League of Ireland Archives

[JC_GUFC]

I'm currently going through Galway Rovers/United history in the League of Ireland.

Does anyone have a resource for finding old League of Ireland results? I've used RSSSF, Soccerway, Soccerbot and Extratime.ie for all their results. I now have every result from the League and Cup, however I do need to confirm dates on a lot of games.

Also I'm missing League Cup results from 7 seasons.

85/86 (Galway United won the LC that year)
86/87
92/93
93/94
95/96
96/97
and
98/99

Also would I be right in thinking that the League Cup wasn't played in the 2002/03 shortened season?

[pineapple stu]

I'm doing the same for UCD - I've found the best is to get a subscription to IrishNewsArchives and check each Monday's paper. I've gone back to 1938 so far and have most of our results and scorers noted that way (that's LoI, LoI B and LSL).

Yeah, no League Cup in the short year.

[JC_GUFC]

Yeah - that's my plan alright.

I just want to have as much information around the matches put together before going to the archives.

From what I've found I'm pretty sure our 1500th competitive match will take place early this season, if it didn't already happen.

[pineapple stu]

I found the search function is fairly good too, so if you search "Galway League Cup" roughly when you know the games were on (August, say), then the results should pop up.

I think getting info together before searching will only end up being duplicate work.

[Eminence Grise]

It'll take you a while to trawl through, but the Irish Times Digital Archive will have results and match reports. It might not cover all the games, but it should give you some. I never find the Irish Digital News Archives as useful but it's another option, especially for local papers (The Tribune is on it afaik). Do you have a deadline? I'm sure the local Galway papers and city library will have their own archives (hardcopy or microfilm) that you can access once lockdown is over.

[JC_GUFC]

No deadline - just my own project.

I'm going to be adding line-ups so I will need access to the archives for the local papers.

Thanks for the advice all.

[pineapple stu]

Between the Times and the Indo (the latter is on INA), you should get most line-ups (I think I've 7 incomplete line-ups from UCD's senior history).

I don't think you'd need local papers to fill in the gaps. Connacht Tribune is on INA if needed though.

[JC_GUFC]

Making fairly good progress - down to just 3 League Cup campaigns to complete and that's all the results.

Could someone just confirm the 93/94 League Cup was a knockout from the start? I was us losing 2-1 at Sligo in the first round (14th August 93) but the season before and season after both had group stages.

[atfconline]

I have those seasons recorded the same - 92/93 Group, 93/94 Knockout, 94/95 Group.

Which 3 LC campaigns are you missing now?

[Martinho II]

I from using the archive I used my local library and used Irish newspaper archive. I used Longford News and Longford Leader. When librarys open Julian the business library should have hardcopies of local newspapers from the last 30 years as thats how I got my info from!

[TheBoss]

I'm currently going through Galway Rovers/United history in the League of Ireland.

Does anyone have a resource for finding old League of Ireland results? I've used RSSSF, Soccerway, Soccerbot and Extratime.ie for all their results. I now have every result from the League and Cup, however I do need to confirm dates on a lot of games.

Also I'm missing League Cup results from 7 seasons.

85/86 (Galway United won the LC that year)
86/87
92/93
93/94
95/96
96/97
and
98/99

Also would I be right in thinking that the League Cup wasn't played in the 2002/03 shortened season?

Yeah, I have the dates. Here you go!



