Kilkenny City A.F.C.
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| Kilkenny City | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Kilkenny City Association Football Club |
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| Nickname(s) | The Cats | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Founded | 1966 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ground | Buckley Park, Kilkenny, County Kilkenny |
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| Capacity | 6,500 (1,500 seats). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chairman | Jim Rhatigan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Manager | Brendan Rea | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| League | Eircom First Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006 | 10th | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Kilkenny City A.F.C. is an Irish football club playing in the First Division of the Football League of Ireland. The club, was founded 1966 and originally known as EMFA FC before being elected to the league in 1985. EM stood for Emmett Street and FA Fatima Place where current club secretary Jim Rhatigan grew up.The club hails from Kilkenny and play their home matches at Buckley Park. Buckley Park has hosted many International under age soccer games. The previous manager was the former Shelbourne FC player Pat Scully. Scully's successor Adrian Fitzpatrick was sacked in October 2006. Gary Coad took over ascaretaker manager until the end of the 2006 season.
The club appointed Brendan Rea as their new manager in prepration for the 2007 season.
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[edit] History
Initially EMFA competed in the U18 Kilkenny and District Youth League under the management of Donie Butler. Donie Butler served as Commercial Manager of the FAI during the Jack Charlton years. The club was unable to afford a new set of jerseys and so agreed to play in an all white strip. The logic being that all the players had at least one white t-shirt or shirt they could wear. The clubs colours cahnged to claret and blue before changing again to black and amber, coinciding with the renaming of the club.
EMFA graduated from junior football in 1971/72 season. Jim Rhatigan became their manager and the club remained in junior football until 1984. During this period the club purchased 5.7 acres of land from a local farmer by the name of Mick Murphy, owner of Tenny House for £16,000 punts. They had previuosly played their home games at the Castlecomar Road grounds, St. James Park. The ground was originally called Tenney Park and was later named Buckley Park in honour of Marty Buckley. A bid of One million was made for the clubs grounds in the late eighties but was rejectied in the favour of football.
In 1984 the club won the Junior league and cup remaining defeated throughout the entire season. It was decided that he club should apply for admission to the then League of Ireland (now the Eircom League). In their maiden season Kilkenny city then known as EMFA, (from 1985-1989) finished tenth in Division 1.
EMFA won their first honour in 1987, winning the First Division shield defeating Finn Harps 4-2 in Oriel Park.The club changed its name to Kilkenny city in 1989.In 1991 under Joe McGrath they reached the FAI Cup semi-final before suffering defeat to Shamrock Rovers.
In the 1996-1997 season Kilkenny city won the First Division title with 11 points to spare over their nearest rivals Drogheda United they gaining promotion to the Premier Division. Their stay in the premier was short however as they finished in eleventh the following season and were relegated back to the First Division.
In the 1999-2000 season Kilkenny city finished third and beat Waterford United in a promotion-relegation playoff returning to the Premier. However Kilkenny city were unable to extend their stay in the top flight beyond a single season managing only a single league victory throughout the whole season.General manager Jim Rhatigan wrote "Mud, Sweat and Jeers" a semi autobiographical account of the founding of the club.
The club celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2006. The anniversary was celebrated with a memorial mass at Father Fiachra’s Church presided over by Father Willie Purcell and complete with a gospel choir. Dave Bassett, former Wimbledon F.C. manager was guest of honour with former Northern Ireland international, Gerry Taggart also attending the club’s anniversary banquet at the Lyrath Estate Hotel.
[edit] Current Squad (2007)
John McGuinness, AJ Murray Kevin Walshe, Francis Rockett, Ian Nagle, Ciaran Fitzgerald, Aaron Ryan, Robert Quan Niall Murphy, Stephen Grant, Andrew Denn, Andres Polewczak, Daragh Hayes, Brian Murphy, Joe Watson, Martin Tynan, Eoin O'Shea, Ted O'Connor, Colin Falvey, John McNicholas, Trevor Moylan, Padraig Fogarty, Craig Doyle, Micheal Comerford
[edit] Honours
- First Division Champions: 1
- 1996/97
- First Division Shield Champions: 1
- 1987
[edit] People of Note
Marty Buckley
Marty Buckley was the clubs first president. He was a former player and administrator Green Celtic Football Club which now no longer exists. He remained involved with EMFA until the late eighties managing youth and senior teams within the club. He remained a trustee to the club until his death. Kilkenny City home ground was named in honour of his contribution towards the developemnt of the club.
