Limerick in the 80s

**KarlosMendosa** · 03/10/2006, 11:13 AM

Hi there, new to the forum.

I was wondering if anyone has any recollection about Limerick in the early 80s. A family member of mine was involved in the club back then and told of turbulent times. Players going on strike ( except Kevin Fitzpatrick?), Derry City players coming down to play for Limerick, Pat Grace and his promise or riches that the greedy players believed...

Some great stories. But was a bad time for people I know.

Our family since doesnt live in Limerick anymore, so id like to know what others think of that era. Supposedly was Limericks golden era until Grace ruined it. Would that be accurate?

**joeSoap** · 03/10/2006, 12:12 PM

Its true to say that it was the the clubs golden era, but it would be unfair to say that Pat Grace ruined it all. He actually did a lot of good for the club, and had some less than savoury hangers on that acted in the clubs interests that helped fleece it. I think Gary Spain might agree with me on that, and he is the man to pm if you want a whole lot of stats and info.

After winning the league (1980) and the FAI Cup(1982) and commercially successful high profile games against Real Madrid, Southampton, AZ Aalkmaar in Europe, and friendlies against Tottenham and Man United, The club left its spiritual home in 1984 when it moved into the Old Crescent rugby grounds that it had purchased. A profitable bar, clubhouse, premier football and good enough gates meant that the club was still relatively successful, at least off the field.Sadly the arson attack on the never to be rebuilt clubhouse signalled the beginning of the end for the club.

Since then, with the exception of Billy Hamiltons tenure, the club has languished in the first division, and through a succession of disastrous ownerships and management has sadly not looked like going back up where it belongs. Since the early 80's , Limerick has produced some legendary players for the Eircom League; the entire squad from 80-83 was brilliant; Fitzpatrick, Nolan, Nodwell, Storan, O'Mahoney, Duggan, Meaney, Kennedy, Hulmes, Walsh all super players. Since then, Limerick has seen some other fine players wear the blue; Ray O'Halloran gave nearly 15 years of service to the club; Christy Coll, Johnny Mullane, Declan Hyde, John Power, Albert Finnan, Marcus Tuite, Peter Hanrahan were all class acts, and today the likes of Paul Finnucane, Pat Purcell, Robbie Kelleher, Tommy Barrett and Derek McCarthy are fine examples of the talent that still exists, but is sadly misplaced.

**dcfc_1928** · 03/10/2006, 12:37 PM

I remember the Limerick City side managed by Billy Hamilton in the late 1980s - there were some great players in the team at that stage and some great tussles between Derry City and Limerick City.

The plans for the new stadium back then were very impressive as well - I remember a great article in "Irish Football Magazine" detailing the plans.

Its a pity - for whatever reason - that it all went tits up.

**gspain** · 03/10/2006, 12:50 PM

Football wise the early 80's were the golden years.

There were great plans for Rathbane and the club was awash with money in the mid 80's as the Lotto was bringing in �5,000 per week, the bar was also highly profitable. The national lottery damaged the Lotto and the bar being burned down was probably the beginning of the end. Grace was also being fleeced by some people.

The only strike was more of a picket in 1983 in a battle for control of the club. That's another long story which I can detail when I have more time.

**KarlosMendosa** · 03/10/2006, 12:51 PM

Thanks for the info lads.

Just was curious as I plenty of memoirbilia in boxes here.

Old scarf
Photos
A certificate of ownership of Limerick United!
A pennant and ashtray from Real Madrid with Limerick United and the date engraved
A crystal vase with a medallion around it saying "Football League of Ireland - Champions 1979 - Limerick United"

But the best are the stories ive been told of the Markets Field.

**joeSoap** · 03/10/2006, 1:22 PM

Originally Posted by KarlosMendosa

A crystal vase with a medallion around it saying "Football League of Ireland - Champions 1979 - Limerick United"

Think you might have been sold some dodgy gear there Karlos....Limerick won the league in 1980, not 79.

**KarlosMendosa** · 03/10/2006, 1:30 PM

Originally Posted by joeSoap

Think you might have been sold some dodgy gear there Karlos....Limerick won the league in 1980, not 79.

aah it says, 1979 - 80 on it... so its

**red bellied** · 03/10/2006, 1:32 PM

From what I have been told the Markets Field was the real home of Limerick football. Sligo Rovers played Limerick in a League Cup final (1st leg)down there in the seventies during the week and there was supposed to being over ten thousand at it.

**KarlosMendosa** · 03/10/2006, 1:48 PM

By the way...

Was anyone here part of the group of fans who invaded the Irish consulate in Madrid for food and drinks? I have photos of that evening

**joeSoap** · 03/10/2006, 2:00 PM

Crowds of 10,000 were a regular thing in the 70's and 80's in the Markets Field. It was electric. I saw my first game there in 1976 as an 8 yr old against Home Farm...a 2-0 win with Tony Meaney scoring, I remember. Games against Waterford, Sligo and Shamrock Rovers were always the most entertaining, and always attracted the biggest crowds.

**gspain** · 03/10/2006, 2:08 PM

I was in Madrid as a kid with my Dad but we went to see Atletico Madrid B team play in the Spanish cup on the Tuesday night. 50-60 people went if I remember rightly. My Dad paid �100 at the time to bring me which was quite a lot of money then.

Sent you a PM as I'm sure I'll know your relative.

**KarlosMendosa** · 03/10/2006, 2:25 PM

Originally Posted by gspain

I was in Madrid as a kid with my Dad but we went to see Atletico Madrid B team play in the Spanish cup on the Tuesday night. 50-60 people went if I remember rightly. My Dad paid �100 at the time to bring me which was quite a lot of money then.

Sent you a PM as I'm sure I'll know your relative.

Just replied by PM!

