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Bohemian F.C.

 
Wikipedia: Bohemian F.C.
Bohemians
Bohemian FC crest
Full name Bohemian Football Club
Nickname(s) Bohs
The Gypsies
Founded 1890
Ground Dalymount Park,
Phibsborough,
Dublin 7
(Capacity: 7,955)
Chairman Robert Dunne
Manager Republic of Ireland Pat Fenlon
League LOI Premier Division
2009 1st
Website Club home page
Home colours
Away colours

Bohemian F.C. (Irish: An Cumann Peile Bóithéimeach), more commonly referred to as Bohemians, is a professional football club from Dublin, Ireland. Bohemians compete in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland and are the third most successful club in League of Ireland football history, having won the League of Ireland title 11 times, the FAI Cup 7 times, the League of Ireland Shield 6 times and the League of Ireland Cup 3 times. Prior to the establishment of the FAI and League of Ireland, Bohemians competed in the Irish Football League and Irish Cup, which were at the time all-Ireland competitions. During that period they won the Irish Cup once and finished runners up 5 times. They have won more games in European competition than any other League of Ireland club and hold the record for Leinster Senior Cup wins with 31 cups claimed.

Bohemians were founded on 6 September 1890 and were one of the founding members of the League of Ireland in 1921, after their withdrawal from the Irish Football League. They established themselves as a major force within the first 15 years of the League of Ireland, winning 5 league titles, 2 FAI Cups and 4 Shields, but struggled for decades after that, largely due to their strict amateur status, going 34 seasons without winning a major trophy. Bohemians dropped their amateur ethos in the 1970s and won 2 League titles, 2 FAI Cups and 2 League cups. They suffered a further decline throughout the 1980s and most of the 1990s before claiming League and Cup doubles in 2001 and 2008, alongside the 2003 and most recently 2009 title wins. With 4 League and 2 FAI Cup titles, Bohemians are to date the most successful League of Ireland club of the current millenium.

Bohemians play their home matches at Dalymount Park in the Northside neighbourhood of Phibsborough. They are owned 100% by the members of the club. Their club colours are red and black, which they adopted at the 4th AGM in October 1893. Bohemians supporters often refer to their club by a number of nicknames including 'Bohs' and 'The Gypsies' and provide one half of a bitter rivalry with Southside club, Shamrock Rovers.

Contents

History

Bohemian F.C. was founded on 6 September 1890. It was a member of the Irish Football League from 1902 to 1911 and 1912 to 1920. During this time the club's greatest success was winning the Irish Cup in 1908.

It was a founding member of the League of Ireland in 1921, and it is one of only two clubs to have been members of the League of Ireland since its inception (the other being Shelbourne), and it is the only club to have been ever-present in the top division of the league. In its first season it finished second in the league, just two points behind St. James Gate. The club won its first league title in 1924. In 1928 the club won its second league title and completed a double that season by winning its first FAI Cup also. The club was one of the major forces in the early years of the league, going on to win another three league titles and another FAI Cup in the next eight seasons.

After this success the club began to struggle, often finishing at the foot of the league and rarely mounting a title challenge, largely because of an inability to attract or keep top players due to its strict amateur status, which had been a fundamental part of the club since its formation. The club went 34 seasons without winning a major trophy. In 1969 the club ended its amateur status, and the first player to sign professional terms was Tony O'Connell, who signed on 11 March 1969.

The club then went on to win two league titles, two FAI Cups and two league cups in the 1970s, more trophies than any other club that decade. In 1970 the club entered European competition for the first time where it was beaten in the first qualifying round of the European Cup Winners' Cup (see below). The club went through another trophy-less spell after its 1979 league cup victory, which was not broken until the club won its fifth FAI Cup in 1992. It was not until 2001 that it regained the league title, also winning the FAI Cup that season to complete its second double. After adding another league title in 2003, Bohemians triumphed once again in 2008, under Pat Fenlon, winning the double of both the league for the tenth time with four league games still to play,[1] and the FAI cup in a penalty shoot-out.[2] In September 2009, Bohemians claimed the League Cup for the third time in the club's history with a 3-1 win over Waterford United in the final.[3]

On 6 November, 2009, Bohemians retained the title after a 3-1 win against Bray Wanderers. [4] They were already assured of the league title before the final round of matches as they held a three point lead and 16-goal difference advantage over their nearest rivals Shamrock Rovers. Captain Owen Heary collected the Premier Division trophy for the club’s first back-to-back league win.[5]

Stadiums

Bohemians' first permanent home ground was on the Polo Ground in Phoenix Park. Goal posts and other equipment were kept at Gate Lodge on North Circular Road (Dublin) They remained there until the 1893/94 season when they obtained a private ground on Jones Road now known as Croke Park, the headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The space then took in the ground now occupied by the Old Belvedere, and for the first time it was possible for the club to build up some sort of finances, since a charge for admission was made at all important home matches.

