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Kilkenny City
Full name	Kilkenny City Association Football Club
Nickname(s)	The Cats
Founded	1966
Ground	Buckley Park, Kilkenny, County Kilkenny
Capacity	6,500 (1,500 seats).
Chairman	Jim Rhatigan
Manager	Brendan Rea
League	Eircom First Division
2006	10th
Home colours Away colours

Kilkenny City A.F.C. is an Irish football club playing in the First Division of the Football League of Ireland. The club, was founded 1966 and originally known as EMFA FC before being elected to the league in 1985. EM stood for Emmett Street and FA Fatima Place where current club secretary Jim Rhatigan grew up. The club hails from Kilkenny and play their home matches at Buckley Park. Buckley Park has hosted many International under age soccer games. The previous manager was the former Shelbourne FC player Pat Scully. Scully's successor Adrian Fitzpatrick was sacked in October 2006. Gary Coad took over ascaretaker manager until the end of the 2006 season. Image File history File links Broom_icon. ... Image File history File links Kilkennycity. ... 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1966 calendar). ... Buckley Park is a multi-use stadium on the Callan road Kilkenny, Republic of Ireland. ... WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 52. ... County Kilkenny (Contae Chill Chainnigh in Irish) is located in the south east of Ireland in the province of Leinster. ... The following is an incomplete list of football (soccer) stadia. ... The Football League of Ireland, usually known simply as the League of Ireland or the Eircom League (from the leagues sponsorship by Irish telcom Eircom), is a league of football clubs in the Republic of Ireland. ... Image File history File links left arm of kit template File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... body of kit template File links The following pages link to this file: Arsenal F.C. Ajax Amsterdam AZ Alkmaar A.S. Roma Torino Calcio A.C. Milan ACF Fiorentina Bristol City F.C. Charlton Athletic F.C. Chievo Verona Chelsea F.C. England national football team Wikipedia:WikiProject Football... rightarm of kit template File links The following pages link to this file: Arsenal F.C. Ajax Amsterdam AZ Alkmaar A.S. Roma Torino Calcio A.C. Milan ACF Fiorentina Bristol City F.C. Charlton Athletic F.C. Chievo Verona Chelsea F.C. England national football team Wikipedia:WikiProject Football... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... socks of kit template File links The following pages link to this file: Arsenal F.C. Ajax Amsterdam AZ Alkmaar A.S. Roma Torino Calcio A.C. Milan ACF Fiorentina Bristol City F.C. Charlton Athletic F.C. Chievo Verona Chelsea F.C. England national football team Wikipedia:WikiProject Football... Image File history File links left arm of kit template File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... body of kit template File links The following pages link to this file: Arsenal F.C. Ajax Amsterdam AZ Alkmaar A.S. Roma Torino Calcio A.C. Milan ACF Fiorentina Bristol City F.C. Charlton Athletic F.C. Chievo Verona Chelsea F.C. England national football team Wikipedia:WikiProject Football... rightarm of kit template File links The following pages link to this file: Arsenal F.C. Ajax Amsterdam AZ Alkmaar A.S. Roma Torino Calcio A.C. Milan ACF Fiorentina Bristol City F.C. Charlton Athletic F.C. Chievo Verona Chelsea F.C. England national football team Wikipedia:WikiProject Football... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... socks of kit template File links The following pages link to this file: Arsenal F.C. Ajax Amsterdam AZ Alkmaar A.S. Roma Torino Calcio A.C. Milan ACF Fiorentina Bristol City F.C. Charlton Athletic F.C. Chievo Verona Chelsea F.C. England national football team Wikipedia:WikiProject Football... Football (soccer) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... The Football League of Ireland, usually known simply as the League of Ireland or the eircom League (from the leagues sponsorship by Irish telecommunications company eircom), is a league of football clubs in Ireland. ... 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (the link is to a full 1966 calendar). ... 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: 52. ... Buckley Park is a multi-use stadium on the Callan road Kilkenny, Republic of Ireland. ... Shelbourne FC is an Irish football club playing in the Football League of Ireland. ... Pat Scully (born June 23, 1970 in Dublin) is the current manager of Shamrock Rovers F.C. in the Eircom Leagueof Ireland. ...

The club appointed Brendan Rea as their new manager in prepration for the 2007 season.

History

Initially EMFA competed in the U18 Kilkenny and District Youth League under the management of Donie Butler. Donie Butler served as Commercial Manager of the FAI during the Jack Charlton years. The club was unable to afford a new set of jerseys and so agreed to play in an all white strip. The logic being that all the players had at least one white t-shirt or shirt they could wear. The clubs colours cahnged to claret and blue before changing again to black and amber, coinciding with the renaming of the club.

