Full name | Wexford Football Club | ||
---|---|---|---|
Nickname(s) | Youths | ||
Founded | 2007 | ||
Ground | Ferrycarrig Park | ||
Capacity | 2,500 (609 temp seats) | ||
Manager | James Keddy | ||
League | League of Ireland First Division | ||
2023 | League of Ireland First Division, 4th of 10 | ||
Website | Club website | ||
Wexford Football Club is an Irish association football club based in Crossabeg, County Wexford. They compete in the League of Ireland First Division. The club joined the league after being awarded a First Division licence for the 2007 League of Ireland season. [1] The opportunity to join the League of Ireland arose as Dublin City became bankrupt before the end of the 2006 season, leaving an uneven number of clubs. [2] The 2007 season coincided with the takeover of the running of the league by the FAI and all existing clubs had to apply for entry into what was effectively a new league. [3] Limerick was the only existing club refused a licence and so Wexford Youths and Limerick 37 were admitted to the new league. [4] The club previously wore pink and black, before switching to a purple and gold combination in 2024. [5] The club rebranded for the start of the 2017 season by dropping the 'Youths' from their title and changing the club crest. [6]
Wexford Youths were founded by developer and TD Mick Wallace, who has funded the construction of Ferrycarrig Park, a state-of-the-art complex for the new team at Crossabeg, near Wexford Town. Wallace managed the senior side for the first three seasons, as well as the under-21s, under-18s and under-16s. Before the start of the 2010 season, former Limerick FC manager and Wexford Youths assistant manager Noel O'Connor took the reins as manager of the senior squad. [7] Pat Dolan acts as an advisor to Mick Wallace and while remaining on as Setanta Sports' anchorman for their live TV coverage of Irish domestic soccer. [8]
Wexford Youths FC applied for a League of Ireland licence in December 2006, [9] and were officially granted a First Division licence on 6 February 2007. [1] The club has stated an intention to be a unique institution in Irish football in prioritising local players, and has only taken on players from the Wexford area. [1]
Wexford Youths' first game was away to Monaghan United, on 9 March 2007, and ended in a 2–2 draw. The club's first scorer was Conor Sinnott. [10] The first home match was on 18 March 2007, a 1–0 victory over Cobh Ramblers. [11] Tom Elmes was the goal scorer. Wexford Youths first ever League of Ireland Cup fixture saw them play Waterford United at the RSC, Waterford. This game was the first competitive derby game for Wexford Youths against one of their local rivals, and saw Wexford beaten 3–0. [12] The club's FAI Cup début arrived on 15 June 2007 with a trip to Jackman Park to face fellow league newcomers Limerick 37. The game produced a 1–1 draw and sent the tie to a replay, [13] with Limerick 37 winning the replay 1–0. [14]
Wexford Youths finished their first season in ninth place (out of ten) in the league, five points clear of bottom club Kilkenny City. [15]
On 25 August 2008, the Youths achieved a famous victory in the League Cup semifinal, beating Cork City 1–0 at Turners Cross. [16] However they lost out 6–1 to Derry City in the final at Ferrycarrig Park. [17]
Wexford Youths finished the 2008 season in seventh place. [18] The Youths rose a place in the 2009 season, finishing 6th out of an expanded 12 teams [19]
Before the beginning of the 2010 season, the Youths' captain, crowd favourite and record goal-scorer Conor Sinnott transferred to St. Patrick's Athletic. [20] Nevertheless, the club had some good fortune. During the 2010 season the Youths recorded their first ever home win over local rivals Waterford United, [21] and followed this up with an away win against Shelbourne. [22] More players parted ways with the Youths during the 2010 season, including record appearance holder Paul "Patsi" Malone, and the highly experienced defender David Breen. Both are former Supporters Player of the Year winners, in 2007 and 2009 respectively. The Youths had yet another very memorable night soon after their departure, when they enjoyed a 5–3 victory in the league over their tense rivals Limerick. Jimmy Keohane, Dean Broaders and Shane Dempsey scored for the Youths, before Limerick's Jeffrey Judge and former Youths player Peter White were both sent off for Limerick. To ascertain the victor, Limerick veteran Gary Sheahan scored the fifth goal for the Youths, to rapturous celebrations from the supporters at Ferrycarrig Park. [23] July ended with the transfer of central midfielder Jimmy Keohane to Bristol City. [24] The Youths once again scored 5 in a 5–2 away win at Mervue United, equalling their highest ever winning margin. [25] Despite their high scoring season, they finished the first division in 7th place, just behind Cork City on 42 points.
