| Full name | Westport United Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Covies [1] | ||
| Founded | 1911 | ||
| Ground | Sports Park, Westport | ||
| Co-chairmen | Frank Gullivan | ||
| Manager | Barry Kilgannon | ||
| League | Mayo & District League | ||
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Westport United Football Club is an amateur football club in Westport, County Mayo, Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1911, it is the oldest football club in County Mayo [2] and its players wear red and black stripes. Home games are played at Westport Sports Park. The club has two men's teams, one ladies' side, two girls' teams and twelve boys' teams. Westport share a rivalry with Castlebar Celtic of the A Championship.[3] Westport's senior team compete in the Elvery's Superleague [4] as well as the Connacht Cup.[5]
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Westport United came into existence in 1911.[6] It is claimed that the club colours of red and black were adopted from Bohemians in Dublin. Part of the early history was the Bohs and Irish international footballer, Harold Sloan, planting a tree at The Mall, Westport.
Early on, the club entered the Irish Junior Cup, however, due to lack of funds, Westport had to withdraw from the competition. Due to the absence of an area competition, the club relied on local leagues for finance and regular football. Teams such as All Blacks, C.B.S., St. Mary's, Quay Hearts and Bohemians would compete against Westport. The games were played in Westport Demesne, while the club matches were played in Munster's Field or Coyne's Field (now Fr. Angelus Park).
The foundation of Castlebar Celtic in 1924 [7] and the inception of the Connacht Cup in 1922 increased the number of games for the club. The club reached a Connacht Cup Semi-Final against Sligo Rovers in 1930, only to lose 2-1. The local belief at the time was that Westport would have joined the League of Ireland, had they won the competition. The 1930s also saw Westport United travel to Athlone Town in an FAI Junior Cup game in 1935. The hosts won 2-1 with Tommie Brennan getting the winner.
The 1940s were a significant time for the club. The club won the Connacht Cup in 1942, 1945 and 1949. Off the pitch, in 1947, a committee headed by John Staunton voted to develop what is now known as the Sports Park which was opened on June 27, 1953. The first game to take place on the pitch was Everton v Jackie Carey XI. The match was played in torrential rain and also marked the last ever game for Jackie Carey.
1954 saw the launch of the Mayo League. In 1956, United player Seán McLoughlin was capped by the Ireland schoolboys team against England.[8] Westport entered a successful era at that time, starting with quarter-final appearances in the FAI Junior Cup in 1957 and 1959.
The Connacht Cup came back to Westport in 1961, and seven Mayo League titles in a row followed. The 1968-69 season saw United embark on their best national cup run in over half a century. After some good wins, United were drawn at home to Hoganville in the quarter final who they overcame in extratime. The semi final draw pitted them at home to another Dublin team, Talbot United who were 2-0 winners. The game noted the inclusion of a number of Derry City players, notably Stevie Wilkinson and Ivan Parkes.
The early 1970s posed problems for the club, when the eligibility of the Derry players came into question. Sporting Club was formed, partially in protest over local players being frozen out at the expense of the Northerners. This led, in 1972-73, to the Mayo League ordering Westport to field an all-local team for that season.
The 1973-74 season saw Westport win the Connacht Cup in the Sports Park with a 1-0 win over O.L.B.C., Galway, with Martin Halpin scoring the winner in extra time. Goalkeeper Michael Higgins arrived having played for Mayo in a Connacht Championship match in Tuam that day. The Junior Club folded in the mid seventies promting Pádraig Kelly, Michael Joe Lavelle, Christy Moran and Martin Keane set up Westport United Youths. Their activities were run from the present site of St. Anne's Boxing Club. The 1981-82 season saw the Mayo League Title return to Westport for the last time until 2002.
On July 23, 1983, the Sports Park was re-opened having been renovated.[2] The new-look ground incorporated a running track and a concrete spectator terrace. The match that evening was between a Connacht Selection and a Manchester United selection. The 18th of October 1985 saw United player Joe Mulroy won an Irish Youth cap against Northern Ireland at Tolka Park.[8] The Republic won the game 6-3.
Preparations for the 75th anniversary began with a shutdown of the Sports Park, to improve the pitch. The Committee, under the chairmanship of Noel Duffy, began to commission a book for the occasion. The Club made an ambitious move by appointing former Cork Celtic and Republic of Ireland player, John Herrick as manager. Westport won its sixth Connacht Cup on May 24, 1987, with a 2-1 win over West United of Galway.[2] Three weeks later, United won the Michael O'Byrne Cup against the same opposition. The club hosted its 75th anniversary game on 26 July 1987, playing host to League of Ireland side host to Derry City FC in the Sports Park.
