Shamrock Rovers
Crest
about the team
The second meeting of the men determined to form a new football club to cater for the Irishtown and Ringsend neighbourhoods of Dublin city took place in a house on Shamrock Avenue in 1901. That location was enough to give the fledgling junior outfit both a name and a logo that would together become the most famous brand in the Irish game. Invited to join the League of Ireland in 1922, Shamrock Rovers scored 77 goals and went unbeaten for 21 games en route to winning the title in their debut season. They started as they meant to go on.
Honours
League of Ireland - 1922/23, 1924/25, 1926/27, 1931/32, 1937/38, 1938/39, 1953/54, 1956/57, 1958/59, 1963/64, 1983/84, 1984/85, 1985/86, 1986/87, 1993/94
FAI Cup - 1924/25, 1928/29, 1929/30, 1930/31, 1931/32, 1932/33, 1935/36, 1939/40, 1943/44, 1944/45, 1947/48, 1954/55, 1955/56, 1961/62, 1963/64, 1964/65, 1965/66, 1966/67, 1967/68, 1968/69, 1977/78, 1984/85, 1985/86, 1986/87
Finest Hours
In 1922 Shamrock Rovers played in the first ever FAI Cup Final as a junior (non-league) side, losing out after a replay to league champions Saint James' Gate. Invited into the senior ranks, the Hoops won the league at the first time of asking. Since then they've won an unprecedented four league titles in a row (1983-7), as well as winning the FAI Cup five times in succession (1929-33), a record they beat with six-in-a-row between 1964-9.
Perhaps the Hoops' most famous moment occurred when they staged a remarkable recovery in the 1956 FAI Cup Final, overturning a 0-2 deficit in the final 13 minutes to defeat Cork Athletic 3-2. In 1966, they were nine minutes away from eliminating Bayern Munich from the European Cup-Winners' Cup, but a late Gerd Muller goal put the eventual trophy winners through 4-3 on aggregate.
Folk Heroes
Given the club's great history, many players have become legends to the supporters. In the early days, Paddy Moore and Bob Fullam were fans' favourites, while Jimmy Dunne - also an Arsenal legend - was hugely popular as both a player and a coach. He was succeeded by the man regarded as Rovers' greatest ever player, Paddy Coad, who remained at the club for almost 20 years.
In the late 1950s, defender Ronnie Nolan, winger Liam Tuohy and striker Paddy Ambrose were the favourites in the Hoops' most popular team, while the six-in-row side of the 1960s boasted heroes such as winger Frank O'Neill, defender Johnny Fullam and striker Mick Leech.
In more recent times goalkeeper Alan O'Neill developed a remarkable relationship with the fans, while the four-in-a-row side was skippered by Pat Byrne, and featured favourites such as Harry Kenny, Peter Eccles, Liam Buckley, Alan Campbell, Noel Larkin and Mick Byrne.
Scottish striker Gary Twigg became the first folk hero in Tallaght, and a version of Flower of Scotland is sung in his honour by the fans.
Fans
Rovers' fans are renowned for their passion and commitment, which showed its practical side when they emptied their pockets to save the club in 2005.
Formed in 2000, the SRFC Ultras was the first European-style tifo group to emerge in the League of Ireland, and Rovers are also noted for having the biggest (and noisiest) away support in the land.
All Time Best XI
Alan O'Neill; Paddy Mulligan, Peter Eccles, Ronnie Nolan, Kevin Brady; Frank O'Neill, Paddy Coad, Pat Byrne, Liam Tuohy; Mick Leech, Paddy Ambrose
facts
Founded:
1901
Nickname:
The Hoops, Rovers
Ground:
Tallaght Stadium
Manager:
Michael O’Neill
League:
League of Ireland Premier Division
Top Goal Scorer:
Paddy Coad
Anthem:
Hold me close…
Kit:
Green and white hoops
Mascot:
Hooperman
