Waterford United
Encyclopedia
Waterford United is an Irish
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,...

 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...

 club playing in the First Division of the 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...

. The club was founded and elected to the league in 1930 and hails from Waterford. Originally the club was based at Kilcohan Park greyhound stadium, but have now moved to the Waterford Regional Sports Centre
Waterford Regional Sports Centre
The Waterford Regional Sports Centre is part of Waterford Corporation's Municipal sporting facilities and home to Waterford United of the League of Ireland ....

. Club colours are blue and white, and the club goes by the nicknames 'The Blues' or 'United'.

Waterford F.C. 1930-1982

Waterford first participated in the league in the 1930-1931 season finishing ninth and again from 1931-1932 before dropping out of the league for two seasons. Waterford re-entered the league in the 1935-1936 season along with Sligo Rovers. Waterford FC won the Shield in their first season.

Waterord won the FAI cup for the first time in their history in 1937 beating St. James Gate and also won the Shield.

The club were league runners up in 1937-1938 season and again in the 1940-1941 season. Both Waterford and League winners Cork United
Cork United
Cork United Football Club was a name used by two former Football League of Ireland clubs based in Cork. The original club played during the 1940s while the second club played during the 1980s.-Cork United I:...

 finished on equal points but Cork were awarded the title as Waterford were unable to compete in the play-off due to a dispute regarding payment to players. At the end of the campaign, the original Waterford FC resigned from the League of Ireland, only for a new entity, with the same name, to be elected in, for 1944-1945 season.
Waterford won the Shield again in the 1952-1953 season and were again runners-up in the League this time to St. Patricks Athletic in the 1954-1955 season and again in the 1962-1963 season.

The club eventually won the league title for the first time in the 1965-1966 season, setting a then league record of 13 straight league victories, and this was the beginning of a hugely successful spell for the club domestically. The following season they played in the preliminary round of the Champions cup against Vorwärts Berlin, an East German and Army side, losing 6-1 at Dalymount Park
Dalymount Park
Dalymount Park is an Irish football stadium situated on Dublin's Northside. It is the home of Bohemian F.C., who have played there since the early 20th century. Affectionately known as 'Dalyer' by fans, it was also historically the "home of Irish football" holding Irish internationals and FAI Cup...

 and 6-0 in East Berlin
East Berlin
East Berlin was the name given to the eastern part of Berlin between 1949 and 1990. It consisted of the Soviet sector of Berlin that was established in 1945. The American, British and French sectors became West Berlin, a part strongly associated with West Germany but a free city...

.

They won the Shield once again in 1968 -1969 season. Waterford won the league title three times in a row, in 1968,1969 and in 1970. The title was won by Cork Hibernians in 1971 but returned to Waterford in the 1971-1972 season and again in the 1972-1973 season.

The following season Waterford won the League of Ireland Cup, however failed to regain the league title. The Club won 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...

 in 1980 beating St. Patricks Athletic with the winner from Brian Gardner. Waterford's success in the league brought European football playing against famous clubs such as Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...

 and Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...

.

Bobby Charlton
Bobby Charlton
Sir Robert "Bobby" Charlton CBE is an English former professional football player, a member of the England team who won the World Cup and Ballon d'Or for European Footballer of the Year in 1966...

 had a brief spell at this club.

.

Waterford United 1982-Present

In May 1982, the Club changed its name to Waterford United FC. Alfie Hale
Alfie Hale
Alfred "Alfie" Hale is a former Irish footballer and manager who played for several clubs in both the League of Ireland and the English League, most notably, Waterford United, Aston Villa, Doncaster Rovers and Cork Celtic. During his career Hale scored 153 goals in the League of Ireland and a...

 was appointed manager. In 1985 the league's membership rose to 22 clubs with the election of six new clubs in 1985. This resulted in the introduction of the present two Division (Premier and First) structure in 1985/86 of which Waterford was a member of the Premier Division. Waterford were relegated to the First Division in the 1988-1989 season. Their stay there was short, gaining promotion and winning the First Division title the following season 1989-1990. They were unable to retain their Premier Division status the following season finishing in eleventh.