Tom Cantwell
Tom was a local businessman in the city of Kilkenny and made regular contributions to the club. He was clubs president for 18 seasons.
Alfie Hale
Alfie Hale won who won 14 full international caps for the Republic of Ireland. He won the first of two international caps at schoolboy level against West Germany in 1957. He made his debut for Waterford at the age of 17 that same year. He moved to English side Aston Villa for £4,500 scoring 66 goals and also played for Doncaster Rovers and Newport County. He returned to Waterford in 1962. Alfie was player-manager of the side that beat Cork Hibernians in dramatic circumstances at Flower Lodge (now Pairc Ui Rinn) to claim a fifth league crown in seven seasons in the 1971-1972 season. Alfie also lead Cork Celtic to a league title in 1974 and also played for St. Patrick’s Athletic and Limerick F.C. before retiring from playing. Alfie managed Thurles Town F.C. in the late seventies, returning to Waterford in a managerial role in 1982 until 1986.
As manger of Cobh Ramblers Alfie gave former Republic of Ireland and Manchester United player Roy Keane his debut in 1990. He returned as manager of Waterford United in 1991 achieving promotion to the Premier Division before stepping down in 1993. Alfie took charge of Kilkenny City F.C. shortly afterwards Were he led them to first division glory in 1997.After four successful years with [Kilkenny City]Alfie Hale resigned to be replaced by Former Shelbourne manager Pat Bryne.
Alfie's father also played for Waterford in 1930 as well as his two uncles forming a famous all-Hale half-back line in a league game at home to Bohemians. He returned to Waterford United in 2005 in an advisor role but had leave due to work commitments with former Kilkenny City and Waterford United skipper Brendan Rea replacing him in his temporary role. Alfie owns a chain of pubs in Waterford and also has a sports shop in city. Michael Reddy
Michael Reddy was signed from Kilkenny City by English club Sunderland and has represented the Republic of Ireland at Under-21 level. Currently playing for League Two Outfit Grimsby Michael was named on the PFA League Two player of the year Team 2006
Jim Rhatigan
In 1966 a group of Leaving Certificate students made the most of having a free class at the local CBS school in Kilkenny. They debated the pros and cons, devised a plan and, finally, resolved to start a football club. EMFA was founded and later became named Kilkenny City in 1989. Jim Rhatigan was appointed as the club’s secretary a position he still holds and since then he has become closely associated with football in Kilkenny. In 1999 he released a book called Mud, Sweat and Jeers, an account about the clubs founding Irish football.
Jim is also the editor of the newspaper The Kilkenny Voice and previously worked with the another newspaper The Kilkenny People
Pat Scully started his playing career in England with Premier side Arsenal joining them as a youth and winning a FA youth cup medal in 1988. He did not make an appearance with the first team but did go on loan to Preston North End and Northampton Town F.C. before joining Southend in 1991 followed by a spell at Huddersfield Town F.C.
He returned to Ireland, joining Shelbourne in 1997. He was to captain the side to several league and Cup titles but a falling out resulted in his departure to Shamrock Rovers. He moved to Drogheda for a single season before retiring from playing. In 2005 he was approached by Kilkenny City and agreed to take over the side as their manager. Although the season did not begin well for Scully and Kilkenny, the side performed excellently during the second half of the season, finishing 4th and only 6 points off a play-off position. His fine managerial debut saw newly-relegated Shamrock Rovers approach Scully regarding their vacant management position which he accepted. Scully took many of the Kilkenny City squad that he had assembled in the 2005 season with him and successfully obtained promotion from the First Division in his first season in charge at the club.
