Longford Town v Crusaders friendly today

I've just read through 2 pages of absolute dribble. Who gives a flyin f*ck?

How can NI be the home of Irish Football? It wasn't established at the time? Just a query.
This Birth of clubs mostly are highly inaccurate as no one really can put a finger on the exact date. Who knows maybe some club in the outer reaches of Rathlin Island or somewhere in east Clare was est in 1864 and could be the older but who really cares.
One thing for sure is that the British Army took the game over to these shores and it developed prominently in areas of the country where there was a barracks or Garrison.

BTW: Did longford beat Crusaders?

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Originally Posted by jinxy lilywhite

I've just read through 2 pages of absolute dribble. Who gives a flyin f*ck?

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Some people do, including you (it would seem), since you are taking the trouble to read this thread then post in it...:confused:

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Originally Posted by jinxy lilywhite

How can NI be the home of Irish Football? It wasn't established at the time? Just a query.

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Think of it this way: the traditional home of Irish football is in that place which is now known as Northern Ireland. Anyone who doesn't/can't/won't recognise the concept of NI, may substitute "Belfast".

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Originally Posted by jinxy lilywhite

This Birth of clubs mostly are highly inaccurate as no one really can put a finger on the exact date. Who knows maybe some club in the outer reaches of Rathlin Island or somewhere in east Clare was est in 1864 and could be the older but who really cares.

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Not quite. The earliest date which anyone can definitely put a finger on is 20th September 1879 when John McCredy McAlery is recorded as having founded a football club in the north Belfast district of Cliftonville.
Of course, it is possible that another football club(s) was founded even earlier, but if so, I'd say Limavady is a more likely bet than Rathlin Island or east Clare...;)

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Originally Posted by jinxy lilywhite

One thing for sure is that the British Army took the game over to these shores and it developed prominently in areas of the country where there was a barracks or Garrison.

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The influence of the British Army, including of course, Irish Regiments, in first bringing football to certain parts of Ireland is undoubtedly correct.
However, the proximity and interaction between North East Ulster and Scotland, where the game developed very early, was also responsible for bringing the game to this island from the earliest days of the game.
Additionally, the habit of long established Cricket clubs deciding to take up the newly codified game of football, in order to give themselves something to do during the winter, was also one of the earliest influences. And, of course, Cricket is/was also traditionally stronger in the north of the island than most other parts of Ireland.

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Originally Posted by jinxy lilywhite

BTW: Did longford beat Crusaders?

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The Hatchetmen won 3-1 down in Longford, and it seems a good time was had by all:

"CRUSADING

Saturday afternoon last and there were some really strange sights out Flancare way. At first it looked like Longford Town were playing Longford Town but the tang of the accents were a give away.

Crusaders were down from Belfast for a friendly and since the have the exact same strip, the Town played in their away gear. But the strangeness didn't end there. Playing at the back was Aron Callaghan and in midfield there was Vinny Perth. The pace may be gone but the accuracy of his passes and the tenacity of his atckling was still clearly evident.

The rest of the team was made up largely of U20s hopefuls and even one talented sixteen year old. The Malones did a super job on the sidelines with their flags and never once did they make a wrong decision !Archie Bell though went AWOL from his post at the gate and lost thousands in revenue as punters had no option but to climb over the turnstiles to watch the action.

Every club is rightly proud of its hard core support but what the Crusaders Supprters' Club .

They arrived at the grounds two hours early and then returned after a tour of the town, hung up their banners , took up position in the stand and sang happily all afternoon long. The last time a team from the north visited we had the riot squad on stand by, Garda dogs, a Garda van with cctv and even an eye in the sky. This time, there wasn't even a word about the entire affair. Changed times.

By the way, just in case you want to know the link between ourselves and Crusaders...Aron Callaghan soldiered up there for a while while he a wandering minstrel"
http://www.ltfc.ie/news/article/?id=...a-e83240c3cf90

[quote=Bohemian1890;1007322]

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Originally Posted by Steve Bruce

They are based on the staunchly Protestant Shore Road. But this lableing of Protestant/Catholic needs to stop.

Linfield are classed as a Protestant club yet we have 7 or 8 Catholic first teamers. We have many Catholics throughout the layers of our club.

We have a British ethos though, closing every AGM with British national anthem etc.[/quote]
That is the saddest thing i have ever read:o

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Agree 100%. Unionists are brainwashed.

Celtic Park? - is that the former ground of Belfast Celtic? And what happened to this ground?

I noticed that Cliftonville played Cork in Celtic Park last night. I presume this is another Celtic Park - Donegal Celtic's ground?

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Originally Posted by ifk101

Celtic Park? - is that the former ground of Belfast Celtic? And what happened to this ground?

I noticed that Cliftonville played Cork in Celtic Park last night. I presume this is another Celtic Park - Donegal Celtic's ground?

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The old Celtic Park (home of Belfast Celtic) is now a shopping centre.

Cliftonville played Cork at Donegal Celtic's ground last night - Donegal Celtic Park, on the Suffolk Road.

Cliftonville are using DC's ground for "home" games, whilst some refurbishments are completed at Solitude, including a new stand.

As a matter of interest how many clubs in your premiership are based in Balfast?

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Originally Posted by jinxy lilywhite

As a matter of interest how many clubs in your premiership are based in Balfast?

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Linfield
Glentoran
Cliftonville
Crusaders

Thanks N B. Thought there was alot more

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Originally Posted by geysir

That phrase implies some doubt.
Maybe Gspain just means the claim to be Ireland's oldest has dubious value.
Which is true if it's not your own club making the claim :)

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It is in dispute. I'm not backing Limavady's claim just mentioning it.

Cliftonville were definitely founded in 1879.

Limavady claim to be the oldest - 1875 I think. There are details of the claim in their clubhouse. I was at a game there a few years back before we played Derry City at the Brandywell. The claim is a bit more dubious than cliftonville's.

Distillery also claim to be the oldest professional club. The Reds being all amateur up to the 1960's.

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Originally Posted by gspain

It is in dispute. I'm not backing Limavady's claim just mentioning it.

Cliftonville were definitely founded in 1879.

Limavady claim to be the oldest - 1875 I think. There are details of the claim in their clubhouse. I was at a game there a few years back before we played Derry City at the Brandywell. The claim is a bit more dubious than cliftonville's.

Distillery also claim to be the oldest professional club. The Reds being all amateur up to the 1960's.

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Limavadys' "1876" on their badge is a reference to a Cricket Club. There is no direct correlation between this cricket club and the team Limavady United. There was a team from that area called Alexander who were one of the founding members of the league who would have had ties to the Cricket Club. Again Limavady United have no direct correlation to this football club either. No one from Limavady United has ever been able to show any links between these various clubs despite numerous debates on the subject. As was discussed on here some time back, by someone who has specialised in researching the history of football here, even if a linkage could be demonstrated, it would still be back to the cricket club not a football club. And on that basis too, Cliftonville would be as entitled to therefore claim a date of 1870 as their founding date, as this was the founding date of their 'parent' cricket club.

It is not "in dispute" and all authorities on this matter have clearly stated Cliftonvilles position as the first football club in Ireland and the founders of football in Ireland.