The club was promoted to the top flight in the 1991-1992 season finishing as runners up to Limerick
Limerick F.C.
Limerick Football Club is an association football club based in Limerick, Ireland. The club currently play in the First Division of the League of Ireland. The first Limerick FC was founded in 1937 and has had a number of guises through its history, known at different times as Limerick FC, Limerick...

. But again the club were unable to remain in the Premier Division for more than a single season suffering relegation on goal difference to 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....

.

Waterford United were promoted to the Premier Division, finishing top of the First Division in the 1997-1998 season and remained there until the 1999-2000 season suffering relegation in the playoffs to Kilkenny City. They were promoted to the Premier Division again in the 2002-2003 season.

The Blues reached 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 in 2004, their first since 1986 under Alan Reynolds (footballer)
Alan Reynolds (footballer)
Alan Reynolds is a former Irish footballer and manager. He is currently working as a Football In Community Development Officer for the Football Association of Ireland ....

 but lost 2-1.

In 2006 Waterford United were relegated to the First Division. The F.A.I took over the running of the League of Ireland at the end of the 2006 season. Part of this takeover involved the assessment of all League of Ireland sides and the manner in which they were being run including finances, infrastructure, future plans, marketability and previous finishing positions since the 2002 season, ( this was due to Kildare County only joining the Eircom League in 2002). Despite finishing in 11th and last place ( Dublin City
Dublin City F.C.
Dublin City Football Club was an Irish association football club that played in the League of Ireland. They were formed in 1999 after a split within Home Farm Everton and they originally played as Home Farm Fingal before changing their name for the 2001–02 season...

 being the 12th team in the league and subsequently folding during the season) the club were forced to play a relegation/promotion playoff against 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...

. Despite being defeated Waterford United still stood a chance of remaining a Premier Division side due to the FAI assessment. However on 8 December 2006 the FAI
Football Association of Ireland
The Football Association of Ireland is the governing body for the sport of association football in the Republic of Ireland. It should not to be confused with the Irish Football Association , which is the organising body for the sport in Northern Ireland.For the full history, statistics and records...

 decided to relegate Waterford to the 1st Division with Shamrock Rovers and Galway United
Galway United
Galway United F.C. was founded as Galway Rovers in 1937. They are a football club currently playing in the League of Ireland Premier Division, the top tier of the Irish football....

 replacing them and the now defunct Dublin City.

Dundalk, despite beating Waterford in a playoff were controversially overlooked and remain in the First Division. However on 20 February it was announced that Waterford United had been invited to participate in the Premier Division for the forthcoming season. Club secretary Larry Gough stated "The club considered the proposal carefully and decided to accept the invitation in the best interests of football in Waterford and the eircom league". However, The "Blues" were unfortunately relegated that season via the play-offs losing 6-3(0-3)(3-3) on aggregate to Finn Harps.

After the dejection of relegation the "Blues" went into the 2008 season knowing that only one team from the First Division would be promoted and three from the Premier Division as the FAI look to revamp the league. A valiant effort from Cronin's Blues saw them come so close yet so far as the "Blues" fell away towards the business end of the season leaving Dundalk and Shelbourne in a two horse race come the final day of the season. In 2009 former Bohemians player, Stephen Henderson
Stephen Henderson (footballer born 1966)
Stephen Henderson is an Irish football manager and former player who played as a goalkeeper.-Personal life:Henderson comes from a goalkeeping family, his father, Paddy Henderson, was a League of Ireland goalkeeper, as was his brother Dave Henderson, while his younger brother Wayne Henderson is a...

 took over as boss at the Club and in his first season, the Blues narrowly missed out yet again for the playoffs and reached the League Cup Final and the FAI Cup semi finals. Henderson recently signed a 1 year extension to his contract for the 2010 season. In May 2011 Henderson was relieved of his duties after a string of poor results. Waterford native, Paul O'Brien was appointed manager for the duration of the season. Waterford United FC finished 5th in the 2011 Airtricity League First Division