1985/86
08-Sep-85
Limerick City
1
3
Galway United


1985/86
15-Sep-85
Galway United
6
0
Cobh Ramblers


1985/86
29-Sep-85
Waterford United
0
3
Galway United


1985/86
06-Oct-85
Galway United
3
2
Newcastle United


1985/86
13-Oct-85
Cork City
0
0
Galway United


1985/86
28-Oct-85
Galway United
1
1
Sligo Rovers


1985/86
27-Nov-85
Galway United
3
2
Home Farm


1985/86
15-Jan-86
Galway United
2
0
Dundalk










1986/87
07-Sep-86
Derry City
0
2
Galway United


1986/87
14-Sep-86
Galway United
3
0
Shelbourne


1986/87
28-Sep-86
Galway United
1
0
Bohemians


1986/87
05-Oct-86
Athlone Town
2
2
Galway United


1986/87
12-Oct-86
Galway United
5
0
Home Farm


1986/87
27-Oct-86
Shamrock Rovers
3
2
Galway United










1992/93
16-Aug-92
Galway United
0
0
Limerick


1992/93
19-Aug-92
Galway United
1
1
Castlebar Celtic


1992/93
23-Aug-92
Longford Town
2
0
Galway United










1993/94
15-Aug-93
Sligo Rovers
2
1
Galway United










1995/96
12-Aug-95
Athlone Town
1
1
Galway United


1995/96
16-Aug-95
Straide & Foxford United
0
2
Galway United


1995/96
19-Aug-95
Galway United
3
4
Limerick










1996/97
16-Aug-96
Galway United
0
2
Athlone Town


1996/97
21-Aug-96
Galway United
2
0
UCG


1996/97
24-Aug-96
Limerick
1
2
Galway United


1996/97
17-Sep-96
Galway United
3
2
Derry City


1996/97
22-Oct-96
Galway United
1
0
Athlone Town


1996/97
17-Dec-96
Galway United
3
1
Cork City


1996/97
01-Jan-97
Cork City
1
1
Galway United










1998/99
15-Aug-98
Limerick
0
1
Galway United


1998/99
18-Aug-98
Galway United
1
1
Mervue United


1998/99
21-Aug-98
Galway United
3
2
Athlone Town


1998/99
15-Sep-98
Shelbourne
1
2
Galway United


1998/99
11-Nov-98
Shamrock Rovers
1
0
Galway United

[JC_GUFC]

Moved on a fair bit with this - now I'm filling in opposition goalscorers against us...

Need some help for 77/78 season

26th December 1977 - a player called 'Davis' scored for Athlone against us

5th March 1978 - a player called 'Logan' scored for Finn Harps

Would anyone have the first name of these players?

[joey B]

Joe Logan is the Harps player I’d imagine…

[pineapple stu]

Probably Eugene Davis (https://www.extratime.com/player/11132128/player/)?

Later of UCD but spent most of his career at Athlone.

[Straightstory]

Popularly known as 'Pooch' as I recall...

[atfconline]

It was Eugene Davis.

[JC_GUFC]

Just a few more - I'll no doubt be able to find the names by further research but it may be quicker getting a reply on here...

31/1/79 'Junior' Murphy scored for Cork Alberts against Galway - I'm guessing 'Junior' wasn't really his name

30/12/79 a player called 'Cleary' scored for Shels against Galway

[Martinho II]

Just a few more - I'll no doubt be able to find the names by further research but it may be quicker getting a reply on here...

31/1/79 'Junior' Murphy scored for Cork Alberts against Galway - I'm guessing 'Junior' wasn't really his name

30/12/79 a player called 'Cleary' scored for Shels against Galway

Cleary wonder is that John Cleary that would later play for Dundalk and was player manager for us in mid 90s?

[atfconline]

Shels' Fact & Figures booket has a John Cleary listed from 79/80-80/81, and a separate John M Cleary for 80/81.

[JC_GUFC]

Shels' Fact & Figures booket has a John Cleary listed from 79/80-80/81, and a separate John M Cleary for 80/81.


I've just come across a report from December 1980 and Shels had a centre half John Cleary (Snr.) and midfielder John Cleary (Jnr.)

Going by the two profiles it looks like it was John Cleary Senior who scored against us (Jnr hadn't joined at that stage) but John Cleary Junior is the one who went on to play for Dundalk and Galway (Extratime doesn't list Longford as a former club of his but I think this is the same guy Marty)

https://www.extratime.com/player/11139830/john_cleary-snr/

https://www.extratime.com/player/11132249/player/

[atfconline]

Yeah sounds right. The booklet lists the 79/80 one as a central defender, while John M is down as a forward.