Paul "Patsi" Malone returned to the Youths for the 2011 season, and later in the season Shane Dempsey returned to the club after a spell at Waterford United F.C. However, record goalscorer Garry Sheahan returned to Limerick F.C. The season yielded the Youths their worst points haul yet of 14, finishing second-last ahead of Salthill Devon due to a 5–2 home win against them on the very last day of the season, their only home league win in 2011. [26] The year did produce one very notable result in favour of the Youths, a 4–1 home win against Derry City in the FAI Cup [27]
In December 2011, Noel O'Connor ended his management of the club, replaced by former F.C. Carlow manager Shane Keegan. The club began the 2012 season with a record-shattering 6–0 win over their local rivals Waterford United F.C. After a mildly successful 2012 season in which the club finished fourth out of eight teams with 39 points, the club lost Paul "Patsi" Malone to Bray Wanderers and all-time top-scorer Danny Furlong to Cork City for the start of the 2013 season. [28]
In 2015 under Shane Keegan's management, the Youths won the First Division and promotion to the League of Ireland Premier Division for the first time in their history.
The following season was a poor one for Wexford Youths. They lost 22 and won just 6 of their 33 league games. They finished 11th in the 2016 League of Ireland Premier Division and were beaten 3–2 on aggregate in the relegation play-offs by Drogheda United, to be relegated straight back to the League of Ireland First Division. At the end of the season, Manager Shane Keegan left the club to take up the Galway United job, vacated by Tommy Dunne. Damian Locke was appointed as the new manager of Wexford in November 2016.
In September 2017, the club announced that Wexford Supporters' Trust, a supporter's co-op, were to take ownership of the club. The club finished their first season under the new name in 7th place in the First Division. After poor results Locke was let go by the club in 2018, with Brian O'Sullivan appointed as the new manager for the 2019 season. In the latter half of the season, centre back Darragh O'Connor made a transfer to Premier League side Leicester City FC.
In May 2021, Brian O'Sullivan departed as manager by mutual consent after 7 defeats from the first 7 games of the season. [29]
Ian Ryan was appointed as the new senior team manager in May 2021. [30] Ryan had an immediate impact at the club, bringing Wexford to the FAI Cup quarter final (equalling their best ever finish) and late season wins over UCD, Bray Wanderers, Athlone Town, Cobh Ramblers and Cabinteely. Wexford finished third in the table based on the final series of games, boding well for the following year.
Wexford made their best ever start to a season in 2022, with two wins in their opening three games against Cobh Ramblers and Athlone Town. Wexford continued to challenge for the playoff places, with a memorable win over Longford Town thanks to goals from Luka Lovic and Conor Barry [31]
The club announced a major restructuring plan late in 2022 with the appointment of Tony Doyle as new CEO of the club. They picked up another historic result soon after, defeating Premier Division side Sligo Rovers in the FAI Cup. [32]
Wexford ended the season in 6th position, failing to reach the playoffs but a noted improvement on previous seasons. Manager Ian Ryan unexpectedly announced his resignation after the end of the season. [33]
James Keddy was named as Ian Ryan's replacement as manager on 17th November 2022. After a strong performance in the second half of the 2023 season, Wexford secured their first ever playoff finish in the First Division with a fourth place finish.
In November 2023, the club announced plans to move to a new 6000 seater stadium in Wexford Town. [34] The following month, they announced a full amalgamation with the women's side of the club.
The home kit was pink shirt, pink shorts and white socks. The away strip is a black shirt, black shorts and white socks.