Board Members

Directors: Chris Everett and Michael Drohan

Honorary President: Bertie Rogers

Management Committee: Tony Burke, John Douglas, Michael Drohan, Chris Everett, Greg Pheasey, Larry Gough, John O'Driscoll, John O'Sullivan, Ray Scott, Sam White.
----

Staff

Directors: Chris Everett, Michael Drohan

Honorary President: Bertie Rogers

Club Administrator: Michael Drohan

The Board:
John Sullivan - Chairman and Head of Governance
Tony Burke - Head of Finance
Larry Gough - Head of Communications & Community
Greg Pheasey - Head of Technical
Sam White - Head of Infrastructure

Hon Secretary: Ray Scott

UEFA Licensing Officer: Chris Everett

Media Officer: John Kehoe

Event Controller: Mark Dunne

Safety Officer:Padraigh Dunne

Chief of Security: David Simpson

Doctor: Dr. Eithne Brenner

Physiotherapist: Chris Morrissey

Club Administrator: Michael Drohan

Stadium Announcer: Michael Butler

Current squad

U-19 Squad

Players

Technical Staff

Manager: Paul O'Brien

Assistant Manager/Goalkeeping Coach: Billy Hearne

First Team Coach: Alan Barry

U19 Manager: Tommy Griffin

U19 Assistant Manager: Johnny Browne

U19 Coach: Declan Howlett

Club Doctor: Dr. Ethine Brenner

Physio: Chris Morrissey

U19 Physio: Seamus Conway

Equipment Manager: Michael Walsh

Fans

The club draws its support not only from Waterford City, but also from Waterford County and the South East region as a whole. WUFC fans have organised themselves into 3 fan groups.

Groups

Blues Supporter Club (B.S.C)

The Blues Supporters Club, which is the official Waterford United fans group was formed in December 2009 after members of the I.B.S.C (Independent Blues Supporters Club) overwhelmingly voted to become an official fans group. From the 2010 season, the B.S.C organise transport for Blues fans to away games, run the Club shop as well as organise numerous fund raising activities and other match day activities for Waterford United. There is also a branch of the B.S.C. based in Dungarvan that accommodates Blues fans living in West Waterford. Membership is still open for the 2011 season and information can be found on Waterford United's home page. Long time Blues fan, Owen Tubbritt, was appointed PRO in December 2009.

Dublin Blues Supporters Club (D.B.S.C)

The D.B.S.C was formed in January 2007 as an independent outlet for Dublin and east Leinster based Waterford United fans. The D.B.S.C organises transport, usually trains for Dublin based fans to away matches. Despite repeated attempts by the B.S.C to co-opt the D.B.S.C into its organisation, the D.B.S.C President, Comrade Leader Niall Doherty announced publicly that the D.B.S.C would remain an independent supporters group.

Blue Army "Ultras" (B.A.U)

The B.A.U was formed in January 2006 to bring an Italian style Ultra atmosphere to the RSC and to away matches. The B.A.U are noticeable in their presence with their flag waving and chanting. The B.A.U in 2008 formed an alliance with the Lyngby BK Ultras of Denmark with its members attending travelling to Denmark to attend Lyngby BK games every season and vice versa. The B.A.U currently reside in Block E of the West Stand.

Senior

  • League of Ireland Champions: 6
    • 1965-66, 1967-68, 1968-69, 1969-70, 1971-72, 1972-73

  • League of Ireland Cup: 2
    • 1973-74, 1984–85

  • 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...

    : 2
    • 1937, 1980

  • League of Ireland First Division: 3
    • 1989–90, 1997–98, 2002–03

  • Munster Senior Cup: 5
    • 1985–86, 1986–87, 2007, 2009, 2010

European Competition

CompetitionPlayedWinDrawLostForAgainst
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 2 0 0 2 1 6
Total 2 0 0 2 1 6

Competition Opponents Home Away Agg.
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 1986-87
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 1986-87
The season 1986-87 of the European Cup Winners' Cup was won by Ajax Amsterdam in the final against 1. FC Lokomotive Leipzig. It was their only title in the competition, and was added to a hat-trick of European Cup wins from 1971 to 1973...


