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HISTORY OF CLUB
Bridge United was founded in
1967 to promote soccer in the area after England had won the World
Cup in 1966. The founder members of the club were Rory McNamara, Paddy
Cooney and Mickey Whyte.
FIRST COMMITTEE
ELECTED
The first committee elected
were:
Chairman: Paddy Cooney
Secretary: Michael Whyte
Treasurer: Paddy Whyte
They approached local man Martin
Cooney for the use of the 'Big Field' as a pitch for our home games.
ROLL OF HONOURS
1968/69 - Second Division League
Champions
1969170 - Second Division League Champions
1971/72 - Haughey Cup & Munster Junior Cup (Clare Area)
1972m - Munster Junior Cup (Clare Area)
1973n4 - FAI Junior Cup (Clare Area)
1974/75 - 1st Division League Champions
1975/76 - Hermitage Tournament
1976177 - Haughey Cup
1981/82 - 1st Division League Champions & Munster Junior Cup
(Clare Area)
1982183 - Second Division Shield (B Team)
1983/84 - Haughey Cup
1985/86 - 1st Division League Champions
1989190 - Second Division Shield
1991/92 - Second Division Shield (B Team)
1991/92 - Youths Munster Youths Cup (Clare Area)
1994/95 - U16 Irish Express Cargo League Champions
1998/99 - Premier Shield Champions
Current Committees -
Bridge United Football Club
Chairman: Michael Maxwell
Secretary: Caroline O'Sullivan
Treasurer: Joan Deegan
Vice Chairman: Gavin Downes
PRO: Damien Hickey
Bridge United
Underage Committee
Chairman: Corey Phelan
Secretary: Barry Downes
Treasurer: Kieran Brennan
Bridge United Field
Development Committee
Chairman: Raymond O'Sullivan
Secretary: Paul Slattery
Treasurer: Paddy Cooney
BRIDGE UTD - FIRST GAME
The Club's first game was against
Miltown Malbay in 1976/68 Season this game was played at Our Lady's pitch
in Ennis, the "Bridge" won this game when Kevin. "Trixie" Twomey scored
the only goal of the game.
The
Clubs second Cup success came in 1976/77 Season when they beat a fancied
Newmarket Celtic team by 1 - 0 Tim Crowe getting the only goal of the
game. Mick O'Shea Snr., who has given a tremendous amount of time and
effort to the club since its foundation, managed them. Mick was one of the
best centre‑halves in Clare Soccer for years till he called it a day and
became a successful manager with the soccer club. Mick has also stood
between the posts for the Bridge Senior hurling team.
The Panel that day was Sean McInerney, Paddy Deegan, Paddy Whyte, Mick
O'Shea Snr., Tony Dea, P. J. "Bite your legs" Keane who was
captain, Ritchie Moloney, Michael Whyte, Tim Crowe, Gerry Nash, Paddy
Mulready, Christy Murphy, Niall Gavin.
There
third success in the Haughey Cup was in 1983/84 Season when they beat a
strong Kilrush side by 2 ‑ 1 after extra time. Match winner that day was
Eric Greene who scored both goals, the winner coming from the penalty spot
after Flan McInerney had been brought down.
The
headline in the "Clare Champion" on the Tuesday before the game was "Eric
Green can prove to be match winner" how right they were.
The
Murphy family provided the team with four players that year "Christy, Leo,
Jimmy and Pakie, better known as "Arnie".
Bridge United Field Development
The campaign to get our field started
in 1991 with an honest enquiry into a bit of land that we thought would be
suitable for us. Not realising that the GAA in Sixmilebridge were already
after enquiring about the same bit of land. As this committee kick
started their efforts to successfully acquire land. The council in its
wisdom promised us something in return.
Mr. Michael Noonan, the then Clare
County Manager agreed to meet a delegation from our club. Michael 0'
Halloran, Michael Whyte, Noel Welton & Paul Slattery were in the
delegation. Since 1991 we have been in negotiation with them and only
recently through the good efforts of a newly formed committee and the
planning officer of the Clare County Council Mr. Myles Carey have
we succeeded in getting as far as signing over the land.
On a letter dated 12th April 2000,
which the Secretary Paul Slattery had been waiting for since 1991,
advising that lands will be signed over to us legally. Thanks again to the
efforts of Mr. Myles Carey and a few County Councilors in our corner,
namely Mr. Sonny Scanlon, Mrs. Patricia McCarthy & Mr. John Crowe. In the
last year we have had contractors in leveling the playing area at a huge
cost. Through a local lotto and the efforts of the Bridge United
Committee and the Field Development Committee, some of the players and
other good workers we will hopefully succeed in reaching our goal. We are
a small club trying to help the youth of tomorrow to stay on the straight
& narrow.
The current committee members are
Raymond O'Sullivan, Paul Slattery, Paddy Cooney, Christy Shannon, Gerry
Murray, Sean Enright, Michael Whyte, Gerry Barrett, Enda Quinlan, Michael
O'Halloran, Noel Welton, lan Mulready, Tony Keogh, Manus O'Sullivan, Paddy
Whyte, John Flynn, Barry Downes, Gavin Downes, Corey Phelan, Nigel Quane,
Alan McAuley, Jim Maxwell, Michael Maxwell, Billy Maxwell, Jane Mulready,
Caroline O'Sullivan, Geoffrey Flynn, Gregory Deegan, Raymond Keane, Shane
Chaplin & Joe Joe Murphy.
Your support in the Lotto is much
appreciated and desperately
Needed as we make our final push to get our own home
Bridge United -
Underage Committee
The Underage Committee was formed in 1993 as a sub Committee of Bridge
United Football Club. It caters for the teams from Youths down.
Founding Committee
Chairman: Arnie Murphy
Secretary: Barry Downes
Treasurer: Ian Chaplin
1994/95 - League Winners
Since
its foundation the club has had only one Schoolboys success. In the
1994/95 season we won the U16 Irish Express Cargo League. This was indeed
a remarkable feet as the team did not drop any league points in their
campaign. We came close to success last year losing out in the Under 15
cup final replay. We hope that our next success is not too far away.
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