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Colours:
Red & White
Pitch Location:
Cassidy Park Website:
www.liffordafc.com
Club Officials:
Chairman: Ferdie O'Donoghue 086
3289041
Secretary: John O'Neill 087
7559169
Treasurer: Deirdre
Allen 086 247006 dede8@eircom.net
Child Welfare Officer:
Deirdre Allen 086 247006
dede8@eircom.net
Team Managers:
U11A -
Michael Clair 086 3904330
U11B - Tony Murphy 2861460
U12 - Nigel Divine 086 8600473
U13 - Larry Kennedy 0876667341
U15 - John O'Neill 087-7559169
U16 - John O'Neill 087-7559169
The Name
Lifford is a townland in the
northern part of Ennis, Capital town of the county of Clare. The townland bounds
a re the River Fergus and its tributary.
It contains most of the
administrative buildings in the town including the Courthouse, General Post
Office, Ennis General Hospital, St. Josephs Hospital, Fire Station and the
magnificent new Clare County Council building at New Road. At the centre of
Lifford is the Fairgreen public park where Lifford started playing and which was
until recently the centre of all soccer activity in the town. The nearby River
Fergus contains "Steele’s Rock". This landmark rock has an engraving on it of a
lion. This engraving forms the centrepiece of our club crest.
Steele's Rock
Named after Honest Tom Steele (1788
- 1848). The story is told that Tom sat or stood on this rock waiting to catch a
glimpse of Matilda Crowe of Abbeyfield House (now the Army Barracks). He dreamed
of romance and "cherished an ardent sentiment of attraction" for Miss Crowe.
Sadly for Tom she never acknowledged his presence. Tom was a colourful
eccentric who fought in the Spanish people’s revolt of 1823. On his return to
Ireland he threw himself into the agitation for Catholic Emancipation. Although
a protestant landlord he became Daniel O Connell’s right hand man with the title
of "Head Pacificator". His duties included quelling faction fighting. He often
attended political rallies dressed as an undertaker driving a hearse drawn by
six plumed horses. His sincerity and disregard for money earned him the nickname
"Honest Tom Steele". Unfortunately this led to financial ruin. In 1848 he threw
himself into the Thames off Waterloo Bridge. He was rescued but died some days
later.
The Early Years
In 1960 Michael O Gorman, Frank
McInerney, Freddie Ensko, Noel Bane and Jimmy Coughlan came together to form an
Ennis soccer team. They formed a side that were to compete in the Limerick
District league. In preparation for the coming season a series of games were
arranged involving Ennis and four Limerick Teams. Ennis were convincing winners
in all four games and this prompted the Limerick League to declare that Ennis
would have to play all their league games in Limerick. This forced Ennis out of
the league.
Further disappointment followed in
the Connacht Junior Cup when the game was awarded to a Galway team who had been
beaten 4 - 2 at the Showgrounds. Apparently the Ennis team had no nets. These
disappointments were the catalyst in the establishment of a fledgling Clare
League. Lifford and its founder Michael O Gorman were to the fore in the leagues
infancy. The league consisted of only six clubs at the outset and encountered
many problems not least being the "ban". The dreadful ban was a GAA rule that
prohibited Gaelic footballers and hurlers from playing "foreign games". It is
difficult to comprehend in this age with the co-operation between the
associations and the cross over of players, but this was a major obstacle for
soccer players. The work of "spies" created many problems for players and their
clubs in both codes. Thankfully we now live in an enlightened era where we can
celebrate all our athlete’s achievements.
Lifford soon found success winning
the Cup Final of 1963 against Angers at the Ennis Showgrounds. Lifford continued
to enjoy sporadic success during the 60s. Youths football was added in 1969 and
this promising squad became the backbone of the clubs most successful side in
the mid 1970s.In 1972 Lifford added an U-16 side for the first time. This squad
won both League and Cup double that year.
In 1983/84 Avenue United were formed
from a split in our club. The players were initially drawn from Marian Avenue in
the heartland of Lifford. However, Avenue expanded their player base in
subsequent years and Lifford were to lose players of the calibre of Johnny and
Noel Purtill, David and Trevor Connellan, Brian Donnellan, John O Connor, Ray
Casey and Gearoid Mannion. The senior men’s team was relegated in the season
1984/85.
The demise of our senior team was
balanced by the development of ladies and schoolboys sections. Both these
sections were formed in the late eighties and continue to be at the forefront of
local and national successes. Lifford has spawned other breakaway clubs who
invariably weaken the player pool at the club. 1984 saw the launch of Oldtown FC
who lasted six years before again amalgamating with Lifford. In 2003 Ennis Town
Football Academy was formed from the Lifford ranks.
Today
These breakaways take a toll on
player resources but the club has a happy habit of recovering. Lifford is again
to the forefront of soccer in Clare. The club is constantly looking to improve
and secure its future. 2011 marks a milestone in the clubs history when it
celebrates its 50th anniversary.
Lifford is now Clare's oldest club and has a playing membership of 250. It is
the only club in Ennis with its own facility. From 1961 to 1968 Lifford played
in the Fairgreen before moving to Our Lady’s Hospital where they stayed for 38
years. Lifford were forced out of Our Lady’s in 1999. The club was based in Ruan
for the next eight years before moving into Cassidy Park in July 2007. Cassidy
Park has become Clare’s first Eircom League licensed ground and is this season
home to Limerick 37 "A" championship team.
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