Dundalk F.C.

Dundalk F.C. is an Irish football club from Dundalk, County Louth, that play in the Football League of Ireland. Club colours are black shorts and white jerseys, from which the club gets its nickname the Lilywhites.

History

Dundalk F.C. originated in 1903 as the works team of the local Great Northern Railway Works and was known as Dundalk GNR. After 20 years playing in the local Junior Leagues they joined the Leinster Senior League, a predominantly Dublin based League, which was seen as the stepping-stone to the League of Ireland. Dundalk GNR was accepted to the LOI in 1926 and in 1932–33 became the first provincial team to win the League Championship. Renamed Dundalk FC in 1930, the club has unbroken membership of the League Of Ireland, a record shared with only two other members from that time, Bohemians and Shamrock Rovers. It has a rich history, with almost 50 trophy wins, including 9 League Championships, 1 First Division and has contested 14 FAI Cup Finals. In 2002 it won the FAI Cup for the 9th time. Almost 100 of its players have gained representative honours for Ireland and the League of Ireland.

In the 1970s and 1980s the club had an outstanding record in European competition at its home venue Oriel Park, being undefeated at home for 5 years playing against top opposition from PSV Eindhoven, Hadjuk Split, Celtic F.C., FC Porto and Tottenham Hotspur. It moved to its home venue, Oriel Park, in 1936 and the ground attendance record of 21,000 was set in 1979 on the occasion of the club’s 2nd round European Cup tie against Glasgow Celtic.

Since 1999 and in conjunction with Irish League side Linfield FC, Belfast, the club has been engaged in a Peace and Reconciliation programme, which through the medium of football is facilitating the coming together of young people from the Dundalk and Belfast communities.

In February 2005 the club announced a major programme for a complete revamp of Oriel Park, which includes the conversion of the pitch to an all-weather surface (the first Irish club to do so), new stand accommodation, upgraded changing areas and the enhancement of its bar and conference facilities. The ultimate aim is to restore the club’s standing amongst the premier clubs in Ireland.

Current Squad

Manager: Jim Gannon

Honours

• League titles: 1932–33, 1962–63, 1966–67, 1975–76, 1978–79, 1981–82, 1987–88, 1990–91, 1994–95
• FAI Cups: 1942, 1949, 1952, 1958, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1988, 2002
• League Cups: 1977–78, 1980–81, 1986–87, 1989–90

External Links

• Dundalk FC Website
• The History of Dundalk FC
• Dundalk on FAI.ie