Shelbourne FC

|- | colspan=" 2" style=" text-align: center; padding: 0.5em; " bgcolor=" white" | |- | Club founded in | bgcolor=#EEEEEE| 1895 |- | Colors | bgcolor=#EEEEEE| red and white |- | Stage | bgcolor=#EEEEEE| Tolka Park
(9 700 places) |- | Seat | bgcolor=#EEEEEE| Tolka Park
Richmond Road
Drumcondra
Dublin 3 |- |bgcolor=" white" | |bgcolor=" white" | |}

The Shelbourne Football Club (in Irish: Cumann Peile Shíol Broin ), that one generally calls Shels , is a club of Football Irish based with Dublin. Founded in 1895, the club integrated the Irish Football League in 1904 then off formed with 7 other clubs the Football League Ireland in 1921. Shelbourne gained 13 championships of Ireland and is one of the only clubs with Derry City and the Bohemians to have gained at the same time the cut IFA (plain Ireland) and the cut FAI (current Irish Republic). The colors of the club are the red and the white. Shelbourne plays its matches with Tolka Park in the district of Drumcondra in the north of Dublin.

History

1895-1921: Beginnings

Shelbourne was creates in 1895 in the district of Ringsend with Dublin. The seven people at the origin of the creation of the club chose the name of Shelbourne while playing pile or face: they hesitated between the name of two streets of Ringsend, Shelbourne Road and Bath Avenue. Shelbourne played its first matches with Me Lady' S Field, a waste ground meadows of Lansdowne Road.

After having played a time in the championship of the province of Leinster, Shelbourne joined the Irish Football League (at the time the championship of all Ireland) in 1904 and became the same year the first Irish club to pass professional. The club evolved/moved in IFL until 1921, except for the First World War, period during which Shelbourne turned over in championship of Leinster because of the stop of the IFL. With 3 cuts of Ireland, a place of second in 1907 and 5 international players, Shelbourne was the best club of Dublin. From season 1913/1914, Shelbourne changes ground and settles in its district of origin, with Shelbourne Park.

1921-1929: The first successes

Following the partition of Ireland, the club left the IFA and off created with 7 other dublinoises teams League Ireland (named at the time Free State League).

At the time of the first season in 1922, Shelbourne gains off League Ireland Shield, a trophy of before-season, and preserves it the following year while reaching the finale of the cut of Ireland. In 1926, Shels gain their first championship, as well as a third Shield. A second title is obtained in 1929.

1930-1939: Reds United

Shelbourne gains a third title in 1931 then in 1934 the club enters in conflict with League off Ireland: the latter had programmed two matches the same day! This argument leads the club to leave League and not to have any activity during season 1934/1935. The following year, the club plays in a small league while a named team Reds United made up of the players of Shelbourne plays in League off Ireland and finishes in honourable a 4th place. Shelbourne makes finally its return at the time of season 1936/1937.

The Thirties are remembered by the first victory of Shelbourne out of cut of Ireland vis-a-vis the Sligo Rovers in 1939 front 30.000 spectators.

1940-1959: Shels confirm

Shels connect a few white seasons before gaining again the championship in 1944 at the same time as the Shield. Titrate gained after a epic victory 5-3 vis-a-vis the rivals of the Shamrock Rovers. The Hoops will have nevertheless their revenge by beating Shelbourne 3-2 finally cut of Ireland, thus preventing Reds of empocher a triplet Cut-Championship-Shield.

In 1947, Shelbourne again caps Rovers on the post by carrying a fifth championship at the last day.

Two events mark season 1948/49: a seventh Shield and end of the football games with Shelbourne Park. Indeed, the club envisages to make build a new stage with Irishtown.

In 1951, Reds are beaten by Cork Athletic finally of cut of Ireland then gain a sixth title in 1953.

Shels use various stages in the Fifties while waiting for the new stage: Milltown, Dalymount Park and Tolka Park. They play finally Irishtown Stadium in 1955 but it is a true fiasco: the stage is not finished and the infrastructures are not appropriate at all. Shelbourne settles then in Tolka Park dice the following season.

Gerry Doyle becomes managor in 1956 and trusted a talented young generation of players. Parmis them, Tony Dunne who will have transferred himself later to Manchester United.

