In what must be a first for an Irish soccer club, Longford Town FC, the 2003 FAI Cup Champions, will be bringing the FAI Cup to New York on Saturday, May 8th next.
Club representatives, including Chairman Jim Hanley, will be in Ashton’s Pub, Manhattan, which is managed by Ballinalee native Pat Heraty - himself a former goalkeeper with Longford Town.
On the night and it is hoped that a lot of Longford people will be able to attend on the night and get pictures taken with the FAI Cup. The club are also hoping to start a New York branch of their supporters club to complement the efforts of supporter club branches in the Town, North Longford and Dublin.
Longford Town FC celebrates its 80th year in 2004. The last seven seasons have seen a remarkable turnaround in the fortunes of the club. From perennial strugglers Longford Town is now playing its fifth consecutive season in the Premier Division of Irish soccer, the only rural based club in the top division and the model that others are trying to follow.
The pride that their success has generated for Longford people everywhere is immense, culminating in the fantastic occasion in October last year when, after 79 years of trying, Longford Town FC won the FAI Cup Final in Lansdowne Road, the first senior trophy in the club’s history. It was arguably the greatest sporting achievement for Longford, and certainly the greatest since the League and Leinster wins of the 1960’s.
The performance of the team and the supporters during the game and the homecoming that night will live long in memory.
And of course 2004 will see the club represent Ireland in the UEFA cup, rubbing shoulders with some of the most famous soccer clubs in the world! A far cry from the early days when the loan of a set of jerseys set the club on its way in 1924!
The club will have some merchandise and tickets for their development draw available on the night in New York.
So all Longfordians and friends are invited along to Ashton’s in what should be a great night for the Longford people of New York.
30/04/2004, 2:01 PM
max power
sorry but i must laugh at one thing about this story, merchindise will be available on the night.....for fcuks sake you can't even have it in the club shop and you expect to have it in NY !!
but well done to the club for the valueable PR and nice to see a Ballinalee connection in there !!!
oh and if you can't make it along on the night, donate to my marathon fund and you'll feel an awful lot better as i'll parade the red n black through the streets on November and who knows maybe the FAI cup will still be in the safe hands of Mr. Ferguson.... ;)
04/05/2004, 5:52 PM
town73
For any of the Town fans who may be in New York - residing or visiting - the address of the pub is: 208 East 50th street, between 2nd and 3rd Ave.
