| Full name | Leicester Celtic Association Football Club |
|---|---|
| Ground | Loreto Park, Rathfarnham, Dublin |
| League | Leinster Senior League |
| 2008 / 2009 | 5th |
Leicester Celtic AFC is an Irish football club based in Rathfarnham, Dublin. The club's home games are played in Loreto Park, Nutgrove.[1] The club's senior team compete in the Leinster Senior League where they have enjoyed reasonable success.[2] Youth sides compete in the Dublin and District Schoolboys League as well as the FAI Youth Cup.[3].
Leicester Celtic was founded in 1967 by Michael Flaherty and Father C.F. Lee, then a curate in Rathgar parish. In return for financial assistance from the Parish, the name of a local street, Leicester Avenue, was to be used in the club name. In their first season Celtic fielded one team at under 17 level. The following season two teams at under 14 and under 18 represented the club. Leicester Celtic moved around many times in the early years, playing home games in Bushy Park and Marlay Park before eventually moving to the current base of Loreto Park in the 1980s.[4]
In 2003 an investment of €1 million saw Leicester Celtic build their own all weather floodlit playing facility and clubhouse beside the pitches in Loreto.[5]
Many past and present professionals have come through the ranks at Leicester Celtic including Ireland internationals Damien Duff and Richie Sadlier, as well as John Coady, John Lester, Paul Osam, Barry Roche, Tadhg Purcell and Barry Murphy among others.[6] Professional rugby and Dublin GAA player Eric Miller and international track and field athlete David Gillick also played for the club.[7] Leicester Celtic are affiliated with English Premier League side Swansea City.