1960-1969: First European tournaments

In 1960, Shelbourne gains finally a second cut of Ireland with an irreproachable course: a series of victories 3-0 against Bohemians, Shamrock Rovers and Dundalk before beating Cork Hibernians finally 2-0. In 1962, Shels are with equality of points with Cork Celtic at the end it championship and must dispute a play-off that they gain for the title thanks to a goal of Ben Hannigan. Shelbourne finds its bad luck out of cut on the other hand, being inclined finally against the Shamrock Rovers while being private of 3 key players. The cut is however gained the following year thanks to a new victory 2-0 over Cork Hibernians.

This same season 62/63 marks as the beginnings of Shelbourne out of cut of Europe in a confrontation of prestige against the Sporting Lisbon as Portuguese gains easily. This participation is followed by two others: in 63/64 in Cut of the winners of cut against FC Barcelona and in 64/65 in Cut of the towns of fair (the ancestor of the UEFA Cup) against the Atlético of Madrid after having eliminated Belenenses.

End of the year 60 is the one difficult period beginning for the Irish clubs with the hand put of the English and Scottish clubs on the players and media of the island.

It should be noted that at the time of a match against Bohemians on November 19th, 1967, Shelbourne entered the history by registering the fastest hat-trick in the world: Jimmy O' Connor had marked 3 goals in 2 minutes and 13 seconds!

1970-1989: Black years

By beating Athlone Town for the Shield in 1971, Shelbourne gained what will be its last trophy for many years. Idem out of cut of Europe, with a last unfruitful participation against Hungarian of Vasas SC the same season before approaching one long period of food shortage.

Not shining in championship, Reds cannot be folded back on a championship victory: they are beaten in 1973 finally against Cork Hibernians then undergo a defeat embarrassing against the amateurs of Farm Home in semi-final in 1975.

The signature of Jimmy Johnstone in 1978, the former winner of the League of the Champions with the Celtic Glasgow, will not arrange the businesses of the club.

In 1985, the league of Ireland creates the second division and 4 clubs are relegated at the conclusion of season 84/85. At the time of the last day, a miracle saves Shelbourne of the descent: led 2-0 to the half-time vis-a-vis Galway United whereas the victory is imperative, Shels gain match 3 to 2. It unfortunately only did not leave given with the descent in First Division the following season but Shelbourne goes up immediately in First League into 87.

After two decades in the fog, the future is cleared up for Shels into 89 with the arrival of Tony Donnelly to the presidency and the return to Tolka Park, stage which they had left in 1974 to play in 4 various stages the following years.

1990-1999: The return to the tops

An important investment of the Donnelly family made go up the club at the tops with one 8th title taken down into 1991/92, the first since 30 years, thanks to inter alia a victory 3-1 over Dundalk FC concluded by a spectacular goal of Brian Flood. Following season 92/93 is marked by the return of the cut of Europe, a disappointing elimination against the Ukrainian champions Tavria Simferopol, and the championship victory vis-a-vis Dundalk. Nevertheless in championship, Shelbourne cannot leave victorious the play-offs the opponent to two other teams: Bohemians and Cork City.

Two seasons 93/94 and 94/95 are white with a thin course out of cut of the winners of cut: a victory over Karpaty Lviv followed by a dry defeat against the Panathinaikos.

Success returns into 95/96 with one doubled cut of the league/cut of Ireland. The latter was gained vis-a-vis St Patrick' S Athletic following a memorable match: at the end of 20 minutes of plays, Alan Gough the guard of Shelbourne is excluded whereas there is no replacing guard, it is thus with Brian Flood the medium ground in the cages that Shels fight and manage to equalize thanks to a splendid goal of Tony Sheridan at the end of the match to be entitled to rejouer the match as it is the rule in the event of no one. Revenge was gained thanks to… Alan Gough which left a penalty at the end of the meeting to preserve the score of 1-0. The cut of Ireland is again gained into 96/97 vis-a-vis Derry City FC.

Whereas success out of cut is present, one always awaits a championship and better courses out of cut of Europe: the defeats against ÍA Akranes in 95 and SK Brann in 96, again disappointed.

Following season 97/98 is a nightmare: defeat finally of cut of Ireland (against Sligo Rovers, finally of cut of the league (against Cork City FC, with the first turn of cut of the winners of cut (against Kilmarnock FC) and especially the championship lost at the time of the last day to the profit of St Patrick' S Athletic. The managor Damien Richardson resigns following this failure, and the club makes come Dermot Keely, a famous trainer.

One will retain season 98/99 especially the match outward journey first tower of cut UEFA against the Glasgow Rangers. Obliged to play in England in the stage of the Tranmere Rovers for " reasons of sécurité" , Shelbourne creates sensation by leading part 3-0 to the hour of play before losing the match… 3-5.

