Limerick 37
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| Limerick 37 FC | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Limerick 37 Football Club | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Founded | 2007 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Ground | Jackman Park | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Capacity | 3,000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Manager | Paul McGee | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| League | FAI First Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Limerick 37 FC is the name conferred upon a Limerick-based football club formed by members of the Soccer Limerick consortium to represent the city in 2007's edition of the FAI National League of Ireland.
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[edit] Naming Issues
The name Limerick 37 refers to the year (1937) in which the city of Limerick was first represented at League of Ireland level by a club based within its territory. Legal ambiguities surrounding the use of titles assumed by previous holders of the city's League of Ireland franchise (including Limerick City F.C., Limerick United and Limerick F.C. itself) are believed to have contributed to Soccer Limerick's adoption of a name unencumbered by connotations with the city's often tortuous and divisive footballing history.
[edit] Background
The necessity for a new League of Ireland franchisee in Limerick first became apparent in December 2006, when the Football Association of Ireland's Club Licensing Appeal Board rejected Limerick F.C.'s appeal against its prior failure to attain the UEFA license necessary for admission to the League of Ireland's First Division for the forthcoming 2007 season.
The FAI's decision effectively disenfranchised the incumbent Limerick F.C. and its chairman Danny Drew, although the organisation remained receptive to the continued participation of Limerick within senior football. To this end, FAI chief executive John Delaney openly solicited approaches from other interested parties within the city of Limerick even as he announced the rejection of Limerick F.C.'s appeal:
"We want a healthy Limerick based club in the new eircom League of Ireland and if interested entities seek a licence, we would assess them carefully for their suitability to meet the criteria required to play in the league."[1]
[edit] Application to National League
On January 3rd 2007, the FAI confirmed[2] that its appeal for Limerick-based applicants to the league (conducted partially and unprecedentedly via an advertising campaign in local newspapers) had garnered interest from a number of parties, one of which identified itself as Soccer Limerick, a consortium purporting to represent the entire spectrum of Limerick football, from schoolboy to Junior (amateur) level, and operating under the auspices of the Limerick Sports Partnership.
Eight days later, Soccer Limerick confirmed[3] that its constituent committees had approved the submission of a formal application for a UEFA club license, with a view to gaining entry to the First Division of the National League for the 2007 season. Soccer Limerick spokesman Ger Finnan confirmed that Limerick 37 planned to stage home fixtures at Jackman Park (headquarters of the Limerick District Management Committee and one of many way-stations temporarily occupied by Limerick F.C. during its sinuous tour of the city's footballing venues) and would announce the appointment of a first-team manager on Monday January 15th 2007. Paul McGee was appointed manager of Limerick 37, [4] and signed 11 players before the start of the season. [5]
Limerick 37's first senior game was a 1-0 friendly win over Bray Wanderers at Jackman Park on Friday February 23rd 2007. Their first goal was scored by former Galway United striker Dave Goldbey. [6]
[edit] Current squad 2006/07
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[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ RTÉ - Limerick fail in license bid
- ^ Limerick parties express UEFA Licence interest
- ^ Soccer Limerick given green light
- ^ McGee appointed to Limerick 37 post
- ^ Limerick all set for League debut
- ^ Limerick 37 secure win in first senior match
