Shelbourne F.C. facts for kids

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Shelbourne

Full name	Shelbourne Football Club
Nickname(s)	Shels, The Reds,
Founded	1895; 130 years ago (1895)
Ground	Tolka Park
Ground Capacity	5,700
Chairman	Mickey O'Rourke
Head coach	Joey O'Brien
League	League of Ireland Premier Division
2024	League of Ireland Premier Division, 1st of 10
Home colours Away colours Third colours

Shelbourne Football Club is an Irish professional football team from Drumcondra, Dublin. They are often called Shels or The Reds. They play in the League of Ireland Premier Division and are the current champions.

About Shelbourne F.C.

Shelbourne F.C. plays its home games at Tolka Park in Drumcondra, a part of Dublin. The club was started in Dublin in 1895. Their main colours are red and white. Interestingly, in their very first season, they wore sky blue and chocolate because of a mistake with their kit order!

In 1904, Shelbourne joined the Irish Football League, which included teams from all over Ireland back then. Later, in 1921, they helped start the League of Ireland and won their first title in the 1925–26 season. Shelbourne has won the league 14 times. They are also one of only three clubs to have won both the IFA Cup and the FAI Cup.

Shelbourne made history in the 2004–05 European season. They became the first Irish club to reach the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League. Their strong performances in European games and having a player, Jason Byrne, play for the Republic of Ireland while with the club, helped Shelbourne become known internationally. In 2023, they also qualified for the Europa Conference League qualifiers for the first time.

In 2007, the club faced financial problems and lost their Premier Division licence. This meant they had to play in the second tier of the League of Ireland for many years. They did return to the Premier Division for short times in 2012, 2013, and 2020. However, they were promoted back to the top division in 2021 and have been there since, winning the Premier Division again in 2024.

Club History

Early Years: 1895–1921

Shelbourne Football Club was founded in 1895 in the Ringsend area of Dublin. James Rowan led the group of men who started the club. The club got its name from the nearby Shelbourne Road. Their first football field was at Havelock Square, close to where the Aviva Stadium is today.

In their second season (1896/97), Shelbourne played their first competitive games. They won 25 out of 28 matches, showing how strong they were. They won the Leinster Junior Cup and Leinster Junior League. The club then moved up to senior football for the 1897–98 season. They quickly reached the Leinster Senior Cup final but lost to Bohemians. They won their first Leinster Senior Cup in 1899/1900.

Shelbourne joined the Irish League (Northern Ireland) in 1904. In 1905, they reached the IFA Cup final but were beaten. The next year, 1906, Shelbourne defeated Belfast Celtic 2–0 to win the IFA Cup. They were the first club from the south of Ireland to win this trophy. A Dublin newspaper reported that "Tar Barrels and bonfires were blazing across Ringsend and Sandymount that night as the Irish Cup was paraded around the district." Also in 1906, Val Harris became the first Shelbourne player to play for the Ireland national team.

Val Harris was the first Shelbourne player to become a full international in 1906

Shelbourne reached the IFA Cup Final again in 1907 and 1908 but lost both times. They also won the Leinster Senior Cup several more times in these years. In 1909, they won the City Cup. Shelbourne won the IFA Cup for a second time in 1911 and again in 1920. Soon after, Shelbourne's time with the Irish Football Association came to an end.

Founding the League of Ireland: 1921–1929

After Ireland gained independence, the League of Ireland was created in 1921 for clubs in the new Irish Free State. This happened after a disagreement over where to play an Irish Cup match. Shelbourne was one of the first clubs to join this new league.

In the first 1921–22 season, Shelbourne finished third. They were runners-up in the next two seasons and won the 1924 Leinster Senior Cup. The Reds then won their first League of Ireland title in the 1925–26 season. They finished second for the next two years before winning the 1928–29 Championship again.