Westport United joined the Connacht Senior League during the 1988-89 season. That year also saw the Under-15 and Under-18 teams win Connacht Cup titles, and the death of Pat Halpin, one of the best up-and-coming players at the time.
The 6th of August 1992 saw a prestigious friendly against Preston North End hosted by Westport, a game won 2-0 by Preston. The game was played on August 6, with the visitors winning 2-0. On December 3, 1992, an E.G.M. was called leading to the amalgamation of Westport United and Westport United Youths.
The lack of success from the senior team came to a head at the A.G.M. of the club on 26 May 1994, when the incoming chairman, Noel Duffy, announced that Michael McDonagh would take charge of the senior team for the 1994-95 season. Westport withdrew from the Connacht Senior League in July 1995, and was promoted to the Mayo League Premier Division on 17 September 1995, as champions.
Westport were dealt a blow soon after, being fined £1,400 and having 13 points deducted for breaches in registration rules. The situation deteriorated when the standoff resulted in the fine being doubled, and the club suspended. Deputy Michael Ring intervened in the crisis, which resulted in the fine being reduced to £1,000. The points deduction stood; thus Westport United was relegated. Underage trophies continued to flow in at Under-16 level with back-to-back league titles.
The new millennium began with difficulty for the club as in January 2001, a lack of interest very nearly left the club to fold. The revival of the junior team began under Kevin Cusack as Westport United won its first league title in twenty years after a 7-0 rout of Urlaur United on 1 September 2002.
Westport United FC reached the quarter final of the FAI Junior Cup, eventually losing to Southend United of Waterford on a penalty shootout. In the Connacht Cup, Westport United reached the semi final for the first time in 16 years before losing to Castlebar Celtic 2-0.
In 2003, Noel Moran stepped down and Kevin Cusack returned with Padraig Burns. United may have let the league slip from its grasp but a 2-1 (after extra time) win over Snugboro United in the AIB Cup final gave Westport United its first ever Mayo FA Cup success on 7 September 2003. In the FAI Junior Cup, Westport United were beaten by St. Kevin’s Boy’s Club in a penalty shootout which finished 14-13. Only three players had their penalties saved.
2004 saw Westport United regain the superleague, beating S&F United 4-1 in the last game of the season on 19 September 2004.
The 2005 FAI Junior Cup saw Westport overcome Tralee Dynamos and Leeside FC of Cork to enter the last 16. During this time, Westport filled the positions of chairman and club secretary with Tom Tarmey and Marie King respectively. United defeated Pike Rovers of Limerick in the following round before knocking out Killester United in the quarter final. Controversy surrounded the club's Semi Final against Carew Park of Limerick. Having initially been defated, Westport lodged an objection over the eligibility of Carew Park’s Denis Whelan. The result was a rescheduled semi final at Jackman Park.[9] Westport won the rescheduled game 2-0. The final was fixed for Buckley Park on 19 June 2005. Westport created history by beating Waterford Crystal 2-0 to win the FAI Junior Cup[10] with goals from Dessie O’Malley and David Cameron.[11]
The senior team meanwhile, competed in the 2005 FAI Cup, but were defeated 1–2 in the First Round by Fanad United.[12]
Westport went on to regain the Super League on 21 August 2005, defeating Ballyheane 3-0 with a few games to spare. In February 2006, Westport United was defeated in the FAI Junior Cup in normal time for the first time in over four years, 4-1 at home to Killester United. Kevin Cusack and Padraig Burns resigned from club duties shortly after.
The club appointed former Galway United player, Brendan O’Connor as plyer/manager[13] The performance over the season was largely transitional. Westport then threw up some mixed performances in the external cup competitions, going from an unlucky 2-1 extra time loss away to Portmarnock FC in the FAI Junior Cup, to a very limp exit in the Connacht Cup away to little known Heatmerchants FC.
Westport completed the Elvery’s Super League and Westaro Cup double in 2007 though all hopes for treble were dashed following a 4-3 penalty shootout loss to Castlebar Celtic after a 1-1 draw on September 30. Kevin Cusack and Padraig Burns returned to the helm on 30 October. Westport United was also boosted with the news that Mayo County Council had granted conditional planning consent for the club on a new site at Lurvagh, Aughagower.
The new Westport United FC website was launched in the Castlecourt Hotel on Friday 27 April by Deputy Michael Ring TD. Guest of Honour that night was former Westport United manager, John Herrick and the 1987 Connacht Cup winning team.
In March 2010 Barry Kilgannon was appointed as manager of the club.