Kildare County F.C.
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| Kildare County | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Kildare County Football Club |
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| Nickname(s) | The Thoroughbreds | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Founded | 2002 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ground | Station Road, Newbridge, County Kildare |
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| Capacity | 2,500 (185 seats and corporate area for 70) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chairman | Pat O'Hanlon | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Manager | John Ryan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| League | Eircom First Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2005 | 8th | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Kildare County F.C. is an Irish football club playing in the Football League of Ireland. The club, founded in 2002, hails from Newbridge, County Kildare and play their home matches at Station Road. Club colours are Black and White, and go by the nickname The Thoroughbreds. The current manager is John Ryan.
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[edit] History
When St. Francis dropped out of the National League in 2001, Newbridge Town F.C. were approached by the Eircom League to take their place in the First Division but instead it was agreed that a team using the name Kildare County F.C. would take the place playing their home games at Station Road. By naming the club Kildare County F.C., fans from around the county became interested in The Thoroughbreds and a lot of the jersies can be seen outside the town.
Kildare County's first manager was Dermot Keely (2002-2003). Kildare County's first league victory arrived in the clubs fifth league game against Sligo Rovers (1-0)on Saturday the 28th of September, 2002 at Station Road. They had drawn their previous game against Cobh Ramblers (1-1) in St. Colmans Park. Their first league game ended in defeat to Limerick F.C. (3-1)at Station Road. Phillip Gorman scored Kildares first ever competitive league goal in that same fixture in the Eircom League first division cup, the clubs first ever competitive game.In the 2002/2003 season Kildare County reached their first cup final, the First Division Cup losing out to Finn Harps.The club finished fifth in the 2002/2003
In 2003 Kildare County once again finished in fifth position. Manager Dermot Keely and assistant Gavin Dykes resigned mid season on the 21st of July, 2003 in order to take over at Premier Division side Derry City. Former Shamrock Rovers and Shelbourne player Eric Hannigan was installed as the clubs new manager with John Ryan as assistant manager. The club played a friendly against the Kildare Gaelic football team at the end of the 2003 season in aid of the Michael Wright Leukaemia Research and Facilities Foundation. The game attracted a club record attendance for any game of 2,500. The game had finished 1-1 at the end of ninety minutes with Kildare county winning 5-4 on penalties. Guest players that night included former Republic of Ireland international soccer Niall Quinn and horse racing jockey Johnny Murtagh . With the penalties tied at 4-4 Niall Quinn took the final penalty which was saved by goalkeeper Tadgh Murphy.
Kildare County narrowly missed out on a playoff spot against the second last team of the Premier Division in 2004, finishing fourth in a season where three teams were promoted to the Premier Division. Kildare County had gone 8 games unbeaten during the 2004 season their longest unbeaten run to date in a single season. In the F.A.I. Cup Kildare County produced a shock result in round 3 defeating Premier Division club Bohemians at their home ground, Dalymount Park, 1-0. Shay Zellor scored the sole goal giving County posssibly their biggest win in their short history. Kildare County faced Derry City in the quarter finals narrowly losing 1-0. The club had gone unbeaten in twelve games, but four of these games were from the previous season. Martin Reilly was in excellent form scoring 16 goals for the Thoroughbreds during the 2004 season. Captain Ray Kenny who made 100 appearances during his time at the club was named in the Professional Footballers association of Ireland Division One team of the year. Ger O' Brien and Alan Bryne were drafted into the Eircom League International squad in Aberdeen for the quadrangular tournament with England, Scotland and Wales in 2004 while assistant manager John Ryan was appointed coach.
Manager Eric Hannigan and Kildare County parted ways at the end of the 2004 season despite the club achieving its highest finishing postion in the league to date. John Ryan who had resigned as assistant manager two weeks earlier was appointed as manager with Barry O' Connor as player/assistant manager.
The club decided it was best not to try to "buy" promotion again and since the end of the 2004 season have cut down on expenses. Former Shamrock Rovers, Drogheda United and St Patrick’s Athletic player Trevor Croly joined the coaching staff of Kildare County however his stay was short. Young Goalkeeper Carl Donnelly was called up for trials for the Rep. of Ireland under 19 International team and was put on standby by manager Sean McCaffrey for two upcoming friendlies against Bulgaria. The club finished in 8th position in Division One at the end of the 2005 season, their lowest overall finishing position to date. Kildare County played professional outfit Shelbourne in a friendly in 2005 in aid of the South East Asia disaster fund which attracted an attendance of over 500. Kildare County lost 6-1. The club made a net profit of €45,500 that season making them one of the only profit making clubs in their league.
