Damien Byrne
Encyclopedia
Damien Byrne is a former Irish
professional football
player. In a career spanning 20 seasons, Byrne won player of the year awards in both Northern Ireland
and the Republic of Ireland
, the only man to do so http://www.swai.ie/?q=node/41. He started his career as a striker but midway through his career switched to central defence
.
His son Phil Byrne
currently plays for Longford Town F.C.
.
and made his League of Ireland
debut on 12 October 1973 for that club against St Patrick's Athletic. He stayed only one season with Home Farm and in the summer of 1974 he signed for Dundalk
, however by the end of November he had moved on to their County Louth
rivals Drogheda United
. During his time at Drogheda Byrne would win League of Ireland representative honours. The closest he came to winning a trophy was playing on the FAI Cup
final losing Drogheda side of 1976. When he left Drogheda in 1983 he was their all time leading goal scorer with 47.
club Crusaders
in 1983. He spent two years at Seaview
and won their player of the year award in his second season. He then joined Ards F.C.
of Newtownards
. Such were his performances in his second season with the North Down club, and following a notable 3rd place finish in the league, Byrne was voted the Irish League
Player of the Year in 1986/87.
in October of that year was persuaded by Brian Kerr to join his new look St Patrick's Athletic side. Kerr had signed several young players and felt he needed an experienced defender to lead the team. St Pats need tot beat Dundalk in the last game of the season to win the league but drew and had to be content with runners up medals. In 1990 Byrne wne tone better as he became the first St Patrick's Athletic captain in 34 years to lift the League of Ireland trophy. He was voted the Personality of the Year by the Soccer Writer of Ireland to complete his North/South double. Byrne missed the majority of the following season as a knee injury threatened his career. He came back in 1991/92 but mainly played back up as St Pats young defenders took over. He retired from playing in 1993 to take as assistant manager role at Bohemians
. He stayed with Bohs less than a season and began managing local junior side Lusk United.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
professional football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player. In a career spanning 20 seasons, Byrne won player of the year awards in both Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
and the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
, the only man to do so http://www.swai.ie/?q=node/41. He started his career as a striker but midway through his career switched to central defence
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
.
His son Phil Byrne
Phil Byrne
Philip Byrne is an Irish football player. Football was in his blood - his father Damien Byrne was also a League of Ireland player....
currently plays for Longford Town F.C.
Longford Town F.C.
Longford Town F.C. is an Irish football club playing in the League of Ireland First Division. The club, founded in 1924 and elected to the league in 1984, hails from Longford, County Longford and play their home matches at Flancare Park...
.
The first ten years
Byrne played schoolboy football for Home Farm F.C.Home Farm F.C.
Home Farm Football Club is an Irish football club based in Whitehall, Dublin. Originally founded in 1928, the club joined the League of Ireland in 1972 after merging with Drumcondra. Following this merger they were briefly known as Home Farm Drumcondra...
and made his League of Ireland
League of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
debut on 12 October 1973 for that club against St Patrick's Athletic. He stayed only one season with Home Farm and in the summer of 1974 he signed for Dundalk
Dundalk F.C.
Dundalk Football Club is a professional Irish football club based in Dundalk, County Louth. The club currently play in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. Founded in 1903, they are the second most successful team, in terms of trophies won, in the history of the League of Ireland. The...
, however by the end of November he had moved on to their County Louth
County Louth
County Louth is a county of Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Louth. Louth County Council is the local authority for the county...
rivals Drogheda United
Drogheda United
Drogheda United Football Club is an Irish football club currently playing in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. The club hails from Drogheda, Ireland and, since 1979, plays its home matches at Hunky Dorys Park....
. During his time at Drogheda Byrne would win League of Ireland representative honours. The closest he came to winning a trophy was playing on the FAI Cup
FAI Cup
The Football Association of Ireland Challenge Cup, known as the FAI Ford Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland...
final losing Drogheda side of 1976. When he left Drogheda in 1983 he was their all time leading goal scorer with 47.
Irish League career
Byrne signed for BelfastBelfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
club Crusaders
Crusaders F.C.
Crusaders Football Club is a semi-professional, Northern Irish association football club, playing in the IFA Premiership. The club, founded in 1898, hails from Belfast and plays its home matches at Seaview. Club colours are red and black. The current manager is Stephen Baxter, appointed in 2005...
in 1983. He spent two years at Seaview
Seaview (football ground)
Seaview is a football stadium in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It is the home ground of Crusaders F.C.. The stadium holds 3,054. The stadium has a 4G pitch....
and won their player of the year award in his second season. He then joined Ards F.C.
Ards F.C.
Ards F.C. is an intermediate, Northern Irish football club playing in IFA Championship 1. The club, founded in 1900, is from Newtownards, but plays its home matches at Dixon Park in Ballyclare, which it shares with Ballyclare Comrades...
of Newtownards
Newtownards
Newtownards is a large town in County Down, Northern Ireland. It lies at the most northern tip of Strangford Lough, 10 miles east of Belfast, on the Ards Peninsula. Newtownards is the largest town in the Borough of Ards. According to the 2001 Census, it has a population of 27,821 people in...
. Such were his performances in his second season with the North Down club, and following a notable 3rd place finish in the league, Byrne was voted the Irish League
IFA Premiership
The IFA Premiership – formerly the Irish Premier League, and before that the Irish Football League–and still known in popular parlance simply as the Irish League, is the national football league in Northern Ireland, and was historically the league for the whole of Ireland. Clubs in the league are...
Player of the Year in 1986/87.
3rd stage of his career
Byrne joined Shamrock Rovers in the summer of 1987 but despite making one appearance in the European CupUEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
in October of that year was persuaded by Brian Kerr to join his new look St Patrick's Athletic side. Kerr had signed several young players and felt he needed an experienced defender to lead the team. St Pats need tot beat Dundalk in the last game of the season to win the league but drew and had to be content with runners up medals. In 1990 Byrne wne tone better as he became the first St Patrick's Athletic captain in 34 years to lift the League of Ireland trophy. He was voted the Personality of the Year by the Soccer Writer of Ireland to complete his North/South double. Byrne missed the majority of the following season as a knee injury threatened his career. He came back in 1991/92 but mainly played back up as St Pats young defenders took over. He retired from playing in 1993 to take as assistant manager role at Bohemians
Bohemian F.C.
Bohemian F.C. , more commonly referred to as Bohemians, is a professional football club from Dublin, Ireland. Bohemians compete in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland and are the third most successful club in League of Ireland football history, having won the League of Ireland title 11...
. He stayed with Bohs less than a season and began managing local junior side Lusk United.
Honours
- League of IrelandLeague of IrelandThe League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
: 1- 1989/90 - St. Patrick's Athletic
- Leinster Senior CupLeinster Senior Cup (football)The Leinster Senior Cup is an association football cup competition organised by the Leinster Football Association. It contested by the top League of Ireland sides based in the province in Leinster along with four Leinster Senior League sides and the two Leinster Junior Cup finalists. The Cup was...
- 1990 - St Patrick's Athletic
- Irish League Player of the Year
- 1986/87 - Ards F.C.
- SWAI Personality of the Year
- 1989/90 - St Patrick's Athletic