Kildare County FC - last updated on 11 June 2008
(Courtesy of Johnny Beaufays)
Club name: Kildare County Football Club
Foundation: 2002
City: Newbridge
Colours: White and black
Website: www.kildarecountyfc.com
Honours:
Kildare County FC has currently no honours.
A bit of history:
When St. Francis F.C. 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 jerseys 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 Countys match programme finished second in the programme of the year award.
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 possibly 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 Byrne 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 position 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 university level while striker Philip Gorman represented the Irish military team in their qualification 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.
Prior to the start of the 2007 season Kildare County ended its football kit deal with Errea and signed a new kit sponsor deal with Umbro. Errea had supplied Kildare County with their kit since the clubs foundation in 2002. The club also announced new main sponsors, a Newbridge based Restaurant, bar and Night Club called Swifts. The clubs previous main sponsors had been Celbridge Football Park since 2002. The park itself is owned by Pat O’Hanlon, the chairman of Kildare County and is also Kildare County's current training ground. The club also announced for the first time in its history back of jersies sponsors Judge Site Clearance of Robertstown.
Goalkeeper Brendan Kennedy, forward David Scully, midfielder John Reilly and defender Gareth Christie were all released on free transfers while Carl Donnelly moved to Leinster Senior league outfit Tolka Rovers F.C.. Ian Malone who suffered a series of injuries towards the end of season was released however the club stated that they would keep his injury status under review and he was re-signed by the club in the 2007 July transfer window. However, player of the year, Stephen Cooling moved to Waterford United along with Alan Mulcahy. Barry Slattery moved to the St. Patricks Athletic Under-21 team while John Reilly departed for Longford Town F.C..
The club signed Kilkenny City F.C. duo Sean L'Estrange and Paul Donnelly and Limerick F.C. goalkeeper Austin O' Neill. Also signed were trialists Padraig O' Laoi, Gary Walsh, Lorcan Cronin and Dean Barrett for the 2007 season as well as Shamrock Rovers young striker Padraig Amond on loan. The club announced a final signing on the week of the transfer deadline. Darren Stapleton, capped for the Republic of Ireland at under 16, 17,19 and 21 level signed for the club from English Premier Division outfit Reading F.C.. The club also added sports psychologist Cathal Bennett to its backroom staff.
Kildare County have yet to end a season with a home game and this trend was to continue for the 2007 season. Kildare County are destined to end the current season at Oriel Park against Dundalk F.C. and will start the 2007 season against Premier Division Champions of 2006, Shelbourne at Tolka Park. Shelbourne were demoted to the First Division because of Financial irregularities in their 2007 Premier Division license application. Kildare County became the first side to defeat Athlone Town F.C. in their new stadium in Lissywoolen on April the 14th. Kildare County won the fixture 2-0 with Padraig Amond scoring twice, the first goal being the first ever opposition goal to be conceded by Athlone at their new venue. Captain Philip Byrne made his 100th appearance for the Kildare County in all competitions in the sides 1-0 victory over Finn Harps on 21 April 2007. Alan Bryne also made his 100th appearance for the club in the 1-0 defeat to Cobh Ramblers in Saint Colmans Park on October 6th. The side went on a 7 match unbeated run after a slow start to the season, picking up 4 draws and 3 wins. Their unbeaten run was ended by Limerick 37 in a controversial 2-1 defeat.
The Thoroughbreds made an early exit from both the League and FAI Cup. Kildare County were knocked out in the first round of the League cup by UCD. The game had finished 0-0 at full time and remained so in extra time. UCD won 4-2 on penalties. In the FAI Cup Kildare suffered a 1-0 defeat to Kilkenny City in the second round of the competition. Philip Gorman was called up to the Republic of Ireland military soccer team for the military games in India during October 2007. Gorman had played a big role in the teams qualification and was one of three eircom league players in the team.
During the July transfer window the club signed Waterford striker Conor McDonald on loan. However he only stayed for three games. Player of the year in 2006 Stephen Cooling also returned to Kildare County having made just 5 appearances for Waterford United and scoring once since he had departed the thoroughbreds for the Premier Division. Kildare County also signed midfielder Eoghan Carew from Kildare District Football League side Coill Dubh. Padraig Amond returned to Shamrock Rovers while Sean L'Estrange joined Shelbourne Padraig O' Laoi and Lorcan Cronin were both released. On transfer deadline day John Ryan signedBohemians duo Cathal Brady and Michael Mooney as well as Daragh Hayes from Kilkenny City F.C.. Gary Walsh, Trevor Bowers and John Flynn were released as well as Alan McDermott who was released due to work commitments. Kildare County finished the 2007 season in 7th position once again. The Thoroughbreds conceded 62 goals during the season, the most conceded by the side in a season since their foundation and the second highest in the Eircom League. County did score the third highest number of goals for the season in Division One.
Record goal scorer Philip Gorman signed a new contract with Kildare County for the 2008 season as did Ger Robinson, Cathal Brady, Stephen Cooling, Barry Clancy and Owen Kavanagh. Shamrock Rovers youngster Ciaran Kilduff signed for Kildare County on a loan deal similar to that involving Padraig Amond for the 2007 season as did John Broderick of Bray Wanderers. Darren Stapleton signed for Shamrock Rovers and Alan Byrne moved to Shelbourne while Daragh Hannaphy, Ian Malone and Stephen McCrossan moved to Monaghan United. 2007 season captain Philip Byrne signed for newly formed A league out fit Sporting Fingal along with Fiachra McArdle. Sporting Fingal were later to be promoted to the First Division following the withdrawal of Kilkenny City from the league. Dean Barret signed for Longford Town F.C..Eoghan Carew was released as were Paul Rigney and Matt Rigney and Colin Osbourne. Goalkeeper Charlie Tracey previously of Drogheda United signed for the Thoroughbreds just before Christmas. Midfielder Micheal Comerford and centre back Willie Tyrrell both signed from now defunct Kilkenny City F.C.. Comerfords stay at the club was short however. John Brophy formerly of UCD, who spent the 2006 season on loan to Kilkenny City and was loaned to Shelbourne during the 2007 season also signed for the Thoroughbreds. Craig Berrigan was promoted from the Under 21 team Alan Clarke was signed from Cherry Orchard. Colin Fortune was signed from Athlone Town. The club also signed midfielder Kieran Harte. The club announced a sponorship deal with local betting firm Cill Dara Betting and a kit sponsor deal with O'Neills ending their short associations with Swifts and Umbro. Kildare County recorded a record equalling win and a record defeat within the space of a week during the 2008 season. The thoroughbreds suffered a 6-0 defeat to Dundalk and less than 7 days later beat Monaghan United 4-0.
Club crests: (roll on the crest to get more informations)
Kildare County FC -
Founded in 2002