[JC_GUFC]

https://globalsportsarchive.com/people/soccer/john-cleary/39871/

Just to confirm - the Longford John Cleary is the guy who played at Galway and Dundalk. Extratime doesn't have his spells at Kilkenny, Monaghan & Longford listed.

To add to the confusion though both John Clearys moved from Shels to St Pat's for the 81/82 season.

[Martinho II]

https://globalsportsarchive.com/people/soccer/john-cleary/39871/

Just to confirm - the Longford John Cleary is the guy who played at Galway and Dundalk. Extratime doesn't have his spells at Kilkenny, Monaghan & Longford listed.

To add to the confusion though both John Clearys moved from Shels to St Pat's for the 81/82 season.

Never heard of that website before Julian where are they based do you know? Nice website!

[JC_GUFC]

One for the UCD fans.

When did the first team start playing at The Bowl instead of Belfield Park?

I've just come across a 2-2 draw Galway United played at "Belfield" in 2007 and unsure which ground it was in as there are no photos.

[pineapple stu]

2008 was the first season in the Bowl.

[JC_GUFC]

More random questions on stadium names this time...

Does Longford's current ground have an actual name (bar the sponsor name) or is it just 'Strokestown Road'?

Was/Is Rathbane in Limerick always known as Hogan Park?

Also Belfield Bowl or UCD Bowl?

[pineapple stu]

UCD Bowl. It was the Belfield Bowl up until 2008, but changed name then. (Might be off with that exact year)

[Longfordian]

More random questions on stadium names this time...

Does Longford's current ground have an actual name (bar the sponsor name) or is it just 'Strokestown Road'?

Was/Is Rathbane in Limerick always known as Hogan Park?

Also Belfield Bowl or UCD Bowl?

I think it was always officially Strokestown Road before it became Flancare Park in 2000 or the Flan Siro if you will. Although it was often referred to locally as Mullologher as that's the name of the townland, I don't think that was an official name. No doubt Marty will know though.

[Martinho II]

I think it was always officially Strokestown Road before it became Flancare Park in 2000 or the Flan Siro if you will. Although it was often referred to locally as Mullologher as that's the name of the townland, I don't think that was an official name. No doubt Marty will know though.

In the early days when we moved to Mullogher which was nearly 30 years ago now in 1993 when Dermot Keely was in charge ground was known as that. So Longfordian is correct at Mullogher. It was only Strokestown Rd when Stephen Kenny took over.

I looked at old covers of old Longford Town programs just now Julian and on cover of Longford Town Millwall program it was Mullogher. In late 1990s on old covers of town programs it was Mullogher Strokestown Rd Longford. An excellent question and easily overlooked!

[Martinho II]

More random questions on stadium names this time...

Does Longford's current ground have an actual name (bar the sponsor name) or is it just 'Strokestown Road'?

Was/Is Rathbane in Limerick always known as Hogan Park?

Also Belfield Bowl or UCD Bowl?

Julian Rathbane and Hogan Park are all the one. I did a wikipedia search on Limerick FC and got this answer. I would have being in Rathbane once in 99-00 season.

[JC_GUFC]

Julian Rathbane and Hogan Park are all the one. I did a wikipedia search on Limerick FC and got this answer. I would have being in Rathbane once in 99-00 season.

Oh yeah - I know they're the same place but has it always been known as Hogan Park? Looking at the first reports of when they played there it was always just referred to as "Rathbane". I guess a lot of games played at Milltown didn't refer to the ground as Glenmalure Park.

I was there a couple of times - not somewhere I'd be rushing back to! ;)

As a matter of interest Marty did Longford ever play any games at Longford Greyhound Stadium?

