Shelbourne United
Did you that
there were once two clubs in the League of Ireland that had the name Shelbourne
in it. We know about the current Shelbourne FC, but back in the 1920’s there ws
also a football club named Shelbourne Unted. The club played in the Leinster
League, winning it in 1920-21. They were the fourth civilian team to do so,
after Bohemians FC, Shelbourne FC and St James Gate. In these early seaons,
they played their home games in Beechill, Donnybrook.
Whilst they
didn’t join the League of Ireland for it’s debut season in 1921, they did join
with five other clubs for it’s second season although it was a bit more
dramatic for Shelbourne United to join than the other five clubs. Initially,
Shelbourne United’s application to join the League of Ireland was rejected,
after concerns about where they would play their home games. Shelbourne United
had originally suggested to play their home games at Anglesea Road, the same
ground that Dubin United were playing at. But when University College Dublin
dropped out after fears they couldn’t field a team, Shelbourne United were
reconsidered for the final place. The League’s fears were softened when they
observed a friendly match between Dublin United and Shelbourne United was
played at Anglesea Road which went off without a hitch proving that there
should be no problem with both clubs using te venue for the upcoming season,
which started three weeks from that day.
Shelbourne
United’s first League of Ireland match took place on Saturday 16th,
1922 aganst Shamrock Rovers, who were also making their League of Ireland
debut. Shelbourne United won he game, 1-0. It was a decent first season,
finishing 4t, behind the Bohemians, Shelbourne FC and Shamrock Rovers. That
season also saw the two Shelbourn clubs play each other in the League of
Ireland for the first time. They both shared a win each, with Shelbourne FC
winning their home match, 4-0, whilst Shelbourne United won their hoe match,
2-1.
Their second
season in 1923-24 ended in the Shelbourne United finishing 6th.That
season saw the club play their home games at Milltown Ground. But that season
was the last time Shelbourne United played in the League of Ireland, or indeed
any competition. They announced they were not participating on September7,
1924, the day after the new season had begun. They were replaced by Cork based
club, Fordsons, the first Munster side to join the League of Ireland.
Shelbourne
United’s FAI Cup runs were not exactly anything to shout out about either. They
entered the competition on two occasions. The first in 1922-23 when they beat
Bohemians in the round of 16, 2-1. However, they were knocked out in the second
round by eventual winners and Norther Ireland based club, Alton United. It took
two games to decide the outcome of the game. Their second participation in the
FAI Cup saw the club being knocked out by ST James Gate, 2-1.
And so there is
the story of the other Shelbourne to have played in the League of Ireland. I
wonder what those games were like. Was there a bit of needle to it? Where their
fans on each side, even back in the 1920’s? it is intriguing to think about.
Imagine a Shelbourne derby in the League of Ireland? Surely Shels fans would
enjoy that.