EMFA graduated from junior football in 1971/72 season. Jim Rhatigan became their manager and the club remained in junior football until 1984. During this period the club purchased 5.7 acres of land from a local farmer by the name of Mick Murphy, owner of Tenny House for £16,000 punts. They had previously played their home games at the Castlecomar Road grounds, St. James Park. The ground was originally called Tenney Park and was later named Buckley Park in honour of Marty Buckley. A bid of One million was made for the clubs grounds in the late eighties but was rejectied in the favour of football.

In 1984 the club won the Junior league and cup remaining defeated throughout the entire season. It was decided that he club should apply for admission to the then League of Ireland (now the Eircom League). In their maiden season Kilkenny city then known as EMFA, (from 1985-1989) finished tenth in Division 1.

EMFA won their first honour in 1987, winning the First Division shield defeating Finn Harps 4-2 in Oriel Park.The club changed its name to Kilkenny city in 1989.In 1991 under Joe McGrath they reached the FAI Cup semi-final before suffering defeat to Shamrock Rovers. Finn Harps FC is a Irish football club playing in the Football League of Ireland. ... Oriel Park is a multi-use stadium in Dundalk, Republic of Ireland. ... Shamrock Rovers FC is a Irish football club playing in the Football League of Ireland. ...

In the 1996-1997 season Kilkenny city won the First Division title with 11 points to spare over their nearest rivals Drogheda United they gaining promotion to the Premier Division. Their stay in the premier was short however as they finished in eleventh the following season and were relegated back to the First Division.

In the 1999-2000 season Kilkenny city finished third and beat Waterford United in a promotion-relegation playoff returning to the Premier. However, Kilkenny city were unable to extend their stay in the top flight beyond a single season managing only a single league victory throughout the whole season.General manager Jim Rhatigan wrote "Mud, Sweat and Jeers" a semi autobiographical account of the founding of the club. Waterford United is a Irish football club playing in the Football League of Ireland. ...

The club celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2006. The anniversary was celebrated with a memorial mass at Father Fiachra’s Church presided over by Father Willie Purcell and complete with a gospel choir. Dave Bassett, former Wimbledon F.C. manager was guest of honour with former Northern Ireland international, Gerry Taggart also attending the club’s anniversary banquet at the Lyrath Estate Hotel. David Harry Bassett born 4 September 1944, Stanmore, London is an English football manager. ... Wimbledon F.C. crest Wimbledon F.C. was the original name of a football club that played in south London. ... Northern Ireland is a part of the United Kingdom lying in the northeast of the island of Ireland, covering 5,459 square miles (14,139 km², about a sixth of the islands total area). ... Gerry Taggart (born 18 October 1970 in Belfast) is a retired Northern Irish footballer who played for Manchester City, Barnsley, Bolton Wanderers, Leicester City and the mighty Stoke City. ...

Current Squad (2007)

John McGuinness, AJ Murray Kevin Walsh, Francis Rockett, Ian Nagle, Kieran Fitzgerald, Aaron Ryan, Robert Quan Niall Murphy, Stephen Grant, Andrew Denn, Andres Polewczak, Daragh Hayes, Joe Watson, Martin Tynan, Eoin O'Shea, Ted O'Connor, Colin Falvey, John McNicholas, Trevor Moylan, Padraig Fogarty, Craig Doyle, Micheal Comerford

Honours

• First Division Champions: 1
  • 1996/97
• First Division Shield Champions: 1
  • 1987

People of Note

It has been suggested that this section be split into a new article. (Discuss)

Marty Buckley Image File history File links Splitsection. ...

Marty Buckley was the clubs first president. He was a former player and administrator Green Celtic Football Club which now no longer exists. He remained involved with EMFA until the late eighties managing youth and senior teams within the club. He remained a trustee to the club until his death. Kilkenny City home ground was named in honour of his contribution towards the developemnt of the club.

Tom Cantwell

Tom was a local businessman in the city of Kilkenny and made regular contributions to the club. He was clubs president for 18 seasons.

Alfie Hale

Alfie Hale won who won 14 full international caps for the Republic of Ireland. He won the first of two international caps at schoolboy level against West Germany in 1957. He made his debut for Waterford at the age of 17 that same year. He moved to English side Aston Villa for £4,500 scoring 66 goals and also played for Doncaster Rovers and Newport County. He returned to Waterford in 1962. Alfie was player-manager of the side that beat Cork Hibernians in dramatic circumstances at Flower Lodge (now Pairc Ui Rinn) to claim a fifth league crown in seven seasons in the 1971-1972 season. Alfie also lead Cork Celtic to a league title in 1974 and also played for St. Patrick’s Athletic and Limerick F.C. before retiring from playing. Alfie managed Thurles Town F.C. in the late seventies, returning to Waterford in a managerial role in 1982 until 1986. Doncaster Rovers club badge Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based at Belle Vue in the town of Doncaster, South Yorkshire. ... Newport County may refer to: Newport County, a county in Rhode Island, USA Newport County A.F.C., a Association Football club in the United Kingdom This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Club: Cork Hibernians F.C. Cork Hibernians F.C.. Years: 1957 - 1967 City: Cork City Record Win: 10-1 Vs Transport. ... Club: Cork Celtic Cork Celtic F.C.. Years: 1951 - 1979 (1951 - 1959 as Evergreen United) City: Cork City Honours: League Championship 1973. ... St Patricks Athletic Football Club is an Irish football club playing in the Football League of Ireland Premier Division. ... Limerick Football Club is an Irish football club playing in the Football League of Ireland. ...