Kildare County finished in 7th place in the first division in the 2006 season. Carl Donnelly and Alan Mulcahy both represented Ireland at college level while striker Philip Gorman represented the Irish military team in their qualfication games for the world military championships. Kildare county were knocked out of the FAI Cup in the second round after a replay by premier division outfit Bray Wanderers and now defunct Dublin City F.C. in the first round of the League Cup. While the senior team may have endured a disappointing season, the under-21 team reached the under-21 Enda McGill cup final defeating Bray Wanderers in the quarter finals and Drogheda United in the semi-finals before losing to Cork City F.C. in the final 1-0. Members of the under-21 squad to have played in the senior team include Ian Brazil, Paddy Mahon, Paul Rigney, Matt Rigney, Mark Gibson, Eoin Kavanagh, Colin Osbourne and goalkeepers John Flynn and Carl Donnelly. The under-21 team also won their regional section advancing to the quarter final of the Dr.O'Neill Cup where they were defeated 2-1 by Cobh Ramblers after extra time.
[edit] Full squad
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Goalkeepers
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Defenders
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Midfielders
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Forwards
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[edit] Competition History
League
Played160 Won 66 Drew 43 Lost 52 Goals For 207 Goals Against 199 Points 234
First Ever Competitive Win: 1-0 against Sligo Rovers
First Ever Competitive Defeat: 3-1 against Limerick F.C.
Highest finishing position (Div 1): 4th(2004)
Lowest finishing position (Div 1) : 8th(2005)
Biggest Victory: 4-1 against Cobh Ramblers (2002 season)
Biggest Defeat: 4-0 against Cobh Ramblers (2006 season)
FAI Cup
2002: Round 2 (Lost 2-1 to UCD)
2003: Quarter Finals (Lost 2-1 to St. Patricks Athletic were losing finalists that season)
2004: Quarter Finals (Lost 1-0 to Derry City)
2005: Round 3 (Lost 3-1 to Derry City)
2006: Round 2 (Lost to Bray Wanderers 1-0 in a replay after a 2-2 draw in the first game)
[edit] History
Most League Appearances in a single season'
2006: Stephen Cooling 36
2005: Ger O'Brien and Robbie Clarke both 39
2004: Ger O'Brien and Martin Reilly both 33
2003: Damien Brennan 36
2002: N/A
Most appearances for Kildare County (2003 onwards)
Ray Kenny 101 (2003-2005 season)
Philip Byrne: 93 (2004-2006)
Shay Zellor: 81 (2003-2005)
Alan Byrne: 81 (2004-2006)
Barry O' Connor: 81 (2003-2005)
Top Scorer
2006: Stephen Cooling 10
2005: Robbie Shields 7
2004: Martin Reilly 17
2003: Philip Hughes 13
2002: John Ryan and Shey Zellor 7
Most Goals Scored for Kildare County
Barry O' Connor: 22
Martin Reilly: 18
Philip Hughes: 13
Alan Mc Nevin: 11
Stephen Cooling and Darren Mc Kenna: 10
First ever goal: Philip Gorman (v Limerick F.C. August 24 2002)
First ever goal conceded: Shane O' Donoghue (v Limerick August 24 2002)
Previous and Current Managers'
2005-present: John Ryan (assistant manager Barry O' Connor)
2003-2004: Eric Hannigan (assistant manager John Ryan)
2002-2003: Dermot Keely ( assistant manager John Gill 2002-, Gavin Dykes 14th February,2003-
Player of the Season
2006
Player of the Year: Stephen Cooling
Under 21 Player of the Year: David O'Connell
Supporters Club Awards Player of the year: Alan McDermott
Supporters Club Under 21 Player of the Year: Owen Kavanagh
The Canalsiders Branch of the Supporters Club Player of the Year: Philip Byrne
The Canalsiders U21 Player of the Year: John Flynn
Young Thoroughbred player of the Year: Paddy Mahon
2005
Player of the Year: Ger O'Brien
Under 21 Player of the Year: Mark Murnaghan
Supporters Club Player of the Year: Alan Byrne
Supporters Club Under 21 Player of the Year: Matt Rigney
Canalsiders Branch of the Supporters Club Player of the Year: Gareth Cooney
Young Thoroughbred player of the Year:Paddy Mahon
2004
Player of the Year: Ray Kenny
Under 21 Player of the Year: Gareth Byrne
Supporters Club Player of the Year: Philip Byrne
Supporters Club Under 21 Player of the Year: Gareth Byrne
Young Thoroughbred player of the Year: Danny O’Leary
2003
Player of the Year: Damien Brennan
Under 21 player of the year:Mick Hartnett
Supporters Club Player of the year: Philip Byrne
2002
Player of the Year: Cathal O’Connor
Under 21 player of the year: Tom Corley
Supporters Club Player of the Year: Damien Brennan
[edit] Attendances
Season
2006: Average: 285 Highest: 1,100 (v Shamrock Rovers 1 April 2006)
2005: Average: 186 Highest: 300
2004: Average: 298 Highest: 700
2003 Average: N/A Highest: N/A
2002 Average: N/A Highest: N/A
Record Attendance: 2,500 15 December 2003 (Kildare County V Kildare Gaelic Football team)
[edit] People of Note
Was appointed Kildare Countys first manager leading the club to 5th position in their maiden season. Keely had previously been in charge of Keeley remained in charge of Shelbourne F.C., Shamrock Rovers and Dundalk F.C.. Quite a lot of well-known managers have served under Dermot Keely down through the years. Alan Matthews (Longford Town), John Gill (Dundalk), Pat Fenlon (Shelbourne), Paul Doolin (Drogheda United) and Pat Scully (Shamrock Rovers) have all at one time or another served under Dermot Keely.
