Fanad United Football Club is an Irish association football club based in Fanad in the north of County Donegal. Their senior men's team currently plays in the Donegal Junior League. In 1986–87 they were both founding members and inaugural champions of the Ulster Senior League. They remain the USL's most successful club, having won fourteen titles. They also field teams in both the Donegal Youth League and the Donegal Women's League. They have previously fielded teams in both the A Championship and the League of Ireland U19 Division. They have also played in the FAI Cup, the League of Ireland Cup and the FAI Intermediate Cup. They have won the latter competition on two occasions, in 1987–88 and 1994–95. In September 2020 the club made the decision to Leave the USL and Intermediate Football and return to Junior Football in the Donegal League.
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| Full name | Fanad United Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Kingdom | ||
| Founded | 1970 | ||
| Ground | Traigh-a-Loch | ||
| Chairman | Martin McGonigle | ||
| Manager | Arthur Lynch | ||
| League | Ulster Senior League A Championship League of Ireland U19 Division | ||
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History
editEarly years
editFanad United was founded in 1970 by Fr. Michael Sweeney, a pioneer of junior and intermediate association football in County Donegal. In addition to founding Fanad United, Fr Sweeney was also instrumental in establishing two leagues the club initially played in, the Donegal League and the Ulster Senior League. He has also served on the board of Finn Harps. Between 1972 and 1973 and 1983–84, Fanad United were Donegal champions five times before becoming both founding members and the inaugural champions of the USL in 1986–87. They subsequently became the USL's most successful club, winning fourteen league titles and ten league cups.[1][2][3][4][5]
National cups
editFr. Michael Sweeney also served as Fanad United's team manager and he was responsible for guiding the club to victory in two national cup competitions. In 1978–79 United won the FAI Youth Cup after defeating Shelbourne U19 3–1 in the final at Swilly Park. In 1987–88 they won the FAI Intermediate Cup after defeating Tramore Athletic 1–0 at Dalymount Park. Under player-manager Eamon McConigley, Fanad United won the FAI Intermediate Cup for a second time in 1994–95, this time defeating College Corinthians in the final at Terryland Park. In 1995–96 they were finalists for a second successive season but lost to Wayside Celtic.[1][2][3][6][7]
As winners of the Ulster Senior League, Fanad United have regularly been invited to participate in the League of Ireland Cup. Their best performance in this competition came in 1987–88 when they reached the semi-finals. After they finished top of their group, following three wins against Sligo Rovers, Derry City and Finn Harps, they qualified for the quarter-finals where they defeated Galway United 1–0. In the semi-final they lost 4–1 to Shamrock Rovers.[1][3][8] Fanad United have also achieved some notable results in the FAI Cup. In 1991–92, despite going down to nine men, they defeated Home Farm 2–0 away from home in the first round. In the second round they held St James's Gate to two 1–1 draws before eventually losing 3–2 in the second replay. In 1995–96 they defeated Bray Wanderers 4–0 at the Carlisle Grounds before losing 3–0 to St Patrick's Athletic in the round of sixteen. In the 2005 FAI Cup they played Shamrock Rovers at Dalymount Park losing 2–0.[1][3][9][10][11]
National leagues
editIn 2011 Fanad United entered a team in the A Championship.[12][13] They subsequently finished fourth in their group of eight. When the A Championship was disbanded Fanad United joined the League of Ireland U19 Division.[1][14]
Recent Years
editFollowing the 2020/21 season, Fanad United decided to leave the Ulster Senior League and return to the Donegal league.[15] Despite a year on the sidelines due to COVID-19, they have since enjoyed great success under ex-captain Arthur Lynch. They won the Donegal Junior League 1st division[16] in the 2021/22 season following a thrilling title race with St.Catherines, subsequently earning both teams promotion to the premier division of the Donegal Junior League. The following season Fanad surprised everyone but themselves by winning the Donegal Junior premier division just 12 months after earning promotion to the division.[17] The 2023/24 league campaign would prove no different for Fanad who may have gone into the season slight favourites to retain the title, and they did not disappoint, being crowned champions with two games in hand having only conceded 11 goals in 16 games following the title winning match.[18] Captained by Paddy 'Pud' McGinley, they are the only side to win back to back premier division titles in the last 10 years.
Ground
editFanad United play their home games at Traigh-a-Loch,[19] located between Lough Swilly and Mulroy Bay.
Managers
edit
Fr. Michael Sweeney- James Doherty
- Eamon McConigley
- Ollie Horgan
Michael Deeney- Arthur Lynch
Honours
edit- Ulster Senior League
- Winners: 1986–87, 1987–88, 1989–90, 1990–91, 1992–93, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98, 2000–01, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2011: 14
- Ulster Senior League League Cup
- Winners: 1988–89, 1990–91, 1992–93, 1994–95, 1995–96, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2007, 2008, 2011: 10
- Runners-up: 1987–88, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2002–03, 2006–07, 2009 : 6
- FAI Intermediate Cup
- Winners: 1987–88, 1994–95: 2
- Runners-up: 1995–96: 1
- FAI Youth Cup
- Winners: 1978–79:
- Donegal League (1st Division)
- Winners: 2021–22: 1
- Donegal League
- Winners: 1972–73, 1973–74, 1974–75, 1979–80, 1983–84, 2022–23, 2023–24: 7
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f "Fanad United's ruby anniversary to form part of festival of football". donegaldemocrat.ie. 11 July 2012. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
- ^ a b c "USL founder member and Fanad United legend Fr Mick honoured". uslfootball.com. 2 October 2016. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
- ^ a b c d e "'Fr Mick': Founding Father, guiding light and history maker". donegalsporthub.com. 7 June 2016. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
- ^ a b "Ulster Senior League – Roll of Honour". uslfootball.com. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
- ^ a b "Ulster Senior League – League Cup". uslfootball.com. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
- ^ a b "FAI Umbro Youth Challenge Cup Previous Winners". fai.ie. 2 February 2016. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
- ^ a b "Ireland – FA Intermediate Cup Winners and Runners-up". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
- ^ "Ireland – Ireland League Cup 1973/74-2006". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 2 April 2016.
- ^ "Ireland – FA of Ireland Cup 1921/22-1993/94". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 25 May 2015. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
- ^ "Ireland 1995/96". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
- ^ "Shamrock Rovers v Fanad United Photos". sportsfile.com. 12 June 2005. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
- ^ "A Championship 2011: Fanad United 0–3 UCD AFC". ucdsoccer.com. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
- ^ "Reserves: Dundalk 1–1 Fanad United". dundalkfc.com. 9 April 2011. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
- ^ "Divisional Formations – 2012/13". loi19.com. Archived from the original on 18 October 2016. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
- ^ ryanferry (18 September 2020). "Fanad United withdraw from the Ulster Senior League". Donegal News. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
- ^ highlandnews (1 May 2022). "Fanad United & St Catherine's Promoted to the Donegal Premier League". Highland Radio - Latest Donegal News and Sport. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
- ^ Connolly, Stuart (23 April 2023). "Fanad United crowned Premier Division champions following victory over Castlefin". www.donegallive.ie. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
- ^ Writer, Staff (7 April 2024). "Fanad Utd claim back-to-back Donegal League Premiership titles". Donegal Daily. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
- ^ a b c "Fanad United – Ulster Senior League". uslfootball.com. Retrieved 15 November 2016.