As manger of Cobh Ramblers Alfie gave former Republic of Ireland and Manchester United player Roy Keane his debut in 1990. He returned as manager of Waterford United in 1991 achieving promotion to the Premier Division before stepping down in 1993. Alfie took charge of Kilkenny City F.C. shortly afterwards Were he led them to first division glory in 1997.After four successful years with [Kilkenny City]Alfie Hale resigned to be replaced by Former Shelbourne manager Pat Bryne. Cobh Ramblers FC is a Irish football club playing in the Football League of Ireland. ... Manchester United Football Club are a world-famous English football club, based at the Old Trafford stadium in Trafford, Greater Manchester, and are one of the most popular sports clubs in the world, with over 50 million supporters worldwide. ... Roy Maurice Keane (born 10 August 1971, Cork, Ireland) is an Irish former professional footballer and the current manager of English Premier League club Sunderland, the current champions of the Coca-Cola Championship. ... Waterford United is a Irish football club playing in the Football League of Ireland. ... Kilkenny City F.C. is an Irish football club playing in the Eircom League Divison 1. ... Shelbourne can refer to : Shelbourne, a neighbourhood in Dublin, Ireland. ...

Alfie's father also played for Waterford in 1930 as well as his two uncles forming a famous all-Hale half-back line in a league game at home to Bohemians. He returned to Waterford United in 2005 in an advisor role but had leave due to work commitments with former Kilkenny City and Waterford United skipper Brendan Rea replacing him in his temporary role. Alfie owns a chain of pubs in Waterford and also has a sports shop in city. Michael Reddy Bohemian F.C. (Irish: An Cumann Peile Bóithéimeach) is an Irish football club playing in the Football League of Ireland. ... Michael Reddy (born Kilkenny, March 24, 1980) is a professional footballer with Grimsby Town. ...

Michael Reddy was signed from Kilkenny City by English club Sunderland and has represented the Republic of Ireland at Under-21 level. Currently playing for League Two Outfit Grimsby Michael was named on the PFA League Two player of the year Team 2006 This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Grimsby Town F.C. are an English football League Two team. ... PFA may stand for: Paper Football Association United States Paper Football Association Pacific Film Archive Paraformaldehyde Paul Freundlich Associates Perfluoroalkoxy polymer resin (see teflon) Performance Failure Alert (used with computer hardware) The Planets Funniest Animals Please Find Attached Police Federation of Australia Policía Federal Argentina Popular Flying Association... Football League Two (often referred to as League Two for short or Coca-Cola Football League 2 for sponsorship reasons) is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system. ...

Jim Rhatigan

In 1966 a group of Leaving Certificate students made the most of having a free class at the local CBS school in Kilkenny. They debated the pros and cons, devised a plan and, finally, resolved to start a football club. EMFA was founded and later became named Kilkenny City in 1989. Jim Rhatigan was appointed as the club’s secretary a position he still holds and since then he has become closely associated with football in Kilkenny. In 1999 he released a book called Mud, Sweat and Jeers, an account about the clubs founding Irish football.

Jim is also the editor of the newspaper The Kilkenny Voice and previously worked with the another newspaper The Kilkenny People

Pat Scully Pat Scully (born June 23, 1970 in Dublin) is the current manager of Shamrock Rovers F.C. in the Eircom Leagueof Ireland. ...

Pat Scully started his playing career in England with Premier side Arsenal joining them as a youth and winning a FA youth cup medal in 1988. He did not make an appearance with the first team but did go on loan to Preston North End and Northampton Town F.C. before joining Southend in 1991 followed by a spell at Huddersfield Town F.C. Arsenal Football Club (also known as Arsenal, The Arsenal or The Gunners) are an English professional football club based in Holloway, north London. ... Preston North End Football Club are an English football club located in Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the second tier of English league football, The Championship. ... Northampton Town Football Club are a football team based in Northampton, Northamptonshire, England. ... Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, currently playing in Coca-Cola League One, and are managed by Andy Ritchie. ...