Dermot Keely was in charge of Kildare County until the 21st of July 2003 when he resigned from the club to take over Premiership outfit Derry City F.C.. Keely had been previously in charge of Shelbourne( 1998-2002) guiding the club to two championships (1999-2000 and 2001-02) and one FAI Cup (2000). He also guided Shels to victory over Macedonian side Sloga Jugomagnat in the first round of 2000-01 Champions League qualifiers.
Under Keeley Kildare County had played 47 games, winning 21, drawing 12 and were defeated in 14. Dermot was quoted as saying on his departure from the club that it had nothing to do with Kildare County but that the chance to manage Derry City was too big a chance to turn down. “I spent the whole weekend agonising over my decision and finally it came down to the fact that I will be able to reside in Donegal and also the chance to manage at the highest level - I have the greatest of respect for all at Kildare County and wish them all the best in the future and I am sure that they will replace me and continue to go from strength to strength – I have made a lot of good friends in Kildare and it will the second result that I will be looking for every week”.Dermot Keeley's who had succeeded Kevin Mahon, tenure at Derry city was short however lasting less than a single season.Keely tendered his resignation to the Board of Directors stating that he didn't have what was required to secure the Brandywell club's position in the top flight following a 2-0 defeat to UCD. Keely had failed to pick up a single victory in the league with the clubs sole win in 12 games arriving in the FAI Cup third round 1-0 replay victory over Cobh Ramblers..
He took charge of Dubin City F.C. in 2005 leading the club to promotion to the Premier Division before they subsequently folded in the middle of the 2006 season causing some controversey within the league. It was the first time in the history of Irish league soccer that a club had folded mid season due to financial reasons. Dermot Keely blamed the Eircom Leagues move to summer football, "Who is going to these summer soccer games on the hottest days of the year? What crowds are we getting? All of this has been done to help get some good results in Europe but does that have to come at the cost of losing a club?" and was also quoted as saying that more dark days lie ahead.
Gavin Dykes
Gavin Dykes is best known for his eight seasons spent with Sligo Rovers. Dykes captained his home town club to an FAI Cup win in 1994 before moving to Derry City F.C., winning a league title in 1997. Dykes then moved to Donegal based outfit Finn Harps playing there for three seasons and was also for player/manager. Gavin Dykes resigned as player/manager of at the time financially troubled Finn Harps after meeting with the board of the club in which he requested more money to strengthen the squad, but was told that further cutbacks were required. With the club already in real financial difficulty, Dykes resigned as manager and as a player at a time when the club were second from bottom of the Eircom League Premier Division.The clubs situation worsened when the players at the club requested that they be placed on the transfer list.
On his arrival to Statiion Road Gavin Dykes established himself as a fan favourite and can probably lay claim to being the inspiration behind the first chant from the Kildare supporters, “We love you Dykesy, cos you’ve got grey hair, we love you Dykesy, cos your everywhere…”. Dykes further proved his popularity amongst Kildare supporters when he picked up the first ever Kildare County Supporters Club player of the month in October. A serious back injury led to Dykes retiring from playing in 2003 after almost 400 Eircom League games.He was then installed as assistant manager to Dermot Keely.
Gavin Dykes became the new manager of Derry City on the 29th of September 2003 after the resignation of Dermot Keely. Dykes resigned on the 29th of May 2004 shaking hands with his players in the dressing room before leavibg Derry City with the club at the time lying two points off the bottom of the eircom Premier Division. It was ironic that Dykes's reign ended against Drogheda as Drogheda were also the opposition that Dykes had faced in his first game in charge.