They moved to a new home at Whitehall Farm, Glasnevin, in time for the start of the 1895/96 season but in those days, the area was out of the way and without public transport so the Bohemian committee continued to look for a new home ground. Their search came to an end when they moved to Dalymount Park which was officially opened on 7 September 1901.

In 2006 the club's members decided to sell Dalymount Park to developer Liam Carroll in a €65,000,000 deal which would instantly put the club in an unprecedented financial position in Irish sporting terms. The deal included the development of a new 10,000-seater stadium, complete with restaurants, bars and a gym, in Harristown near Dublin Airport[6]. On 7 November 2008, Bohemians lost a court case versus Albion Ltd which has had the effect of putting the move on hold; the club is appealing the case to the Supreme Court.[7]

European record

Although they did not make their first appearance in European competition until 1970, Bohemians have now played more and won more games in Europe than any other League of Ireland club [1]. Like all Irish clubs, they have generally found the going tough in Europe, but they have had some famous successes too. Their finest hour came when they eliminated Scottish Premier League club (and former Cup Winners' Cup and European Super Cup champions) Aberdeen from the UEFA Cup in August 2000. That triumph was set up by a dramatic 2-1 victory away from home, in which Bohs scored 2 late goals to overturn a 1-0 deficit. That was the first time an Irish club defeated British opposition away from home in European competition. Other notable results include wins against Rangers and Kaiserslautern (away) and draws against Rangers, Newcastle United, Sporting Lisbon, Dundee United (away) and Aberdeen. In all, they have beaten a total of 10 different teams, from 9 countries (Denmark, Cyprus, Scotland, Germany, Estonia, Belarus, Belgium, Wales and Latvia). Bohs bowed out of the 2008 Intertoto Cup on away goals to Latvian side FK Riga despite winning the second leg 2-1. Earlier in that campaign they recorded their biggest single leg (5-1) and aggregate (9-3) wins in Europe (against Welsh Premier League club Rhyl).

Bohemian's started their 2010 UEFA Champions League second round qualifying tie away to Austrian Bundesliga champions Red Bull Salzburg on 16 July 2009 with a 1-1 draw in Salzburg.[8] In the second leg on the 22 July, 2009, Bohemians held out until an 87th minute goal by Patrik Ježek for Red Bull Salzburg gave them a one nill victory on the night and two one win on aggregate.[9]

Record by competition

European Cup/UEFA Champions League:

Appearances Played Won Drawn Lost For Against
5 15 3 5 7 13 25

UEFA Cup:

Appearances Played Won Drawn Lost For Against
12 26 3 7 16 14 48

Cup Winners Cup:

Appearances Played Won Drawn Lost For Against
3 8 2 2 4 6 13

Intertoto Cup:

Appearances Played Won Drawn Lost For Against
3 10 4 0 6 15 20

Overall:

Appearances Played Won Drawn Lost For Against
22 58 12 12 34 46 104

Past opponents

Season Competition Country Team Score
1970-71 Cup Winners' Cup Preliminary Round Czechoslovakia TJ Gottwaldov 1-2, 2-2 (3-4 agg.)
1972-73 UEFA Cup Round 1 Germany FC Koln 1-2, 0-3 (1-5 agg.)
1974-75 UEFA Cup Round 1 Germany Hamburger SV 0-3, 0-1 (0-4 agg.)
1975-76 European Cup Round 1 Scotland Rangers 1-4, 1-1 (2-5 agg.)
1976-77 Cup Winners' Cup Round 1 Denmark Esbjerg fB 2-1, 1-0 (3-1 agg.)
Cup Winners' Cup Round 2 Poland Śląsk Wrocław 0-3, 0-1 (0-4 agg.)
1977-78 UEFA Cup Round 1 England Newcastle United 0-0, 0-4 (0-4 agg.)
1978-79 European Cup Round 1 Cyprus AC Omonia 1-2, 1-0 (2-2 agg.)
European Cup Round 2 East Germany Dynamo Dresden 0-0, 0-6 (0-6 agg.)
1979-80 UEFA Cup Round 1 Portugal Sporting Lisbon 0-2, 0-0 (0-2 agg.)
1984-85 UEFA Cup Round 1 Scotland Rangers 3-2, 0-2 (3-4 agg.)
1985-86 UEFA Cup Round 1 Scotland Dundee United 2-5, 2-2 (4-7 agg.)
1987-88 UEFA Cup Round 1 Scotland Aberdeen 0-0, 0-1 (0-1 agg.)
1992-93 Cup Winners' Cup Qual. Round Romania Steaua Bucureşti 0-4, 0-0 (0-4 agg.)
1993-94 UEFA Cup Round 1 France Girondins de Bordeaux 0-1, 0-5 (0-6 agg.)
1995 Intertoto Cup Round 1 Denmark Odense BK 0-2
Intertoto Cup Round 1 Finland HJK Helsinki 2-3
Intertoto Cup Round 1 France Girondins de Bordeaux 0-2
Intertoto Cup Round 1 Sweden IFK Norrköping 0-5
1996-97 UEFA Cup Qual. Round 1 Belarus Dinamo Minsk 1-1, 0-0 (1-1 agg.)
1997-98 UEFA Cup Preliminary Round Hungary Ferencváros 0-1, 0-5 (0-6 agg.)
2000-01 UEFA Cup Qualifying Round Scotland Aberdeen 2-1, 0-1 (2-2 agg.)
UEFA Cup Round 1 Germany 1. FC Kaiserslautern 1-3, 1-0 (2-3 agg.)
2001-02 Champions League Qual. Round 1 Estonia FC Levadia Maardu 3-0, 0-0 (3-0 agg.)
Champions League Qual. Round 2 Sweden Halmstads BK 1-2, 0-2 (1-4 agg.)
2003-04 Champions League Qual. Round 1 Belarus FC BATE 0-1, 3-0 (3-1 agg.)
Champions League Qual. Round 2 Norway Rosenborg B.K. 0-1, 0-4 (0-5 agg.)
2004-05 UEFA Cup Round 1 Estonia FC Levadia Tallinn 0-0, 1-3 (1-3 agg.)
2005 Intertoto Cup Round 1 Belgium K.A.A. Gent 1-0, 1-3 (2-3 agg.)
2008 Intertoto Cup Round 1 Wales Rhyl 5-1, 4-2 (9-3 agg.)
Intertoto Cup Round 2 Latvia FK Rīga 0-1, 2-1 (2-2 agg.)
2009 Champions League Qual. Round 2 Austria Red Bull Salzburg 1-1, 0-1 (1-2 agg.)

Supporters and rivalries

Bohs' fan base is mainly drawn from the northside of Dublin and their supporters share a bitter rivalry with southside club, Shamrock Rovers. However, the club has many fans from other parts of the city, across Ireland and worldwide. The club's average attendance is roughly 2,000, while the larger derby fixtures attract attendances of over 3,000 people, significantly less than in previous decades.

During 2007, a number of Bohemians fans formed an ultrà group in an effort to create a more colourful atmosphere at home games. Ironically named The Notorious Boo-Boys (or NBB, a term used by journalists to disparage the patience of Bohs fans), the group bought new flags and organised displays during games to lift the atmosphere of the history filled Dalymount Park.[10]

A Team

The Bohemians A-team competes in the League of Ireland A Championship, which acts as a third tier of the League.[11] The team also doubles as a reserve team, which injured first team players can use to regain fitness. If the A - team win the Championship they cannot gain entry into the 1st division.[11] The team reached the "Grand Final" of the A Championship in 2008.[12]

The team is currently managed by former Bohs player Tony O'Connor[13] [2] [3]

Bohemians Youth

Bohemians youth section has about 250 players from the ages of 8 to 17. The club runs 15 teams who play in the DDSL. The youth director is Robert Loughlin who, along with the support of Bohemians, announced a 5 year partnership with DCU to national media coverage. This partnership will see Bohemians' youth teams training in and using DCU facilities, "learning the game like the first team do". The partnership also included a scholarship system which will see Bohs players being offered scholarships to DCU. The main aim of the youth section is to produce players who are good enough to play for the first team.[14] The youth teams have made a solid start to the DDSL season with the Under 15s, Under 17s, and Under 18s all battling for honours.

Current squad

The first team squad is established according to the official website: www.bohemians.ie.