Round One
  FC Girondins de Bordeaux
FC Girondins de Bordeaux
Football Club des Girondins de Bordeaux is a French association football club based in the city of Bordeaux. The club currently play in Ligue 1, the first division of French football, and won its last Ligue 1 title in the 2008–09 season....

1-2 0-4 1-6

Selected Former Players

John Frost
John Frost (footballer)
John Frost is an Irish professional footballer who currently plays for Limerick in the League of Ireland .Frost first came to notice when nominated for the FAI's Schools player of the year in 1998. He was a regular in the Republic of Ireland youth teams by then and soon made his debut in the...

 Al Finucane
Al Finucane
Al Finucane was an Irish football player. During his 28 year career he played for League of Ireland sides Limerick, Waterford United and Newcastlewest F.C.. Finucane was also a member of several Republic of Ireland national football team squads.Finucane played his first game for Limerick as a 17...

 Noel Hunt
Noel Hunt
Noel Hunt is an Irish footballer, who currently plays as a striker for Football League Championship side Reading. His brother is Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C...

 Stephen Grant
Stephen Grant (footballer)
Stephen Grant is a former professional footballer who played as a striker.During his career he played for Athlone Town, Sunderland, Shamrock Rovers , Stockport County, Burnley, Finn Harps, Waterford United Boston Bulldogs, Galway United and Shelbourne.After playing for Athlone and Sunderland...

 Daryl Murphy
Daryl Murphy
Daryl Murphy is an Irish footballer who currently plays as a striker for Ipswich Town on loan from Scottish Premier League club Celtic.-Waterford United:...

 Michael Bennett
Michael Bennett
Michael Bennett was an American musical theater director, writer, choreographer, and dancer. He won seven Tony Awards for his choreography and direction of Broadway shows and was nominated for an additional eleven....

 Alan Barry
Alan Barry
Alan Barry is an Italo disco alias-act of a Italian band that was produced by The Saifam Group whose member were Mauro Farina, Giuliano Crivellente and Severo Lombardoni...

 Gustavo di LellaDominic Wouters Tony Hall
Tony Hall
Tony Hall may refer to:* Tony P. Hall , U.S. politician, representative and ambassador* Tony Hall, Baron Hall of Birkenhead , chief executive of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London...

 Johnny Matthews
Johnny Matthews
Johnny Matthews is a former English footballer and manager.Matthews started his career playing with his home club Coventry City F.C.....

 Bobby Charlton
Bobby Charlton
Sir Robert "Bobby" Charlton CBE is an English former professional football player, a member of the England team who won the World Cup and Ballon d'Or for European Footballer of the Year in 1966...

 Brian Gardner
Brian Gardner
Brian Gardner, also known as Brian "Big Bass" Gardner is a mastering engineer. He has worked on countless recordings since the mid-1960s, including classic rock, funk, disco, alternative rock, R&B, hip hop, pop punk, and dance pop. He is perhaps best known for his work on hip hop albums and in...

 Eddie McIlvenny

Dominic Iorfa
Dominic Iorfa
Dominic "Dom" Iorfa is a Nigerian former professional footballer. He was born in Gboko, Benue State, Nigeria.- Trivia :He has played professionally in England, Scotland, Turkey, Ireland and Belgium...

 Trond Debes Håkon Johansen
Håkon Winther
Håkon André Winther is a Norwegian former footballer, founder and owner of football statistics website Playerhistory.com and a prominent Nord Norge separatist.-Personal life:...

 Andrej Polewczak Piotr Suski   Jose Quitongo
Jose Quitongo
José Manuel Quitongo is an Angolan former professional footballer who played as a winger, spending most of his career in Scotland.-Career:...

 Rodney Jack
Rodney Jack
Rodney Jack is a professional football player from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. He is best known for his spells with Torquay United and Crewe Alexandra and also his long-term friendship with singer/songwriter Ash Cherrington...