Micheal Walsh
A former hurling goalkeeper with Kilkenny. He won several All-Ireland medals in hurling. He was the schoolboys general manager at the club which at one stage ran 20 teams. He also along with his two brothewrs played for Kilkenny City at schoolboy, youth, junior and senior level.
"Brendan Rea" Current Kilkenny City manager,appointed in January to replace Adrian Fitzpatrick.Brendan had two spells at the club with his first stint being the most succesfull, were he was part of the team that won the first division under Alfie Hale in 1997.During his playing day's with Kilkenny City Brendan was a very imposing honest centre half with an eye for goal. In 2003 Brendan returned to the club as player/assistant to Tommy Lynch who's tender at the football club disaterous to say the least.In 2004 Brendan took his first steps into management were he lead Waterford Crystal to FAI Junior Cup success. The following Brendan was tasked with helping Waterford United from being relegated,he was their 3rd manager of the season.Yes waterford beat the drop Pat Dolan was brought as a consultant,However at the end of the season Brendan was seen to be surplus to requirements and his contract was'nt renewed, and he was replaced by former Kilkenny City team mate Micheal Kerley.
[edit] Competition History
League
Played 603 Won 146 Draw 150 Lost 281 Goals For 636 Goals Against 899 Points 539
All final positions are in Division 1 unless otherwise stated.
As EMFA (1985-1990)
1985-1986: 10th
1986-1987: 9th
1987-1988: 10th
1988-1989: 9th
As Kilkenny City
1989-1990: 4th
1990-1991: 7th
1991-1992: 8th
1992-1993: 9th
1993-1994: 8th
1994-1995: 10th
1995-1996: 7th
1996-1997: 1st
1997-1998: 11th (Premier Div)
1998-1999: 5th
1999-2000: 3rd
2000-2001: 12th (Premier Div)
2001-2002: 5th
2003-2004: 12th
2004: 10th
2005: 4th
2006: 10th
FAI Cup 1990-1991: Semi Final(Lost to Shamrock Rovers 1-0,losing finalist that year.
1996-1997: Round 1 (Lost to Bohemians 1-2 in replay at Dalymount Park)
1997-1998: Round 1 (Lost to UCD 0-4)
1998-1999: Quarter Finals (Kilkenny City were forced to forfeit the replay to Finn Harps, the losing finalists that year, after drawing the first game 2-2 as they had only eleven fit players,that include's two goalkeepers)
1999-2000: Quarter Finals (Lost to Bray Wanderers 0-2)
2000-2001: Quarter Finals (Lost to Bohemians 2-7 , winners that year)
2001-2002: Round 3 (Lost to Dundalk 2-3)
2002-2003: Quarter Finals (Lost to Shamrock Rovers 0-1, the losing finalists that year)
2003: Round 2 (Lost to Limerick FC 1-2)
2004: Round 3 (Lost to Waterford United 2-7, the losing finalists that year)
2005: Round 2 (Lost to Finn Harps 0-1)
2006: Round 2 (Lost to UCD 0-2)
[edit] Attendances
2004: Average: 108 Highest: 150
2005: Average: 185 Highest: 400
2006: Average: 118 Highest: 278 (v Dundalk}
Record Attendance: 6,500
[edit] Past Managers-1985-2006
- Jim Rhatigan(1985-86)-(1988-89)
- Eamon Gregg(1989-90)
- Joe McGrath(1990/91 and 2000/2001)
- Noel Synott(1991-92)
- John Cleary(1992-93),(1993-94)
- Paddy Gallacher(1994-95)
- Jimmy Donnelly(Caretaker)
- Alfie Hale (1995-1999)
- Pat Bryne (1999-2000)
- Billy Walsh(2001-2003)
- Tommy Lynch(2003)
- Ger Bickerstaffe(2004)
- Pat Scully (2005)
- Adrian Fitzpatrick (2006)
- Gary Coad(caretaker-2006)
- Brendan Rea (2007-present)