No. Position Player
2 Republic of Ireland DF Owen Heary
3 Republic of Ireland DF Conor Powell
4 Republic of Ireland MF Mark Rossiter
5 Republic of Ireland DF Jason McGuinness
6 Republic of Ireland DF Ken Oman
7 Republic of Ireland MF Anto Murphy
8 Republic of Ireland FW Neale Fenn
10 Republic of Ireland FW Jason Byrne
11 Republic of Ireland MF Killian Brennan
No. Position Player
12 Republic of Ireland FW Paddy Madden
14 Republic of Ireland MF Glenn Cronin
15 Republic of Ireland DF Brian Shelley
16 Republic of Ireland MF Gary Deegan
17 Republic of Ireland DF Sean Byrne
19 Republic of Ireland MF Paul Keegan
20 Republic of Ireland FW Mark Hughes
22 Republic of Ireland MF Ryan McEvoy
33 Cameroon MF Joseph Ndo

Out on loan

No. Position Player
Republic of Ireland DF Brian McCarthy (on loan at Longford Town)

Noted players

See also:Category:Bohemian F.C. players

Managers

Year/s Manager League of Ireland FAI Cup League Cup
1964-1967, 1968-1973 Republic of Ireland Seán Thomas 1
1973-1990 Republic of Ireland Billy Young 2 1 2
1990-1993 Republic of Ireland Eamonn Gregg 1
1993-1998 Republic of Ireland Turlough O'Connor
1998 Republic of Ireland Joe McGrath
1998-2001 Republic of Ireland Roddy Collins 1 1
2001 Republic of Ireland Pete Mahon
2001-2004 Republic of Ireland Stephen Kenny 1
2005-2006 Republic of Ireland Gareth Farrelly
2006-2007 Northern Ireland Sean Connor
2007- Republic of Ireland Pat Fenlon 2 1 1

Honours

Records

Bohs' previous crest
  • League victory: 8-0 v Olympia, 18 November 1922 and v Home Farm, 5 February 1978
  • Victory: 11-0 v Grangegorman, Leinster Senior Cup Final, 26 December 1946
  • League defeat: 0-7 v Shamrock Rovers, 5 February 1955
  • Most points in a season: 85 in 2008 (record total and 19 points record margin)
  • Most league goals in a season (player): 25, Glen Crowe in 2000-01
  • Most league goals (player): 133, Glen Crowe
  • Most appearances (player): 575, Tommy Kelly
  • Most goals (player): 192, Turlough O'Connor
  • Oldest player: 40, Gary Matthews
  • First goalscorer: Joseph Whelan v Britannia, 1 November 1890

References

  1. ^ "Jubilant scenes as Bohemians clinch their 10th title". Irish Times. 2008-10-11. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2008/1011/1223676792801.html. Retrieved 2009-07-01. 
  2. ^ "Bohemians prevail in a cracker". Irish Times. 2008-11-24. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2008/1124/1227293466584.html. Retrieved 2009-07-01. 
  3. ^ "Bohemians 3-1 Waterford United". RTE Sport. 2009-09-2. http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2009/0926/bohemians_waterford.html. Retrieved 2009-09-28. 
  4. ^ "Bohemians crowned league champions". RTE Sport. 2009-11-06. http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2009/1106/bray_bohemians.html. Retrieved 2009-11-09. 
  5. ^ "Bohemians make their 11th title official". Irish Times. 2009-11-06. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2009/1107/1224258281925.html. Retrieved 2009-11-09. 
  6. ^ http://www.independent.ie/national-news/bohemians-say-yes-to-the-sale-of-dalymount-park-in-65m-deal-76942.html
  7. ^ http://www.herald.ie/sport/soccer/irish/bohemians-lose-court-case-over-dalymount---euro60m-deal-now-in-doubt-1528137.html?r=RSS
  8. ^ "Ndo grabs precious away goal". Irish Times. 2009-07-16. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2009/0716/1224250763063.html. Retrieved 2009-07-23. 
  9. ^ "Bohemians 0-1 Red Bull Salzburg (Agg 1-2)". RTE Sport. 2009-07-23. http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2009/0722/bohemians_salzburg.html. Retrieved 2009-07-23. 
  10. ^ Notorious Boo-Boys launch site, Bohemian F.C. Official Website, 2008. Retrieved on 2 January 2008
  11. ^ a b http://www.eircomloi.ie/the-divisions/a-championship/2008-season/
  12. ^ http://www.bohemians.ie/index.php/a-team-news/bohs-drawn-away-in-a-championship-final.htm
  13. ^ http://www.bohemians.ie/index.php/a-team-news/toccy-guides-a-side-to-championship-final.htm
  14. ^ http://www.bohemians.ie/index.php/bohemian-fc-youth-section/

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