 Scott Garlick
Scott Garlick
Scott Garlick is a retired American soccer goalkeeper who last played for Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer.Garlick went on trial to Waterford United in 1994...

  Robert Markovac Vasilios Kalogeracos
Vasilios Kalogeracos
Vasilios Kalogeracos is a former Australian football player of Greek descent.A prominent forward, Vasilios Kalogeracos was once played for Birmingham City FC and Stockport County FC in England, Waterford United in Ireland and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.-External links:*...



Selected Former Managers

Duncan Ferguson
Duncan Ferguson
Duncan Cowan Ferguson is a Scottish former footballer. He was notorious for his "hardman" image and nicknamed "Big Dunc" and "Duncan Disorderly"....

 (1963-65) Paddy Coad
Paddy Coad
Paddy Coad is a former Irish football player and manager. He played as a forward for Waterford United, Glenavon, Shamrock Rovers and Ireland. Although known, primarily, as a maker of goals, Coad scored 126 goals in the League of Ireland and a further 41 in the FAI Cup. In 1946-47 he was top...

 (1966-68) Shay Brennan
Shay Brennan
Seamus Anthony "Shay" Brennan was an English-born Irish footballer in the 1960s. He was a full back for Manchester United....

 (1968-70) John McSeveney
John McSeveney
John Haddow McSeveney was a Scottish former footballer and manager.A winger, he joined Newport County in 1957 from Cardiff City. He went on to make 172 appearances for Newport scoring 53 goals. In 1961 he joined Hull City.-References:...

 (1975-77) Tommy Jackson (footballer born 1946)
Tommy Jackson (footballer born 1946)
Thomas "Tommy" Jackson is a former Northern Irish footballer, who played as a midfielder for Everton, Nottingham Forest and Manchester United. He also amassed a total of 35 caps for the Northern Ireland national football team...

 (1978-82) Alfie Hale
Alfie Hale
Alfred "Alfie" Hale is a former Irish footballer and manager who played for several clubs in both the League of Ireland and the English League, most notably, Waterford United, Aston Villa, Doncaster Rovers and Cork Celtic. During his career Hale scored 153 goals in the League of Ireland and a...

 (1982–88), (1991–93) Johnny Matthews
Johnny Matthews
Johnny Matthews is a former English footballer and manager.Matthews started his career playing with his home club Coventry City F.C.....

 (1989–90) & (1994–95) Brendan Ormsby
Brendan Ormsby
Brendan Ormsby is a former English professional footballer. A central defender, Ormsby played for Aston Villa, Leeds United, Shrewsbury, Doncaster, Waterford United, Scarborough F.C...

 (1993–94) Mike Flanagan
Mike Flanagan (footballer)
Michael "Mike" Flanagan is an English former professional footballer and manager. He most recently worked as assistant manager of Margate, a post he left in July 2007....

 (1998-00) Tommy Lynch
Tommy Lynch
Tommy Lynch was a New Zealander rugby league footballer. An international centre for Other Nations, he played for English club Halifax from 1951 to 1956. He made 188 appearances for Halifax, scoring 112 tries and nine goals. He was a member of the 1953–54 Challenge Cup squads. He played in another...

 (1996–99) Jimmy McGeough
Jimmy McGeough
Jimmy McGeough is a former Northern Irish football player and manager.His clubs included Derry City, Lincoln and Waterford United....

 (2002–03) Gareth Cronin
Gareth Cronin
Gareth Cronin is former Irish player and manager.Cronin had been assistant manager to Dermot Keely at Cork City before the club went out of business in July 2006. The following month, Gareth Cronin became manager at Waterford United where he spent over two full seasons before leaving on the 17...

 (2006–08) Stephen Henderson
Stephen Henderson
Stephen McKinley Henderson is an American actor.-Life and career:Henderson was born in Kansas City, Missouri, the son of Ruby Naomi and Elihue Henderson. He was originally part of Group 1 of the Juilliard Drama School, later finishing his degree at the North Carolina School of the Arts...

(2008–11) Paul O'Brien (2011- )
see also

External links

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