Galway United F.C.
Full name | Galway United Football Club |
---|---|
Nickname(s) | The Tribesmen |
Founded | 1937 |
Stadium | Eamonn Deacy Park |
Capacity | 5,000 (3,300 seats) |
Owner | Galway United Friends Co-Op |
Chairman | Jonathan Corbett |
Manager | John Caulfield |
League | League of Ireland Premier Division |
2023 | League of Ireland First Division, 1st of 10 (promoted) |
Website | Club website |
Galway United Football Club (Irish: Cumann Peile Ghaillimh Aontaithe) is an Irish association football club based in Galway. They play in the League of Ireland Premier Division following promotion from the First Division in 2023. They were founded as Galway Rovers F.C. during the 1930s. They made their League of Ireland debut in 1977–78 and changed their name to Galway United in 1981–82. After suffering financial difficulties, the club dropped out of the League of Ireland after the 2011 season but in 2014 Galway United returned initially playing as Galway F.C. for a season. Like other sports teams from the county, Galway United are nicknamed "The Tribesmen", after the 14 "tribes" of Galway, the merchant families that established the city.
History
Galway Rovers
Galway United F.C. were founded as Rovers F.C. in the
1980s
In 1980–81 Rovers reached the final of the League of Ireland Cup, but lost on penalties to
1990s
Galway United made a good start to the 1990s, winning their first
In 1995–96 United were relegated for a second time. In 1996–97 United won the League of Ireland Cup defeating Cork City 4-2 over two legs along with the First Division Shield. It was the second time United had won both trophies.
United remained in the First Division until 1998–99 when, under Don O'Riordan, they were promoted to the Premier Division after finishing as runners-up in the First Division to Drogheda United.[3][4][5][6][7]
2000s
The 2000s were not a successful decade for Galway United. Ten different managers took charge of United during this era and, between them, they managed to win just one amateur trophy, the 2007–08 Connacht Senior Cup. In 2001–02 United were relegated to the League of Ireland First Division and they did not return to the Premier Division until 2007 [8] In April 2005 United appointed Nick Leeson as commercial manager. He then became general manager in late November 2005 and by July 2007 he had become the club's CEO.[9][10] By the end of the decade United were joined in the League of Ireland by two other Galway–based teams, Mervue United and Salthill Devon.[11]
2010s
By 2010 Galway United had debts estimated to be between €35,000 and €70,000. In 2011, after Nick Leeson resigned as CEO, the Galway United board of directors and the Galway United Supporters Trust ("GUST"), which had been established in 2001, came to an agreement under which the latter group took over financial responsibility for the club and the day-to-day running of the team.[9][11][12][13] However, after the 2011 League of Ireland Premier Division season, in which Galway United lost 32 out of 36 games, this arrangement broke down. In December 2011 it was announced that Galway United would not be competing in the 2012 League of Ireland First Division season. Meanwhile, GUST unsuccessfully applied to join the League of Ireland as an independent club and continued to support the Galway United team playing in the League of Ireland U19 Division.[14][15][16]
In 2012 a report commissioned by the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) recommended that Galway city and County Galway should be represented in the League of Ireland by a single club or team based at Eamonn Deacy Park. The O'Connor Report also recommended that GUST, Salthill Devon, Mervue United and the Galway Football Association, should work together to form such a club.[17] GUST was reluctant to support this "merger"[18] but eventually agreed.
Following the conclusion of the
On 27 October 2017, Galway United were relegated to the League of Ireland First Division after a 4–3 loss to Dundalk in their final game of the 2017 League of Ireland Premier Division at Eamonn Deacy Park.[22] Despite finishing the 2017 season in 10th place, a normally safe position, a change in league format ahead of the 2018 season meant that this was not enough for the club to retain its place in the top flight.
2020s
It was announced on 30 March 2022, that brothers Brian and Luke Comer of the Comer Property Group would be taking majority ownership of the football club which had been operating under a fan owned model since its re-emergence in 2014. Following a vote of the supporters trust, 82% backed the move which would see the Comer brothers take an 85% ownership stake in the club. They had announced an initial influx of half a million euro into the club with ambitions to take it back to the Premier Division. [23]
In October 2022, the club announced that it would be launching a women's team, to compete in League of Ireland Women's Premier Division from the 2023 season onwards. On 23 July 2023 the womens' team made history by winning the inaugural All-Island Cup in their maiden season, defeating Cliftonville Ladies F.C. 1-0 in the final at The Showgrounds, Sligo.