The original badge featured the club motto 'Play the beautiful game' and the words 'Life's short, work hard, play hard', a motto used by Wallace Construction for many years, having previously been placed on the kits of Cork City when Wallace sponsored that club. The five stars above the badge represented the four under 18 FAI inter-league titles and one FAI Youth Cup won by Wexford teams managed by Wallace. The club crest is now an image of a rampant bull. Mick Wallace decided to change the crest to pay homage to his favourite Italian club, Torino.
In December of 2022, Wexford underwent another logo change, opting to use the traditional GAA colours of purple and yellow. The new logo consists of a purple background with three pikes in reference to the 1798 Rebellion in the shape of a W, with a football on both the far left and far right of the logo adjacent to the left-most and right-most pikes. [35]
Wexford play at Ferrycarrig Park. It has a current seated capacity of just over 600 but plans are in place to extend this to over 2000.
# | Name | Career | Appearances |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Danny Furlong | 2007–2016, 2019, 2023 | 272 |
2 | Patsy Malone | 2007–2013 | 173 |
3 | Graham Doyle | 2012–2017 | 172 |
4 | Anthony Russell | 2007–2011 | 148 |
5 | Shane Dempsey | 2007–2012, 2016 | 128 |
# | Name | Career | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Danny Furlong | 2007-2016, 2019, 2023 | 119 |
2 | Aaron Dobbs | 2018- | 33 |
3 | Eric Molloy | 2012–2016 | 23 |
4 | Aidan Keenan | 2012–2016 | 22 |
= | Gavin Doyle | 2007-2009 | 22 |
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
|
Position | Staff |
---|---|
CEO | Tony Doyle |
Head of Football | John Godkin |
Head of Academy | Mark Ross |
Manager | James Keddy |
Assistant Manager | Denis Hyland |
Goalkeeper Coach | Ian Fowler |
Doctor | Ravi Kumar |
Physio | Sean Mulligan |
The League of Ireland is a league of professional football clubs from the Republic of Ireland plus Derry City from Northern Ireland. It is one of the two main governing bodies responsible for organising association football in the Republic of Ireland, along with the Football Association of Ireland. It is also the top-level football league in the Republic of Ireland since its foundation in 1921, but the term was used to refer to a single division league before the introduction of a second division in 1985.
The 2011 FAI Senior Challenge Cup, also known as the 2011 FAI Ford Cup, is the 91st season of the national football competition of the Republic of Ireland. The winners of the competition will earn spots in both the second qualifying round of the 2012–13 UEFA Europa League and the 2012 Setanta Sports Cup.
The 2013 FAI Senior Challenge Cup, also known as the 2013 FAI Ford Senior Cup, was the 93rd season of the national football competition of the Republic of Ireland. The winners of the competition earned a spot in the first qualifying round of the 2014-15 UEFA Europa League.
The 2015 FAI Senior Challenge Cup, also known as the 2015 FAI Irish Daily Mail Senior Cup for sponsorship reasons, was the 95th season of the national football competition of the Republic of Ireland. The winners of the competition earned a spot in the first qualifying round of the 2016–17 UEFA Europa League.
University College Cork Association Football Club is an Irish association football club based in Cork. It was founded in 1952 by students at University College Cork. Its senior men's team plays in the Munster Senior League Senior Premier Division. They have also previously competed in the Collingwood, Crowley and Harding Cups, the FAI Intermediate Cup, and FAI Junior Cup. They have also played in the FAI Cup. As of 2023, UCC A.F.C. fields teams in the Munster Senior League, the Cork Athletic Union League, and the FAI College & Universities Football League
Wexford FC Women's Football Club is an Irish association football club based in Crossabeg, County Wexford. Their senior team plays in the Women's National League. In the course of women's football in Ireland, Wexford have steadily been one of the league's strongest teams.
The 2016 FAI Senior Challenge Cup, also known as the 2016 FAI Irish Daily Mail Senior Cup for sponsorship reasons, was the 96th season of the national Football competition of the Republic of Ireland. The winners of the competition earned a spot in the First qualifying round of the 2017–18 UEFA Europa League.
