Clubs around the world with Irish links

**wdunne** · 29/10/2009, 10:22 PM

Hey Guys,

I'm trying to compile a list of clubs around the world with Irish links.
Below is what I have and how they have the link.

Can anybody add to the list?

Celtic FC (Glasgow, Scotland)
Celtic Football Club are a club based in Glasgow in Scotland. Celtic’s founding roots began with the Irish community in Glasgow.

Hibernian FC (Edinburgh, Scotland)
The club was founded in August 1875 by members of the St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church. Hibernian were the first major Scottish club formed by Scotlands Irish community.

St. Mirren FC (Paisley, Scotland)
St. Mirren was founded by a team of cricketers in 1877. They are named after Saint Mirin the founder of a church at the site of Paisley Abbey and Patron Saint of Paisley. Saint Mirin was a Catholic Irish Monk (born circa 565 died circa 620)

Dundee United FC (Dundee, Scotland)
Following on the example set by both Hibernian in Edinburgh and then Celtic in Glasgow, the Irish community in Dundee set up their own football club.

UD Salamanca (Salamanca, Spain)

Unión Deportiva Salamanca were founded in 1923 by Irish students.

FC Barcelona (Barcelona, Spain)

They were managed by Dublin born Patrick O'Connell from 1935 to 1937. During the Spanish civil war he took Barcelona on a tour of Mexico and the United States to assist with raising funds for the club.

4 Argentine clubs named after Argentine-Irish Admiral Guillermo Brown
Club Almirante Brown (Buenos Aires Province, Argentina)
Club Atlético Almirante Brown (Buenos Aires Province, Argentina)
Club Atlético Brown (Buenos Aires Province, Argentina)
Club Social y Atlético Guillermo Brown (Chubut Province, Argentina)

Club Atlético Vélez Sársfield (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
Club Atlético Vélez Sársfield named after prominent lawyer and politician Dalmacio Vélez Sársfield was of Irish descent.

Club Deportivo O'Higgins (Rancagua, Chile)
Club Deportivo O'Higgins take their name from Bernardo O'Higgins. He was a South American independence leader who helped to free Chile from Spanish rule in the Chilean War of Independence. O’Higgins father was born in Sligo.

**superfrank** · 29/10/2009, 10:29 PM

Vélez Sársfield are named after the train station in the local neighbourhood, which was called Vélez Sársfield (which, itself, was named after Sársfield) and is now called Floresta. The guys who founded the club were sheltering from the rain there.

**bennocelt** · 30/10/2009, 8:26 AM

Boca Juniors?

by the way I know Dundee Utd is the "catholic" team in the city but does anyone know why they wear orange?

**Closed Account 2** · 30/10/2009, 5:51 PM

Club Almirante Brown (de Isidro Casanova) - Argentine 3rd division, named after Admiral William Brown of Foxford, Co. Mayo.

**weecountyman** · 30/10/2009, 7:34 PM

St. Patrick FC, Zabbar, Malta - Were renamed in 1948 to align themselves with independence seekers (from the UK) and one of their patrons at the time was a teaching brother from the nearby boarding school. Have a shamrock on their badge and a number of Irish names in the club. Currently in the 1st division.

Floriana FC, Floriana, Malta - The second oldest club in Malta and got their colours and nickname from the fact that the Dublin Fusiliers were based in the town and gave them their first set of shirts. The Irish link is so strong that people from Floriana are called "Irish".

Montreal Impact - Originally the Supra who were formed by the Montreal Hibernian Society. This came out of an older club (Montreal Hibernians) and were the stopping point for a lot of Irish working in the city at the time, they also had competitive GAA and Rugby teams. In the early 90's a local "mob" family took over the club, renamed it American style and they've become one of the top 2nd tier sides in North America.

**irishultra** · 30/10/2009, 10:45 PM

Liverpool FC, England-Founded by a Unionist from Monaghan.

**Stevo Da Gull** · 30/10/2009, 11:17 PM

Santiago Wanderers of Valparaiso, Chile, switched to green jerseys with white shorts in 1908. The kit was based on the Ireland jersey* and the change came about due to the influence of James McLean, an Englishman of Irish origin. According to the Spanish Wikipedia page.

* I would like to know which Ireland jersey. The national soccer team at the team was governed by the IFA, and played mainly in Blue (up until 1931). However it is quite possible that the team had a green jersey at some stage between 1882 and 1908.

**wdunne** · 31/10/2009, 9:27 AM

Originally Posted by bennocelt

by the way I know Dundee Utd is the "catholic" team in the city but does anyone know why they wear orange?

According to Wikipedia they changed to Orange for a more modern look, as well as a suggestion from the managers wife in 1969.

**wdunne** · 31/10/2009, 9:27 AM

Originally Posted by superfrank

Vélez Sársfield are named after the train station in the local neighbourhood, which was called Vélez Sársfield (which, itself, was named after Sársfield) and is now called Floresta. The guys who founded the club were sheltering from the rain there.

Thanks superfrank, I suppose the link isn't as strong as I had thought..

**Dodge** · 31/10/2009, 9:33 AM

Originally Posted by bennocelt

by the way I know Dundee Utd is the "catholic" team in the city but does anyone know why they wear orange?

Originally called Dundee Hibs

And they play in Tangerine, not Orange

**Closed Account 2** · 01/11/2009, 1:44 AM

Júbilo Iwata, they have a player called Robert Cullen playing for them (half Irish half Japanese) - I think he's the only Irish player to have played in Japan, was J-League Young Player of the Year in 2005.

**Poor Student** · 01/11/2009, 9:28 AM

Originally Posted by cfdh_edmundo

Júbilo Iwata, they have a player called Robert Cullen playing for them (half Irish half Japanese) - I think he's the only Irish player to have played in Japan, was J-League Young Player of the Year in 2005.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Cullen

According to wiki he's the son of a Northern Irishman and a Japanese woman. He has Japanese citizenship and has played for their U-20s.