I have some games played at Abbeycartron - is that now the Longford rugby ground or is the another stadium too?

[Mr A]

I was there a couple of times - not somewhere I'd be rushing back to! ;)



We were there for a game and our bus driver insisted on parking inside the ground because a load of tyres had been slashed during the previous Limerick home game. When we got in we discovered the container used as a club shop had been burned out during the week. All the small wheelie bins had been stolen despite the high wall around the ground. There was a car on fire behind one goal (outside the ground in fairness) for the entire second half.

Great days.

[blueblood]

Great memories 😃. I think it was late 1990s, Peter Hogan an American friend of Limerick chairman purchased Rathbane from a bank and gave a long term lease to Limerick FC thus soon after the ground became known as Hogan Park. Or something similar

[Martinho II]

Oh yeah - I know they're the same place but has it always been known as Hogan Park? Looking at the first reports of when they played there it was always just referred to as "Rathbane". I guess a lot of games played at Milltown didn't refer to the ground as Glenmalure Park.

I was there a couple of times - not somewhere I'd be rushing back to! ;)

As a matter of interest Marty did Longford ever play any games at Longford Greyhound Stadium?

I have some games played at Abbeycartron - is that now the Longford rugby ground or is the another stadium too?

Yeah Julian in our LSL games up to 1972 when we were kicked out of the LSL we played at the Greyhound Stadium. Abbeycartron is now the HQ for the longford schoolboy league. Longford Rugby ground was used in the early days in loi football if Abbeycartron didnt pass a pitch inspection and more recently up to 20 years ago we played preseason friendlies there when our ground was being redeveloped!

[Longfordian]

I didn't know we got kicked out of the LSL in 1972, what happened there? Where did we play then until 1984, LOI B Division?

[Martinho II]

I didn't know we got kicked out of the LSL in 1972, what happened there? Where did we play then until 1984, LOI B Division?

Cant remember the exact reason Longfordian think it had somethin to do with us being kicked out of the Greyhound Stadium. We were out of football for a season and restarted in the Junior Leagues think it was the AUL or something like that. Then in 1982 we got into LOI B Division and were in it for two seasons and took part in league cup. After that it skyballed from there.

[Longfordian]

Interesting. A font of historical knowledge as usual Marty. Fair play.

[JC_GUFC]

Coming back to you for your expertise on all things Longford Marty.

You beat us 2-0 at home on 23th August 1992 in the League Cup. I have that game down as being played at Strokestown Road but later in the season the two away league games we played were at Abbercartron. Are those the correct venues for those games?

[Martinho II]

Coming back to you for your expertise on all things Longford Marty.

You beat us 2-0 at home on 23th August 1992 in the League Cup. I have that game down as being played at Strokestown Road but later in the season the two away league games we played were at Abbercartron. Are those the correct venues for those games?

Yeah thats correct Julian I have two teamsheets from those league games as we didnt do match programmes back then and it clearly says Abbeycartron! Very confusing back then as it was around that time that we started getting away from Abbeycarton and the pitch could take so many game back then after the ground at Mullogher lying there idle for years from my youngster days!

[JC_GUFC]

Right more random questions about opposition players.

We have had 10 goals scored against us by "Barry O'Connor".

These dates tally with what's on Transfermarkt and Global Sports Archive but can anyone confirm that the Barry O'Connor who played for Rovers in the late 80s early 90s was the same guy who was at Bray in the early 00s and ended up at Kildare County.

[Martinho II]

Right more random questions about opposition players.

We have had 10 goals scored against us by "Barry O'Connor".

These dates tally with what's on Transfermarkt and Global Sports Archive but can anyone confirm that the Barry O'Connor who played for Rovers in the late 80s early 90s was the same guy who was at Bray in the early 00s and ended up at Kildare County.

Yeah its the same player Julian did a googlesearch on him.

this is what I got on him.
extratime.com/player/296/barry-oconnor