chloe Mustaki, Siobhán Killeen, Ciara Grant also played for UCD in intervarsity competitions and in 2013–14 they helped UCD win the WSCAI Premier Division and the WSCAI Futsal Cup.[26][27][28]

UCD Waves

Before the start of the 2014–15 season it was announced that DLR Waves and UCD would merge. Eileen Gleeson, formerly of Peamount United, was appointed manager of the new team known as UCD Waves. A number of Peamount United players including Julie-Ann Russell, Aine O'Gorman, Karen Duggan, Dora Gorman, Chloe Mustaki and Emily Cahill all subsequently followed Gleeson to UCD Waves[29][30] UCD student Ciara Grant also joined from Raheny United.[31] In 2018 UCD withdrew from the WNL. DLR Waves was subsequently revived as a separate club, taking UCD Waves' place in the WNL.[32]

UCD in Europe

After winning the FAI Women's Cup, UCD qualified three times to represent the Republic of Ireland in the UEFA Women's Cup.[33] After Shamrock Rovers, UCD were the second women's team to represent the Republic of Ireland in Europe.

2003–04 UEFA Women's Cup – Group 6
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Kolbotn 3 3 0 0 25 3 +22 9
2 Juvisy 3 2 0 1 10 3 +7 6
3 AZS Wrocław 3 1 0 2 4 12 −8 3
4 University College Dublin 3 0 0 3 0 13 −13 0
Source:
Matchday One
FCF Juvisy 6–1 UCD
Matchday Two
Kolbotn Football 8–0 UCD
Matchday Three
KS AZS Wroclaw 3–0 UCD

Source:[34]

2004–05 UEFA Women's Cup – Group 9
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Montpellier 3 3 0 0 13 0 +13 9
2 Neulengbach 3 2 0 1 7 10 −3 6
3 1.º de Dezembro 3 0 1 2 2 5 −3 1
4 University College Dublin 3 0 1 2 3 10 −7 1
Source:
Matchday One
Montpellier HSC 5–0 UCD
Matchday Two
UCD 1–1 SU 1° Dezembro
Matchday Three
SV Neulengbach 4–2 UCD

Source:[35]

2005–06 UEFA Women's Cup – Group 2
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Neulengbach 3 2 1 0 10 2 +8 7
2 Bardolino 3 2 1 0 5 0 +5 7
3 University College Dublin 3 1 0 2 3 7 −4 3
4 Maksimir 3 0 0 3 1 10 −9 0
Source:
Matchday One
SV Neulengbach 5–1 UCD
Matchday Two
UCD 0–2 Bardolino Verona
Matchday Three
ŽNK Maksimir 0–2 UCD

Source:[36][1]

Notable former players
Republic of Ireland women's internationals

Source:[11][26][29]

Ireland women's field hockey international
Ireland women's rugby union international

Managers
  • Ian Nesbitt 1991-2000
  • Linda Greene 2000-2001 player/manager
  • Jason Carey 2001-2003
  • Pat Kavanagh 2003-2005
  • Larry Mahony [2005-2008] [2011-2013] [11]
  • Eileen Gleeson
  • Noel Kealy

Honours
First Team
Intervarsity
  • LSCAI/WSCAI Premier Division
    • Winners: 1994–95, 1996–97, 1997–98, 2002–03, 2013–14: 5
    • Runners-up: 2012–13: 1
  • LSCAI/WSCAI First Division
    • Winners: 1992–93, 2007–08: 2
  • LSCAI/WSCAI Intervarsity Cup
    • Winners: 1994–95, 1996–97: 2
    • Runners-up: 1983, 1984, 2006–07, 2008–09 : 4
  • LSCAI/WSCAI Intervarsity Challenge Cup
    • Winners: 2007–08: 1
  • WSCAI Intervarsity Plate
    • Winners: 2001–02, 2002–03: 2
    • Runners-up: 2007–08, 2011–12 : 2
  • UCG Galway Plate
    • Winners: 1996–97, 1995–96, 1994–95, 1993–94: 4
  • WSCAI Futsal Cup
    • Winners: 2007–08, 2005–06, 2002–03, 2007–08, 2013–14: 6

Source:[2][19]

References
  1. "Uefa Womens Cup". foot.ie. 10 August 2005. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
  2. "U.C.D. Women's Soccer Club – Club History". ucd.ie. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  3. "EL Clubs with Women's teams". foot.ie. 29 September 2005. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
  4. "Ireland – List of Women Cup Winners". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  5. "UCD pass Cup test once again". The Irish Times. 11 August 2003. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
  6. "Kissane double sees off Lifford". The Irish Independent. 11 August 2003. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
  7. "UCD v Lifford Photos". sportsfile.com. 10 August 2003. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  8. "Ireland (Women) 2003". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  9. "Ireland (Women) 2004". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  10. "UCD v Dundalk Photos". sportsfile.com. 24 October 2004. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  11. "UCD chase treble". The Irish Independent. 23 October 2004. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
  12. "Mayo ladies make glorious history". mayonews.ie. 5 December 2006. Retrieved 12 March 2016.
  13. "UCD v Mayo League – Womens FAI Senior Cup Final Photos". sportsfile.com. 2 December 2006. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  14. Maher, Gareth (2 November 2014). "Raheny retain FAI Continental Tyres Women's Cup". fai.ie. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  15. "Moment of magic wins Women's FAI Cup final for Cork City". The Irish Independent. 5 November 2017.
  16. "Ireland (Women) 2005". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  17. "Ireland (Women) 2006". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  18. "Ireland – List of Women Champions". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  19. "UCD Womens Soccer Club – Club Honours". ucd.ie. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  20. "Women's sport deserves better funding: An open letter to UCD". universityobserver.ie. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
  21. "Peamount are crowned Bus Eireann Women's League Cup Final Winners". wnl.fai.ie. 6 May 2012. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
  22. "Peamount retain League Cup title". shekicks.net. 20 May 2013. Archived from the original on 18 May 2014. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
  23. "Raheny United 2–1 Peamount United". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 14 October 2012. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  24. "2011/12 Womens Team Squad Details". shamrockrovers.ie. 8 March 2011. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
  25. "Quick Fire Interview: Nicola Sinnott – Wexford FC". wexfordfc.ie. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
  26. "UCD Report of the President 2013–14" (PDF). ucd.ie. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  27. "WSCAI National Futsal Finals Photos". sportsfile.com. 31 January 2014. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  28. "UCD Womens Soccer Club – Squad". ucd.ie. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  29. "Waves break new ground". gazettegroup.com. 21 August 2014. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
  30. "About UCD Waves FC". ucdwaves.ie. 5 August 2014. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
  31. Maher, Gareth (2 November 2014). "Raheny retain FAI Continental Tyres Women's Cup". fai.ie. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  32. "DLR Waves revived as UCD pull out of the Women's National League". extratime.ie. 11 December 2018. Retrieved 10 August 2019.
  33. "Ucd Womens Team Uefa Womens Cup Stats". foot.ie. 15 August 2005. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  34. "UEFA Club Championship (Women) 2003/04". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  35. "UEFA Club Championship (Women) 2004/05". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  36. "UEFA Club Championship (Women) 2005/06". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
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