Frankfort FC (Dublin)
Eight clubs
founded the League of Ireland back in 1922, all of which were from Dublin. Six
of those clubs have now become ‘Forgotten Football Clubs’, with only Shelbourne
FC and Bohemians lasting the test of time, still playing in the League of
Ireland today. Out of the eight founding members, this club is one of the more
forgotten, even thought they still continue to play at a lower level to this
day. They are a club that, along with three other clubs, only ever played one
season in the League of Ireland. Along with Rathmines Athletic, YMCA and Reds
United, Frankfort FC only participated in the League of Ireland for a short
period of time, but it was in the first ever season of the competition. This is
their story.
Founded in 1900
and playing their football at Richmond Road, in Drumcondra, North Dublin, the
club competed in the Leinster Senior League it’s early years. They got their
name from the place were they were formed, the Frankfort Place and Frankfort
Cottages district, near Connolly Station. They wore the colours, black and
white. There only notable success was finishing runners-up in the 1915-16
edition of the IFA Intermediate Cup, losing out to Glentoran Reserves.
When the League
of Ireland was founded in 1922, Frankfort FC decided to join it, along with
Bohemians, Shelbourne, YMCA, Dublin United, St James Gate, Jacobs and Olympia.
All the eight clubs were from the Dublin region. Frankfort’s season was one
full of goals, however, not always in their favour.
The biggest win
of the season came when Dublin United beat Frankfort 6-0 at Donnybrook, while
Frankfort also took part in the highest scoring game that season when they drew
4-4 with YMCA at Richmond Road. Ironically, Frankfort beat Dublin United 5-0 at
home. In fact, every one of Frankfort’s
home league games ended with three or more goals scored, which would suggest
they were an exciting team to watch.
The club
finished 6th out of the eight clubs, winning just three games all
season, however they did beat eventual champions, St James Gate, 2-1, at home.
All three of Frankfort’s wins came at home.
Their FAI Cup
run didn’t fair any better, and just like in their league meeting at
Donnybrook, Dublin United hammered Frankfort in the first round on January 14th,
1922, 8-1. Just like their league campaign, Frankfort would only ever take part
in the FAI Cup on one occasion. Their short time in League of Ireland ended
after just one season, with the club electing not to join for the next season.
While they made
very little impression in Irelands top competition, they do have a few former
international players who had played for them, most notably, Partick O’
Connell, the man who saved Barcelona and won the league title whilst manager of
Real Betis. The other former international player to wear the black and white
of Frankfort was a centre forward named Tom Davis, who played for both the
Ireland (IFA) and the Ireland (FAI). He made five appearances in total with the
both of them, scoring five goals, two of which came on his debut against
Germany on 17th October 1936 at Dalymount Park, when Ireland won the
game, 5-2.
While Frankfort
are one of the lesser-known clubs, they are one of the few that still
participate at a lower level in Irish football, having underage sides and
amateur sides play at different levels throughout the years. So, the question
of whether they should return to the League of Ireland or not is a bit
redundant, as the club is probably happy to continue being a community club.
But you never know, stranger things have happened.