He returned to Ireland, joining Shelbourne in 1997. He was to captain the side to several league and Cup titles but a falling out resulted in his departure to Shamrock Rovers. He moved to Drogheda for a single season before retiring from playing. In 2005 he was approached by Kilkenny City and agreed to take over the side as their manager. Although the season did not begin well for Scully and Kilkenny, the side performed excellently during the second half of the season, finishing 4th and only 6 points off a play-off position. His fine managerial debut saw newly-relegated Shamrock Rovers approach Scully regarding their vacant management position which he accepted. Scully took many of the Kilkenny City squad that he had assembled in the 2005 season with him and successfully obtained promotion from the First Division in his first season in charge at the club. Shelbourne can refer to : Shelbourne, a neighbourhood in Dublin, Ireland. ... Shamrock Rovers FC is a Irish football club playing in the Football League of Ireland. ...

Micheal Walsh

A former hurling goalkeeper with Kilkenny. He won several All-Ireland medals in hurling. He was the schoolboys general manager at the club which at one stage ran 20 teams. He also along with his two brothewrs played for Kilkenny City at schoolboy, youth, junior and senior level.

Brendan Rea Current Kilkenny City manager,appointed in January to replace Adrian Fitzpatrick. Brendan had two spells at the club with his first stint being the most successful, were he was part of the team that won the first division under Alfie Hale in 1997.During his playing day's with Kilkenny City Brendan was a very imposing honest centre half with an eye for goal. In 2003 Brendan returned to the club as player/assistant to Tommy Lynch who's tender at the football club was disaterous to say the least.In 2004 Brendan took his first steps into management were he lead Waterford Crystal to FAI Junior Cup success. The following season Brendan was tasked with helping Waterford United from being relegated,he was their 3rd manager of the season.Yes waterford beat the drop with Pat Dolan was brought in as a consultant to Brendan Rea, However at the end of the season Brendan was seen to be surplus to requirements and his contract wasn't renewed, and he was replaced by former Kilkenny City team mate Micheal Kerley.Brendan is Kilkenny City's seventh manager in seven with Ray Moran acting as his number two.

Competition History

League

Played 603 Won 146 Draw 150 Lost 281 Goals For 636 Goals Against 899 Points 539

All final positions are in Division 1 unless otherwise stated.

As EMFA (1985-1990)

1985-1986: 10th

1986-1987: 9th

1987-1988: 10th

1988-1989: 9th

As Kilkenny City

1989-1990: 4th

1990-1991: 7th

1991-1992: 8th

1992-1993: 9th

1993-1994: 8th

1994-1995: 10th

1995-1996: 7th

1996-1997: 1st

1997-1998: 11th (Premier Div)

1998-1999: 5th

1999-2000: 3rd

2000-2001: 12th (Premier Div)

2001-2002: 5th

2003-2004: 12th

2004: 10th

2005: 4th

2006: 10th

FAI Cup 1990-1991: Semi Final(Lost to Shamrock Rovers 1-0,losing finalist that year.

1996-1997: Round 1 (Lost to Bohemians 1-2 in replay at Dalymount Park)

1997-1998: Round 1 (Lost to UCD 0-4)

1998-1999: Quarter Finals (Kilkenny City were forced to forfeit the replay to Finn Harps, the losing finalists that year, after drawing the first game 2-2 as they had only eleven fit players,that include's two goalkeepers)

1999-2000: Quarter Finals (Lost to Bray Wanderers 0-2)

2000-2001: Quarter Finals (Lost to Bohemians 2-7 , winners that year)

2001-2002: Round 3 (Lost to Dundalk 2-3)

2002-2003: Quarter Finals (Lost to Shamrock Rovers 0-1, the losing finalists that year)

2003: Round 2 (Lost to Limerick FC 1-2)

2004: Round 3 (Lost to Waterford United 2-7, the losing finalists that year)

2005: Round 2 (Lost to Finn Harps 0-1)

2006: Round 2 (Lost to UCD 0-2)

Attendances

2004: Average: 108 Highest: 150

2005: Average: 185 Highest: 400

2006: Average: 118 Highest: 278 (v Dundalk}

Record Attendance: 6,500

Past Managers-1985-2006

• Jim Rhatigan(1985-86)-(1988-89)
• Eamon Gregg(1989-90)
• Joe McGrath(1990/91 and 2000/2001)
• Noel Synott(1991-92)
• John Cleary(1992-93),(1993-94)
• Paddy Gallacher(1994-95)
• Jimmy Donnelly(Caretaker)
• Alfie Hale (1995-1999)
• Pat Bryne (1999-2000)
• Billy Walsh(2001-2003)
• Tommy Lynch(2003)
• Ger Bickerstaffe(2004)
• Pat Scully (2005)
• Adrian Fitzpatrick (2006)
• Gary Coad(caretaker-2006)
• Brendan Rea (2007-present)

Pat Scully (born June 23, 1970 in Dublin) is the current manager of Shamrock Rovers F.C. in the Eircom Leagueof Ireland. ...

External links

• Kilkenny City FC Website