Old Photos of Liffeys

SPIRIT

1977/78. League game against Ballymun United away, two all draw. Did ok, but was gobsmacked by the physicality and speed of the game. 

Had to grow up pretty quickly that day but had some great older players to back me up and guide me through the game, Followed of course by the usual Sing-Song back in Grace’s pub led by the legendary Tony Dipper Byrne!!

ONCE A BLUE ALWAYS A BLUE !! Great Lifelong Friendships and sense of togetherness, which is still here now!!  I suppose looking back, the history of the club is truly amazing in the way it’s still here with us since 1885. That along with the sense of pride it has given the community (Wembo !!) and this in a Dublin where change is really moving so fast.

 I was in and out of the club (Personal Reasons LOL) as a player since I made my debut and have great playing memories. However it wasn’t until my great friend  John (Wembo) Young decided get the club going again, in that I helped out in some small way of with fundraising/sponsorship etc.

Paul Kavanagh would be a stand out candidate for both, mad and funny along with all the other numerous characters in the club over those playing years. Some great country trips and some Craic!!.

Edenderry Town FC was a very hard place to win as they never gave up. Once beat us with NINE men in a cup game and had a fella called Sailor in the middle of the park, imagine that in the middle of the Bog!!

Apart from getting great satisfaction in beating Ringsend Rovers in a Cup Final in Dalymount, beating St. Teresa’s 3/1 in a league match in Irishtown Stadium. We were on fire as Wally Rowe had us well prepared. They were at that time the best junior team in the country and had the players in that team which became part of the great St. Francis team 

The women with the umbrellas on the line in Edenderry, They used to intimdaete our all supporters and chase them back onto the Bus… Seroiusly that would have been a chap called Jimmy Mooney who played with St. Teresa’s and later with St. Francis,  brillant player and also nearly impossible to dispossess. 

Easy!!  The performances  from each and every player along with the great goals in both the FAI Junior Final and The Intermediate finals.

Will never forget the Sea of Blue  marching its way from the Padraig Pearse Pub over  the Grand Canal Bridge to the Aviva. Can also never forget the naming of the John Young Astro Park in Ringsend !!  Pure emotion..

Patrick O’ Connell (later player with Ireland, Man United and also manager of Barcelona) Had the honour of being invited to the unveiling of his plaque at his birthplace along with two Liffey legends Parko Kealy and Wembo. 

Peter McMahon

Eddie Gannon

Parko

Christy Kavanagh

Paddy Murphy 

Spud Murphy

Joe Behan

Noel Dunne

Gerry Gannon

Jackie Bailey

Muggles Reilly

Honourable mentions and apologies if I have left some players out as I'm sure I will be reminded whenever we meet up!!

Calo, Stephen Jones, Eugene O’ Reilly,  Shay Ferrari, Binim Sullivan, Mo Shields, Tomo Nolan,  Albert Hannon, Gerry Blood,  (The Guy) Dave Murphy, Fred Dunne, Marty Duffy, Chip Dunne, Joe Dunne, Ray Roche, Willie Cassidy, Sean and Joe Coleman etc..