Gavin Dykes was also assistant manager at Newry Town for two years. He holds a UEFA A Licence and is currently manager of Castlebar Celtic and was named Mayo Manager of the Year for 2006.
Gareth Cronin
Wing-back Gareth Cronin was signed by Dermot Keely in 2003 from Cork City F.C.. Cronin had made over 400 appearances for Cork City in two different spells and had also played for Shamrock Rovers. Cronin had also been on the books of Sunderland F.C., Bradford City F.C. and Doncaster Rovers in the early-’90s.Gareth Cronin has played for the republic of Ireland at every level except at senior level.
Cronin won an F.A.I. Cup medal in 1998 with Cork City and a League runner up medal with Shamrock Rovers with whom he made 50 appearances. He made 34 appearances with Kildare County scoring two goals. However his playing career was curtailed by a knee injury in 2003.
Gareth Cronin was Dermot Keelys assistant manager at Dublin City in 2005 and 2006 before his appointment as manager of Waterford United in 2006.
Trevor Croly
Trevor Croly joined the coaching staff of Kildare County under current manager John Ryan in 2005. Previously Croly had played at right back with Shamrock Rovers in the 2004 season before retiring from playing at the end of the 2004 season. Croly had also played for Drogheda United and St Patrick’s Athletic. Croly was apppointed as defensive coach at Bohemians in March 2006.
James Igwilo
James Igwilo signed for Kildare County in 2004. He represented his native Nigeria at the 1995 Under-17 World Cup as well as winning several caps at under 20 level in 1997. He was also a member of the Nigerian squad, which took part in the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000. Igwilio was part of the Nigerian side, which won a silver medal in the African Nations Junior Cup held in Mali in 1995. He signed for Bundesliga 2 side MSV Duisberg for the 1998/1999 season and also played for Wuppertal in 1999-2001 and later with KFC Uerdingen 05 . Igwilo had previously played in the Eircom League for Premiership outfit Shelbourne in 2001. James Igwilo made 13 appearances for Kildare County.
Carl Donnelly
Carl Donnelly is a goalkeeer with Kildare County and was a member of the Under-21 team that reached the final of the Enda Mc Guill Cup in 2006. He was signed by John Ryan in 2005 from Leinster Senior League team Dunboyne. He received a call up to the Irish Colleges International side in 2006. In 2005 he was called up for trials for the Rep. of Ireland under 19 International team and was put on standby by manager Sean McCaffrey for two upcoming friendlies against Bulgaria. He has made 17 appearances since 2005 for the first team.
Andy Cousins
Andy Cousins was signed from Leeds United in 2005 John Ryan. Cousins has numerous International caps at schoolboy level for the Republic of Ireland, figuring prominently at under 14 to the under 19 levels, under the management Vinny Butler, Brian Kerr and Sean McCaffrey. He was captain of the Irish youth team that won the youth Olympics in Spain in 2001 and also figured in the 2004 Porto Tournament in which Ireland finished runners-up. Cousins made 20 appearances for Kildare County before moving to Monagahan United at the end of the 2005 season. His stay there was short however as Cousins moved to Premier division team Bray Wanderers during the 2006 season.
Alan Kinsella
Alan Kinsella represented the Republic of Ireland at under14 to under 19 levels serving under managers Vinny Butler, Paddy Hilliard and Brian Kerr. Kinsella signed for Ballymun United schoolboys in 1997 before moving to Home Farm in 1998. He signed for Leeds United in 1999 and was at Elland Road for three seasons, signing as a professional in 2001. Alan played in the Leeds United youth and reserve sides for Leeds. He returned to Dublin in 2002 and was signed by Shelbourne. He took a break from the game at the end of the 2002/2003 season, deciding to travel to Australia. Alan was invited to join Kildare County during the pre-season and following discussions with Shelbourne manager Pat Fenlon and John Ryan made the decision to join the club for the 2005 season, despite interest from a number of premier division clubs.
Ger O’Brien
Ger O' Brien was signed by Eric Hannigan before the start of the 2004 season from Athlone Town F.C.. Ger O' Brien was the first player to represent the Republic of Ireland at any level while playing with Kildare County. He represented the Eircom League International squad in Aberdeen for the quadrangular tournament with England, Scotland and Wales in 2004. Ger O' Brien made 39 appearances for Kildare County in the 2005 season and was also awarded the clubs player of the season award.
He signed for Shamrock Rovers just before the transfer deadline in 2006.