The 2007 League of Ireland First Division season was the 23rd season of the League of Ireland First Division. The First Division was contested by 10 teams and Cobh Ramblers won the division. Finn Harps were also promoted to the Premier Division after a play-off and Wexford Youths made their League of Ireland debut.
The 2015 League of Ireland First Division season was the 31st season of the League of Ireland First Division. The First Division was contested by eight teams. Wexford Youths won the title and Finn Harps were also promoted after winning a play off.
The 2016 League of Ireland First Division season was the 32nd season of the League of Ireland First Division.
Shane Keegan is an Irish football manager who has previously managed FC Carlow, Wexford Youths, Galway United, Dundalk and Cobh Ramblers.
Mark O'Sullivan is an association footballer who played for League of Ireland Premier Division club Cork City as a striker for several years. O'Sullivan spent four years with Munster Senior League side Avondale United before signing for Cork City Foras in 2010. He later returned to Avondale United, before returning to Cork City in 2014. He signed for Waterford in 2017. He then joined Limerick in 2018, before returning to Avondale United in the summer of 2018, and rejoined Cork City in 2019.
The 2018 League of Ireland Premier Division was the 34th season of the League of Ireland Premier Division. The league began on 16 February 2018 and concluded on 26 October 2018.
Ian Turner is an Irish former professional footballer who played in the League of Ireland throughout his career. He started his career with Cork City, who he spent six and a half seasons with. He also spent two and a half years with Limerick and St Patrick's Athletic where he spent a year and a half, before playing for Cobh Ramblers for three years where he retired in January 2022.
The 2018 League of Ireland Cup, known for sponsorship reasons as the 2018 EA Sports Cup, was the 45th season of the League of Ireland's secondary knockout competition. The EA Sports Cup features teams from the SSE Airtricity League Premier and First Divisions, as well as some intermediate level teams. Derry City won the cup for a record 11th time.
The 2019 season was St. Patrick's Athletic F.C.'s 90th year in existence and was the Supersaint's 68th consecutive season in the top-flight of Irish football. It was the first season Harry Kenny took charge of the club, following Liam Buckley's spell in charge for the previous seven seasons. The fixtures were announced on 19 December 2018, with the Saints facing Cork City at home on the opening day of the season for the second year in a row, with the Inchicore side set to play champions Dundalk away from home on the final night of the season. Harry Kenny left his post on the 24th August following a 3–1 loss away to bottom of the table UCD in the FAI Cup. He was replaced by Stephen O'Donnell on the 31st August, his first managerial role. Pats finished 5th in the league and won the Leinster Senior Cup, playing the semi-final and final with their underage sides after the league season had ended for the senior team.
The League of Ireland U17 Division is the under-17 division of the League of Ireland. Like the Premier Division, the First Division and the National U19 League the National U17 League is currently sponsored by SSE Airtricity and as a result it is also known as the SSE Airtricity National U17 League.
FAI High-Performance Director Ruud Dokter and then Republic of Ireland assistant manager Roy Keane officially launched the inaugural SSE Airtricity National U17 League at FAI headquarters in Abbotstown on 27 July 2015.
The 2021 League of Ireland First Division season was the 37th season of the League of Ireland First Division, the second tier of Ireland's association football league. The fixture list was released on 8 February 2021 and the competition commenced on 26 March 2021. Shelbourne were confirmed Champions and promoted to the League of Ireland Premier Division on 1 October 2021.
Jaze Kabia is an Irish professional football player who plays as a winger for Scottish League Two club Clyde. He started his career with Cobh Ramblers where he spent a season and a half, before moving to Shelbourne, where he earned his move to Livingston, from whom he had loan spells with Falkirk, Greenock Morton, Queen of the South and Cork City.
The 2023 League of Ireland Premier Division, known as the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division for sponsorship reasons, was the 39th season of the League of Ireland Premier Division, the top Irish league for association football clubs since its establishment in 1985.