Story I heard is of the ambassadors wife in madrid apologising to my mother as didnt expect so many people to turn up and she wasnt sure there was enough food to go around! Supposedly was just a reception for the board members but a load of fans crashed it...great stuff.

**jebus** · 03/10/2006, 2:35 PM

Wasn't watching back then but all I hear from the aul lads from my area (edward st., hyde rd etc.) is that the club has been dead in their eyes since we left the Market's Field. They have stated they would go back if Limerick returned there, but that any team operating out of Pike, Old Crescent, Hogan Park etc. are a Limerick team by name alone. Still at least they have a burning hatred for the Priest when I talk to them so I doubt Limerick FC are truly as dead in their eyes as they say

**joeSoap** · 03/10/2006, 2:41 PM

The Priest is only one man with some responsibility for ruining the club....there are several others.

**lim abroad** · 03/10/2006, 4:52 PM

my father used to always tell me stories about andy mcevoy and how good he was.joint top scorer in the english first division with jimmy greaves and signed for limerick the following season

**shelbourne1904** · 04/10/2006, 4:48 PM

Originally Posted by lim abroad

my father used to always tell me stories about andy mcevoy and how good he was.joint top scorer in the english first division with jimmy greaves and signed for limerick the following season

Oh how the past always look great.I doubt if the Markets field could hold 10k!!Everyone thinks it was great but the only reason they think that is because the team happened to be good in one of the years they played there.It was a kip!! Did you ever see the dressing rooms(they are still there).I remember seeing Andy MCEvoy playing for the League of Ireland team against the English League while he was with Limerick.The previous week I saw Limerick beaten 3-1 by Rovers in Milltown.They were an average midtable team with Keven Fitz in goal.He played so well he was picked for the LOI team and had to be replaced at half time by Peter Thomas because his nerves went and let in 5 goals in the first half.The second half saw Andy score goal of the match to leave the final score 7-2.The point I am making is that the failure of the team has absolutely nothing to do with leaving the Markets Field and anyone who says so is living in Dreamland.If the truth were known limerick have had a very few periods of success in the history soccer in the city.Unfortunately the "Heart of Sport" in Ireland deserted football as soon as their real love Rugby started to get popular in Ireland.
Can anyone tell me why there is a statue of a rugby and hurling player in the middle of the city but none of a football player.

Some tribute to McEvoy,Kennedy,Finnucane ,O'Mahony ,Ahearne,Hamilton,Fitzy etc?????????

**jebus** · 04/10/2006, 6:59 PM

Originally Posted by shelbourne1904

Oh how the past always look great.I doubt if the Markets field could hold 10k!!Everyone thinks it was great but the only reason they think that is because the team happened to be good in one of the years they played there.It was a kip!! Did you ever see the dressing rooms(they are still there).I remember seeing Andy MCEvoy playing for the League of Ireland team against the English League while he was with Limerick.The previous week I saw Limerick beaten 3-1 by Rovers in Milltown.They were an average midtable team with Keven Fitz in goal.He played so well he was picked for the LOI team and had to be replaced at half time by Peter Thomas because his nerves went and let in 5 goals in the first half.The second half saw Andy score goal of the match to leave the final score 7-2.The point I am making is that the failure of the team has absolutely nothing to do with leaving the Markets Field and anyone who says so is living in Dreamland.If the truth were known limerick have had a very few periods of success in the history soccer in the city.Unfortunately the "Heart of Sport" in Ireland deserted football as soon as their real love Rugby started to get popular in Ireland.
Can anyone tell me why there is a statue of a rugby and hurling player in the middle of the city but none of a football player.

Some tribute to McEvoy,Kennedy,Finnucane ,O'Mahony ,Ahearne,Hamilton,Fitzy etc?????????

What...a.....pr!ck!!

(Don't ban me

)

**joeSoap** · 05/10/2006, 8:12 AM

Originally Posted by jebus

What...a.....pr!ck!!

(Don't ban me

)

Ban you??....You should be entered for Post of the Month !!

I'm not going to counter this muppets so called 'points' about attendances or it being a kip because I don't have to. I was there regularly, still have the press cuttings and am sure Gary and anyone else who was a fan back then will agree.

Perhaps he was actually born in 1904 as his username indicates, making him 102 years old and probably in the throes of alzheimers(no offense meant to alzheimers sufferers).

Wa nk er

**Lim till i die** · 05/10/2006, 9:26 AM

Well said Mr. Soap

As a member of the younger generation of Limerick fans

I missed out on this period but it has always fascinated and confused me in equal measure.

One thing I can't get my headaround though - The club must have been absolutely awash with money at the time. Now I've heard all the rumours and what not since but can any of the old guard on here give me a definitive explanation as to how the club has fallen so far without breaking libel laws??

**joeSoap** · 05/10/2006, 9:41 AM

Hard to do without breaking the libel laws I'm afraid. The club moved to Rathbane in 1984 and was generating big money through good gates, a very successful bar and a lotto that was taking in between �4-500 a week. In euro terms, I'd say there was easily €30,000 coming in every fortnight...big bucks back then. Alas, mis-management came into play; the clubhouse and bar burnt down, never to be rebuilt. This was a big blow financially, as was the advent of the National Lottery. People stopped buying club lotto tickets and decided to go for the big one instead. Attendances started slipping, as did on the field performances, and the club got involved with one or two unnamed unsavoury characters. That, plus the fact that an unnamed committee member was able to purchase a semi-detatched house at the same time a wedge of club funds went missing tells a tale.

And the rest, as they say, is history. In latter years, people like Blly Kinane, Tommy Lynch and Noel O'Connor (pre current era) have tried their best, often at vast expense to themselves, to kick-start the club but have been stymied in their attempts by bad bad committees.

The rest, as they say, is history...