Founding years
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
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.
Reborn as Wexford FC
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 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 17 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 the playoff semi-final, Wexford agonisingly lost to Cobh 2-1 on aggregate after a late Cobh equaliser at St. Colman's Park sent them through to play Waterford.
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. At the end of the season, it was confirmed that manager James Keddy had departed the club. [35]
On 26th November 2024, the club announced the appointment of former Ireland international Stephen Elliott as the new men's first team manager to replace James Keddy. [36]
