Dublin United
So much has been said recently about how there are
too many Dublin clubs competing in modern day League of Ireland. 'We don't need
any more Dublin clubs, we have enough' and 'We should be spreading our game
into other counties around the country', are frequently seen arguments amongst
present day League of Ireland fans. However, there have been, and we have
covered a few already on this blog, many other Dublin clubs that have competed
in the league over the 100 years of existence. Some we remember, like Sporting
Fingal, Brideville and Dublin City, while others have truly been forgotten,
like Brooklyn FC, Shelbourne United and Rathmines. One club that may have also
been forgotten in that time is Dublin United. Yes, there was a Dubljn United,
and they played in the League of Ireland. Here is their story.
Founded in the 1920's and like
most football clubs, before the creation of the League of Ireland, Dublin
United played their football in the Leinster Senior League. They played their
football at Beechill, Donnybroook originally until they moved to Anglsey Road,
where they ground shared with Shelbourne United.
Becoming one of the founding
members of the League of Ireland in 1921, alongside, Bohemians, Jacobs,
Frankfort, Olympia, St James Gate, Shelbourne FC and YMCA, Dublin United felt
they were a strong contender for the title that year, mainly because they had
lifted the Leinster Senior Cup the previous year, beating St James Gate, 1-0,
in the final.
However, it proved to be a
difficult season, with the team finishing 7th out of the eight clubs competing,
with only YMCA finishing below them. They finished the season winning 5 and
losing nine, not drawing a single game all season.
Their first match in the FAI
cup, was played against Frankfort, on January 14th, 1922, and saw Dublin United
win easily by 8-1. The second saw only two fixtures played with both Shelbourne
and eventual winners, St James Gate getting byes into the next round. Bohemians
best Athlone Town 7-1, while Dublin United were beaten by Shamrock Rovers, 3-1,
on January 28th, 1922. This was actually seen as a suprise result, as Shamrock
Rovers weren’t a League of Ireland club as of yet. That, of course, would
change in the following season.
The 1922-23 season saw six new
teams elected into the league, including the first from outside of Dublin,
Athlone Town. YMCA and Frankfort were not re-elected and dropped out, having
only participated in one league season. (Two of only four clubs to do so).
It was to be another frustrating
season for the Dublin side, who finished 10th out of the twelve clubs
competing, winning just four games all season. Newcomers, Shamrock Rovers,
lifted their first title that season.
In the FAI Cup that year, Dublin
United started off with a seemingly difficult tie against Sligo Celtic. The
first tie, played on the 7th January, 1923, was drawn 3-3. Back then there was
no extra time to be played and a draw meant a reply. So, on January 14th, 1923,
Dublin United travelled west to olay the second match between the two sides but
once again it ended in a stalemate, a 0-0 draw. A second replay was played in
Dublin on the 28th January, 1923, in which the League of Ireland side
dispatched its opponents at the third time of asking, 3-1.
But all that hard work was for
nothing, as on the 28th of February, they were defeated in Dublin by Cork side,
Fordsons, 3-2, and so ended their cup run.
As it so happened, that was the
end of Dublin United, who alongside Olympia and Rathmines, were not re-elected
to take part in the League of Ireland for the following year. Another Dublin
side and 'Forgotten Club' (We have already written about them here on the blog
if you want to read their story) Brooklyn FC were brought in, to shape the
newly formed 10 club league format.
So, with that, we have another
Dublin club gone in the history of League of Ireland football, and indeed,
Irish football as well. Not much is left or known about Dublin United, past
players nor even a crest can be found from research, but someone, somewhere,
must have knowledge of either or maybe even more? I will continue my research
and hopefully will be able to add onto this in the future. But from the area of
Donnybrook, which would be where UCD are technically placed now, I do wonder if
they were still around, would they have a large support. Would the locals get
behind them, or is that area now too much of a rugby stronghold? It wouldn't
matter anyway; League of Ireland fans wouldn't allow it. They don't want
another Dublin club in the league.