Alton United F.C. is a defunct Irish football club who were based in Belfast, Northern Ireland and played in the Falls District League. [1]
During their time in the Falls District League, Alton United played their home matches in the Falls Road area of Belfast at Shauns Park and also at Celtic Park, the home ground of Belfast Celtic, on the Donegall Road in West Belfast. [2]
The Falls League was affiliated to the Dublin-based Football Association of Ireland, which had been formed in 1921 as a breakaway from the Belfast-based Irish Football Association. The Falls Road was a largely Roman Catholic Nationalist area, and some football fans there regarded the IFA as a Unionist-dominated body. Belfast Celtic, the best Catholic-supported club, had withdrawn from the Irish League in 1920, during the instability of the Irish War of Independence, and many of its players turned out for Falls League sides, including Alton United.
The high point of Alton United's existence came when they played Shelbourne in the 1923 Irish Free State Cup Final at Dalymount Park. United were heavy underdogs going into the game and bookies had stopped taken bets on Shelbourne to win the game. United surprisingly beat Shelbourne 1–0 with the single goal scored by Andy McSherry.
In late 1923, the FAI was admitted to FIFA on condition that it confine its operation to the Irish Free State. Thus, the Falls League was disaffiliated. In 1924, Belfast Celtic re-entered the Irish League, and the Falls League faded.
The Irish Football Association (IFA) is the governing body for association football in Northern Ireland. It organised the Ireland national football team from 1880 to 1950, which after 1954, became the Northern Ireland national football team.
Shelbourne Football Club is an Irish professional football club based in Drumcondra, Dublin, currently playing in the League of Ireland Premier Division.
Shelbourne United Football Club was an Irish association football club based in Dublin. They are often confused with the similarly named current League of Ireland team Shelbourne. Both teams had their origins in the same Ringsend suburb and both teams played in the Leinster Senior League and the League of Ireland during the 1920s. However they were completely different teams.
The Football Association of Ireland Senior Challenge Cup, known as the Sports Direct FAI Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland. Organised by the FAI, the competition is currently sponsored by Sports Direct. It was known as the Free State Cup from 1923 to 1936. Shamrock Rovers hold the record of most wins with 25.
The Irish Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly referred to as the Irish Cup is the primary football knock-out cup competition in Northern Ireland. Inaugurated in 1881, it is the fourth-oldest national cup competition in the world. Prior to the break-away from the Irish Football Association by clubs from what would become the Irish Free State in 1921, the Irish Cup was the national cup competition for the whole of Ireland.
William Lacey was an Irish footballer who played for, among others, Shelbourne, Liverpool, Everton and Linfield. Lacey was a dual international and also played for both Ireland teams – the IFA XI and the FAI XI.
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Edward A. Brooks was an Irish footballer who played as centre-forward or inside-left for, among others, Shelbourne, Bohemians, Stockport County and Athlone Town. Brookes was a dual internationalist and played for both Ireland teams – the IFA XI and the FAI XI.
The 1923 FAI Cup Final was contested by League of Ireland side Shelbourne of Dublin and Alton United of Belfast's Fall's League on 17 March at Dalymount Park, Dublin.
The Football Association of Ireland is the governing body for association football in the Republic of Ireland.
John Joseph Feenan was an Irish and Northern Irish footballer who played for Belfast Celtic, Sunderland and Shelbourne. As an international he also played for Ireland. In the 1940s he served as manager of Shelbourne. He was born in Newry, Ireland.
William Glen was an Irish footballer.
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The Leinster Senior League Senior Division is the top division of the Leinster Senior League. It is organized by the Leinster Football Association. Together with the Munster Senior League Senior Premier Division and the Ulster Senior League Senior Division, it forms the third level of the Republic of Ireland football league system. Formed in 1896, it is the oldest association football league in what is now the Republic of Ireland. Shelbourne have won the most titles. However, in more recent seasons Crumlin United, Cherry Orchard, Wayside Celtic and Bangor Celtic have been the divisions strongest teams. In 2014–15 Bluebell United were Leinster Senior League champions, 27 years after winning their previous title. Clubs from this division play in the Leinster Senior Cup, the FAI Cup, the FAI Intermediate Cup and the FAI Junior Cup. In recent seasons the winners of the Senior Division have also been invited to play in the League of Ireland Cup.
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