Fanad United F.C.
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Full name | Fanad United Football Club |
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Nickname(s) | United |
Founded | 1972 |
Ground | Traigh-a-Loch, County Donegal |
Capacity | 4,000 |
Chairman | Fr. Michael Sweeney |
Manager | Arthur Lynch |
League | Ulster Senior League |
Fanad United Football Club is a football club currently playing in the Ulster Senior League and LOI Under 19's League. The club was founded by Fr. Michael Sweeney, the current club President, in 1972 in Fanad, County Donegal and are one of the founding members of the league. Fanad play their home games at Traigh-a-Loch. Club colours are red and black.
History
The teams success in the Ulster Senior League is unrivalled, with 14 titles to their name. Fanad have also won the FAI Intermediate Cup on two occasions, defeating Tramore Athletic in the 1988 final and College Corinthians in 1995. They suffered heartbreak the following season when they were defeated in the 1996 final by Wayside Celtic and denied the chance to retain their title. They have also come close to adding more titles in various seasons but were knocked out in 2005 by Avondale United. Success at local level in the 1980s qualified Fanad for the National League Cup. The high point of their successes during that spell came in 1987, with their victory over League of Ireland giants, Derry City, then managed by Noel King. During a great run they also defeated Finn Harps, Sligo Rovers and Galway United. They went on to reach the semi finals of the League Cup that season losing to the then all-conquering Shamrock Rovers. Other successes included a 2-0 away victory at Home Farm, with only 9 men, a 4 -0 win away to Bray Wanderers in 1996 and the meeting with Shamrock Rovers in 2005 at Dalymount Park in the FAI Cup.
Stadium
The club's ground at Traigh-a-Loch, between Lough Swilly and Mulroy Bay is noted as being one of the best in the league. The club regularly receives high attendances at its fully flood-lit ground, the most notable of these perhaps coming with the visit of Willie McStay's Celtic Under 19s in February 2006 when over 4,000 spectators turned up to see the first official game under lights.
Honours
- Ulster Senior League: 14
- Winners:
- FAI Intermediate Cup: 2
- Winners: 1987–88, 1994–95
- FAI Youth Cup
- Winners: 1978–79: 1
See also
References
- ^ "FAI Umbro Youth Challenge Cup Previous Winners". www.fai.ie. 2 February 2016. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
- ^ Mark Herbert, Donie Butler (1994–95). FAI Yearbook & Diary 1995. Dublin: Sportsworld Ltd.