2000-2006: Shelbourne, spearhead of League

After a first poor season, Dermot Keely makes a success of a very beautiful season 99/2000 by gaining one doubled historical: cut of Ireland and championship. This one is gained with the manner while having undergone that two defeats, while the cut was gained thanks to a goal of Stalemate Fenlon finally against Bohemians. With an elimination with the first tower of the Cut Intertoto against Neuchâtel Xamax, the European course is on the other hand very disappointing.

The following season is on the other hand a great disappointment since Shelbourne again lets escape the title at the time of the last day this time Bohemians. In UEFA Cup, the club makes good figure by beating the club Macedonian Sloga Jugomagnat Skopje and by offering a good resistance vis-a-vis the champions of Norway, Rosenborg BK.

The championship gained at the time of season 01/02 is tinted of controversy: Shelbourne would not have gained the title if the FAI had not withdrawn 15 points with St Patrick' S Athletic for a business of not-recorded players. In UEFA Cup, Shelbourne is curtly eliminated with the first turn by Brondby.

With Stalemate Fenlon with the head of the team, the club does not manage to preserve its outgoing championship at the time of season 02/03. The return of Shelbourne in the preliminary rounds of League of the Champions is a true fiasco: Shels are made leave by the modest club the Hibernians Malta following a goal boxed in the stops of play in Tolka Park.

Shelbourne is caught up with while gaining of sharp the championships of the seasons 2003 and 2004 (the championship of Ireland having changed calendar). Whereas the European course is unspecified in 2003 with a defeat with the first turn of cut UEFA against the Sloveniens of NK Olimpija Ljubljana, the European countryside 2004 is historical. By eliminating the KR Reykjavík then by creating the exploit vis-a-vis Hajduk Split, Shelbourne becomes the first Irish club to reach the third preliminary round of League of the Champions. Shels face with this turn the Deportivo Corogne and in spite of a null good with Lansdowne Road in front of 25.000 spectators, the team is eliminated by losing 3-0 in Spain. Transferred in UEFA Cup, Shelbourne make good figure again but cannot beat Lille.

Following these good performances, the club makes come from great names for the season 2005. Nevertheless the club arrives has to obtain only one third place in championship and is beaten finally very first Setanta Cup vis-a-vis the Linfield FC. Shelbourne is eliminated with the preliminary second round from League from the Champions by the Steaua Bucharest after having beaten the Glentoran FC.

Shels join again with success by gaining the championship 2006 thanks to a better goal average than Derry. Out of Intertoto cut, the club beats easily the Lithuanians of the Vetra Vilnius but is inclined with the following turn against OB Odense.

2007: The fall

At the conclusion of the season 2006, Shelbourne knows serious financial problems and collapses under the debts. The intersaison is a martyrdom: the near total of the players leave, Pat Fenlon gives up its station but especially the threat of the ousting of the club of the plane league. In full uncertainty and without team, Shelbourne decides not to take part in the Setanta Cup. It is necessary to wait a few days before the resumption of the championship to know the verdict of the FAI: Shelbourne will play in First Division for the first time since season 1986/1987. Whereas this decision puts an end to one period success and sends the club in the abymes championship, the fact of still playing in the league is accommodated like a true relief: many were the supporters and members of the club thinking that Shelbourne was going quite simply to disappear. The club then makes return Dermot Keely to the station of managing and this one made with the means of the edge to set up a team at 24 hours of the beginning of the championship. A few weeks later, one will learn that Shelbourne gives up its place in Ligue of the Champions, from fear of putting in danger the Coefficient UEFA of the Irish championship, and leaves his place to Derry City. The offering will be seen being not very judicious: Derry is made eliminate dice the first turn qualifier by a Armenian club (Pyunik Erevan).

The fall of Shels is a true hard blow for Irish football: Shelbourne crumbles whereas the club started to become the large club that all Ireland waited.

Season 2007 thus occurs in anonymity from First Division. With a manpower of fortune made up of young people, of some players of experiments recruited with haste and some loans, Shels carry out one unimportant season, not obtaining that a handle of victories at the beginning of season before rectifying the bar and finishing in the 5th place at the conclusion of the season. 2007 will be also marked by the tragic death of Oliver Byrne, the principal shareholder of the club, whose memory was greeted by many homages to Dublin but also in all Ireland.

Prize list

  • Cut of League of Ireland of Victorious football

  • All Ireland/Setanta Cup

  • Only Irish club to have reached the third preliminary round of the League of the Champions.

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