Alan Byrne
Alan Brne was signed from Monaghan United by former manager Eric Hannigan in the beginning of the 2002/2003 season. He ahd previously played for Bohemians. Alan Bryne has made 81 appearnaces for the club since 2004. He was awarded Supporters Club Player of the Year in 2005. The Kildare County midfielder was drafted into the Eircom League International squad in Aberdeen for the quadrangular tournament with England, Scotland and Wales in 2004.
Philip Byrne was signed from Shelbourne in 2004 by Eric Hannigan. He played for Belvedere winning national honours at Under-17 and Under-18 level before signing for Shelbourne at Under-21 level. Bryne had made several appearances for Shelbourne before his move to County. He has made 93 appearances for the club second only to Ray Kenny and received the Supporters Club Player of the Year award in this debut season at Station Road in 2004. He was awarded The Canalsiders Branch of the Supporters Club Player of the Year in 2006. Philip Bryne is the son of National League legend Damien Byrne.
Ray Kenny
Ray joined Kildare County from Finn Harps in the 2003 season. Ray was appointed tean captain for 2004 and was named in the Professional Footballers association of Ireland Division One team of the year. He made 100 appearances for Kildare his 100th arriving against Limerick F.C. in 2005 before his move to Shamrock Rovers. Ray was the Kildare County's Player of the Year in 2004.
John Ryan
John Ryan played for Bray Wanderers in two different spells 1988-1991 and 1998-2001 scoring 44 goals in 145 appearances. Ryan is probably best known for the hat-trick he scored while playing with Bray in the 1990 F.A.I. Cup final. It was the first FAI Cup Final to be played at Lansdowne was in 1990. That year a crowd of over 30,000 saw Bray Wanderers defeat non-league club, St Francis F.C., 3-0. John Ryan won two FAI Cup winners medals, First Division title in 1999/2000 and two Leinster Senior Cup runners-up medals in 1988/89 & 1989/90. John holds the club record at Bray Wanderers for most league goals in a season when he scored 16 goals in the 1989/90 season. He also shares the record of most goals scored in a season in all competitions: 20 goals. John set the record originally in the 1988/89 season before Kieran O’Brien equalled it in the 1995/96 season. John Ryan is Bray Wanderers fifth highest goalscorer of all time while his current assistant manager at Kildare County Barry O’Connor is the sixth highest goalscorer with 43 goals. Interestingly the positions are reversed for league goals with Barry having scored 38 as opposed to 34 for John.
Ryan signed for Kildare County as a player in 2002. He became assistant manager to Eric Hannigan in 2003 having previously acted as caretaker manager for a single game after the departure of Dermot Keely and Gavin Dykes.
In 2004 Manager John Ryan was appointed coach to the Republic Of Ireland Eircom League Under-21 squad to compete in the Four Nations semi-professional tournament in Scotland. The side was managed by Bray Wanderers manager Pat Devlin. Frank O’Neill, Shelbourne’s Under-21 manager was assistant manager. John Ryan was joined on the coaching staff by Stuart Ashton of Cork City.
Ryan decided to resign as Assistant Manager citing personal reasons in 2004 before being named as the clubs new manager two weeks later with former team mate Barry O' Connor as assistant manager. He led Kildare County to 8th positon in Division One in his first season in charge, their lowest finishing positon to date. Kildare County finished in 7th under his management in 2006.
Barry O' Connor
Barry O' Connor signed for Kildare County in 2003. He had previously played with Shamrock Rovers, Drogheda Utd, Shelbourne, Cliftonville and Bray Wanderers. He won the Irish League with Cliftonville in 1998 and then the FAI Cup and First Division with Bray. He won six Irish Under 21 caps. Barry made 75 appearances for the club between 2003-2005.He was named as John Ryans assistant manager in 2004.
Shay Zellor
Shay Zellor joined Kildare County before the start of the 2002/2003 season, the last season before the Eircom league reverted to summer soccer. He played for Kildare County until the end of the 2005 season making Zellor one of the longest serving player in Kildare County's history alongside current Kildare County manager John Ryan. Shay made 82 appearances for Kildare County and often scored important goals including the winning goal for Kildare County against Bohemians in their 2004 FAI Cup third round 1-0 victory. Shay Zellor had previously played with Longford Town F.C.
[edit] External links
| Football League of Ireland 2006 |
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| Premier League |
| Bohemians | Bray Wanderers | Cork City | Derry City | Drogheda United | Longford Town |
| Shelbourne | Sligo Rovers | St. Patrick's Athletic | UCD | Waterford United | |
| First Division |
| Athlone Town | Cobh Ramblers | Dundalk | Finn Harps | Galway United | Kildare County |
| Kilkenny City | Limerick | Monaghan United | Shamrock Rovers |
