Tobermore United
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Tobermore United is a Northern Ireland football club playing in the Irish First Division. The club, founded in 1965, is based in Tobermore, County Londonderry and plays its home matches at Fortwilliam Park. Club colours are red and black. The current manager is Geoff Ferris.
Tobermore United F.C., alongside local rivals Moyola Park F.C., are the two biggest soccer teams from Magherafelt District, with both featuring in the Irish Football League, 1st Division. Tobermore United F.C. is also the only football club in Northern Ireland that international superstar George Best ever played competitively for in February 1984.
Tobermore United F.C.'s ground, Fortwilliam Park, which was upgraded several seasons ago is one of the best football pitches in the area. As well being the yearly location for the Craig Memorial Cup final. Northern Ireland Under-19 matches can also be played here. It is also amongst the few grounds that can be used in the latter stages of the Irish Cup, allowing Tobermore United F.C. to enter the competition a round ahead of their First Division league rivals.
Along with this, the club has an extensive and highly popular youth development which has led to them being awarded official Football Development Centre (FDC) status by the IFA. It currently has teams at Under 11, Under 12, Under 14 and Under 16 level.
During the summer of 2006, Tobermore United's youth development linked up with English premiership newboys Sheffield United.
Tobermore has many younger players, including Michael Walsh and Stephen Lamont who have been promoted to the first team set up. Another promising young star at the club is Richard Gibson.
[edit] League Success
Tobermore United F.C. won promotion to the Irish First Division in the 2004/2005 season after leap-frogging Banbridge Town F.C. on the last day of the league.
Tobermore United F.C. spent their first season 2005/2006 in the Irish First Division with fluctuating form, playing some great games as well some very poor ones. Despite the bigger challenge of the First Division, Tobermore finished 6th out of 12 teams, and if a couple of results had gone their way they could have been 3rd. An added bonus was to finish above local rivals Moyola Park F.C., who just narrowly managed to escape relegation, and Coagh United.
Tobermore United F.C. also won the North-West Intermediate Cup on Boxing Day, 2005.
More recently, Tobermore United F.C. beat Premier Division team Coleraine 2-1 at the Coleraine Showgrounds, to win the North-West Senior Cup for the second time in their history (the first also being a victory over Coleraine).
Tobermore United Reserves are now playing in the Ballymena Provensial Junior League.
[edit] 2005/2006 League Controversy
A controversy has broken out at the end of the 2005/2006 season between Tobermore United F.C. and Moyola Park F.C., which has really soured relations between the club.
The controversy erupted after the Irish Football Association ruled in favour of Tobermore United F.C. over the case of Tobermore United fielding an illegible player. The IFA stated clearly that "Tobermore United has no case to answer". However relegation threatened Moyola Park F.C., decided to challenge the ruling. Relegated Ballyclare Comrades also challenged the ruling.
Both teams stood to gain as if the IFA found against Tobermore United, then they would lose 11 points and thus be relegated back to the 2nd Division.
On Thursday, 1st June, the IFA declared that Ballyclare Comrades had "no right of appeal" and that the case would not be reopened, this securing Tobermore United's position in Division 1.
Moyola Park F.C. upheld their challenge to the ruling, however subsequently dropped it when they secured their own league survival by only a point. Ballyclare Comrades on the other hand were relegated to the Second Division.
In the first clash between the two sides since the controversy, Tobermore United deservedly beat Moyola Park F.C. 2-0 at Fortwilliam Park.
[edit] Achievements
- Irish Second Division: 1
- 2004-05