On 22 September 2023, Galway United won the League of Ireland First Division title for the second time in the club's history with five matches to spare, when they defeated Kerry FC 4-0. This ensured a return to top flight football for the first time since 2017.[24] They finished the league season with a record total of 94 points, with 98 goals scored and a 100% home win record.
Grounds
Galway United's principal home ground is
Personnel
Current squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
|
Out on loan
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
Technical staff
Position | Name |
---|---|
Manager | John Caulfield |
Assistant Manager | Ollie Horgan |
First Team Analyst | Robbie Crosbie |
Performance Coach | Danny Broderick |
Physiotherapist | Richard Grier |
Kitman | Darra Hislop |
Goalkeeping Coach | Gianluca Aimi |
Head of Youth Development | Johnny Glynn |
Under-19 Manager | Brendan O'Connor |
Under-19 Coach | Paul Sinnott |
Under-19 Coach | John O'Connor |
Under-17 Manager | Martin Devlin |
Under-17 Coach | Gerry Martin |
Under-17 Coach | Gerry Heaney |
Under-17 Strength & Conditioning | Seán Murphy |
Under-15 Manager | Anthony O'Neill |
Under-15 Coach | Colm Branagan |
Under-15 Coach | Michael Flannery |
Under-14 Manager | Xavi Vazquez |
Under-14 Coach | Gary Traynor |
Under-14 Coach | Jason Murphy |
Management
Position | Staff |
---|---|
Chairman | Jonathan Corbett |
Secretary | John Flannery |
Media Officer | Jonathan Higgins |
Graphic Designer | Morgan O'Brien |
Content Creation | Paul Mladjenovic |
European record
Overview
Competition | Matches | W | D | L | GF | GA |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UEFA Cup | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 8 |
European Cup Winners' Cup | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 11 |
TOTAL | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 19 |
Matches
Season | Competition | Round | Opponent | Home | Away | Aggregate
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1985–86 | European Cup Winners' Cup
|
1R | Lyngby | 2–3 | 0–1 | 2–4 |
1986–87 | UEFA Cup
|
1R | Groningen | 1–3 | 1–5 | 2–8 |
1991–92 | European Cup Winners' Cup
|
QR | Odense
|
0–3 | 0–4 | 0–7 |
Shirt sponsors and manufacturers
Year | Kit manufacturer | Shirt partner |
---|---|---|
1984/85 | Adidas | Glen C |
1985/86 | ||
1990/91 | Wrangler
| |
1991/92 | Spall | |
1992/93 | O'Neills | |
1993/94 | McDonald's Gaillimh | |
1994/95 | Adidas | |
1995/96 | Digital | |
1996/97 | ||
1997/98 | ||
1998/99 | ||
1999/00 | Compaq | |
2000/01 | Prostar | |
2001/02 | Stanno | |
2002/03 | Erreà | Hewlett-Packard |
2003 | Radisson SAS Hotel Galway | |
2004 | Umbro | Harmack Developments |
2005 | ||
2006 | ||
2007 | O'Connell Drylining | |
2008 | Rival | |
2009 | Papa John's
| |
2010 | ||
2011 | ||
2014 | Macron | Comer Group Ireland |
2015 | ||
2016 | Uhlsport | |
2017 | ||
2018 | ||
2019 | Puma | |
2020 | ||
2021 | O'Neills | |
2022 | ||
2023 | ||
2024 |
Gallery
-
Galway United's home ground, Eamonn Deacy Park
Notable former players
- Republic of Ireland senior internationals
|
- League of Ireland XI representatives
- Republic of Ireland U23 internationals
- Republic of Ireland U21 internationals
- Republic of Ireland U19 internationals
|
- Republic of Ireland U18internationals
- Other senior internationals
Managerial history
Dates | Name |
---|---|
1976–1978 | Amby Fogarty |
1978-1979 | Tommy Callaghan |
1979–1983 | John Herrick |
1983-1984 | Paddy Mulligan |
1984-1985 | Tom Lally |
1985–1988 | Tony Mannion |
1988 | John Herrick |
1988-1989 | Seamus McDonagh |
1989-1990 | Paul McGee
|
1990-1991 | Joey Malone |
1992-1995 | Tony Mannion |
1995-1997 | Denis Clarke |
1997-2001 | Don O'Riordan |
2001 | Dave Connell |
2001-2004 | Tony Mannion |
2005-2006 | Stephen Lally |
2006-2008 | Tony Cousins |
2008 | Jeff Kenna |
2009 | Ian Foster |
2010-2011 | Sean Connor |
2014-2016 | Tommy Dunne
|
2017-2018 | Shane Keegan |
2018-2020 | Alan Murphy |
2021– | John Caulfield |
Honours
- League of Ireland Premier Division
- Runners Up: 1985–86: 1
- FAI Cup
- Winners: 1990–91: 1
- Runners Up: 1984–85: 1
- League of Ireland Cup
- Winners: 1985–86, 1996–97: 2
- Runners Up: 1979–80, 2015: 2
- League of Ireland First Division
- League of Ireland First Division Shield:
- Winners: 1992–93, 1996–97: 2
- Connacht Senior League
- Winners: 1984–85, 1985–86, 1987–88: 3
- Runners Up: 1986–87, 1993–94: 2
- Connacht Senior Cup
- Winners: 1984–85, 1995–96, 2007–08: 3
- Connacht Senior League Challenge Cup
- Winners: 1998–99: 1
- Runners Up: 1986–87, 1993–94: 2
- Connacht Junior Cup
- Winners: 1957–58: 1
- Runners Up: 1946–47: 1
References
- ^ Galway Vindicator and Connaught Advertiser, 24 September 1898, page 3, column 1
- ^ "Galway Rovers soccer teams". www.advertiser.ie. 23 December 2008. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Galway United FC – Club History". galwayunitedfc.ie. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
- ^ a b c "Ireland – Ireland League Cup 1973/74-2006". RSSSF. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
- ^ a b c "Republic of Ireland League Tables". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 21 February 2008. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
- ^ ISBN 1-86223-135-4.
- ^ a b "Ireland - FA of Ireland Cup 1921/22-1993/94". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 25 May 2015. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
- ^ "RTÉ Sport: Rovers and Galway in new Premiership". RTÉ News.
- ^ a b Brendan White (2 February 2011). "Leeson resigns Galway Utd CEO position". Archived from the original on 14 May 2012. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
- ^ "Galway United FC have appointed Mr Nick Lee as the club's new Commercial Manager". www.galway.net. 17 April 2005. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
- ^ a b "Local competition adds to Galway United's woes". When Saturday Comes. 17 December 2010. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
- ^ "Leeson will remain in charge at Galway". www.rte.ie. 24 November 2010. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
- ^ "About GUST". galwayunited.org. Archived from the original on 6 April 2016. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
- ^ "Galway Utd withdraw licence application". extratime.ie. Retrieved 22 December 2011.
- ^ Malone, Emmet (14 December 2011). "Troubled Galway opt out of league for a year". irishtimes.com. Retrieved 22 December 2011.
- ^ "Galway fans apply to form new club". RTÉ News. 13 December 2011. Archived from the original on 8 January 2012.
- ^ "One club or nothing warns FAI on impasse". connachttribune.ie. 27 August 2013. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
- ^ Penrose, Gareth. "GUST vote to remain independent – Extratime.ie – League of Ireland". Extratime.ie. Archived from the original on 8 April 2014.
- ^ "Mervue United swansong shines a light on FAI mismanagement". www.goal.com. 18 October 2013. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
- ^ "Football's comin' home — compromise reached as Galway FC applies to league". www.advertiser.ie. 12 September 2013. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
- ^ McDonnell, Daniel (19 September 2015). "St Patrick's Athletic crowned EA Sports Cup champions after penalty drama". independent.ie. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
- ^ "Galway United relegated following seven-goal thriller against Dundalk". Irish Independent. 27 October 2017. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
- ^ "GALWAY UNITED CLUB STATEMENT", galwayunitedfc.ie, 30 March 2022
- ^ "Galway United gain promotion to the top flight in style". Irish Examiner. 23 September 2023. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
- ^ "Balls Remembers The Time A Small GAA Ground Held A European Cup Winners Cup Match". www.balls.ie. 29 July 2015. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
- ^ https://galwayunitedfc.ie/ [bare URL]
- ^ "Mayo Football League Roll Of Honour" (PDF). inform.fai.ie. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 February 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
- ^ "Castlebar Celtic – Club History". www.castlebarceltic.com. Archived from the original on 5 April 2016. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
External links
- Official website
- Galway United F.C. on Facebook
- Galway United F.C. on Twitter
- Galway United FC on YouTube
- Galway United F.C. on Instagram
- The Galway United Forum
- Galway United FC on Soccerway