Chart of yearly table positions for Shelbourne in League of Ireland

The Thirties: 1930–1939

Shels won their third league title in 1931 and also the Leinster Senior Cup that year. In 1934, the club had a disagreement with the Irish Free State F.A. and left the league for a year. They played in a different league for the 1935–36 season before rejoining the League of Ireland in 1936. During their absence, a team called Reds United, made up of some Shelbourne players, played in the league.

The decade ended happily when Shelbourne finally won the FAI Cup in 1939. Many fans thought the club was "cursed" when it came to this trophy. They beat Sligo Rovers in a replay, with a goal from 'Sacky' Glen. This was a huge moment for the club.

The Forties: 1940–1949

The 1940s started slowly for the Reds. In 1944, they won their fourth league championship. They almost won a "treble" (three major trophies) but lost the FAI Cup Final to Shamrock Rovers. Shelbourne won another Leinster Senior Cup in 1946.

Another league title was won in 1947, again against Shamrock Rovers on the last day of the season. The end of the 1940s marked a big change. In April 1949, Shelbourne played their last game at Shelbourne Park. The club planned to build a new stadium in Irishtown. In the 1948–49 season, Shels also won their seventh Shield and 14th Leinster Senior Cup.

The Fifties: 1950–1959

In 1951, Shelbourne reached the FAI Cup final but lost to Cork Athletic after a replay. In 1953, they won their sixth league title. For one season (1955–56), Shels played at Irishtown Stadium, but the ground was not finished. The next season, Shelbourne moved to Tolka Park.

Shelbourne match programme v Cork Hibernians 1957-58 season

Gerry Doyle became manager, bringing in a new era. The FAI Youth Cup was won in 1959. Six players from that youth team became regular first-team players. One of them was Tony Dunne, who later moved to Manchester United and won the European Cup with them in 1968.

The Sixties: 1960–1969

The early 1960s were very successful for the Reds. They won the FAI Cup for the second time in 1960, beating Cork Hibernians 2–0. In 1962, they won the league title after a play-off against Cork Celtic. They won the FAI Cup again in 1963, once more beating Cork Hibs 2–0.

This success meant Shelbourne could play in European club competitions. Their first European match was against Sporting Clube de Portugal in 1962. The next season, they played FC Barcelona in the European Cup Winners' Cup. In 1964, Shelbourne won their first European game and tie in the 1964–65 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. They beat Belenenses from Portugal.

The commemorative plaque in Tolka Park, detailing the quickest hattrick ever, as scored by Jimmy O'Connor on 19 November 1967.

On 19 November 1967, Shelbourne player Jimmy O'Connor set a world record. He scored the fastest hat-trick in top-tier league history, scoring three goals in just two minutes and 13 seconds against Bohemians at Dalymount Park. Shelbourne won the Leinster Senior Cup in 1968. As English football highlights began to be shown on TV in Ireland, crowds at Irish league games dropped. Clubs faced financial difficulties, and many young players moved to England.

Challenges in the Seventies and Eighties: 1970–1989

The 1970s started well, with the Reds winning the Shield in 1970. This allowed them to enter the new UEFA Cup the next season. However, this was their last major trophy for a while, apart from the Leinster Senior Cup in 1972. Shelbourne lost the 1973 FAI Cup Final replay to Cork Hibs. Two years later, they were surprisingly beaten in the Cup final by an amateur team, Home Farm. In 1978, Jimmy Johnstone, a famous player who won the European Cup with Celtic, briefly played for Shelbourne.

In 1984, Shelbourne lost to Shamrock Rovers in the FAI Cup semi-final. The league was going to expand to two divisions in 1985, meaning the bottom four clubs would be relegated. Shels needed a win on the last day of the 1984/85 season against Galway United. They were two goals down at half-time but made an amazing comeback, scoring three goals to win and avoid relegation. However, they were relegated the next season in 1986. But their stay in the First Division was short, as they were promoted straight back up with Derry City.

After two difficult decades, things started to improve. In 1989, Tony Donnelly took over the club and began to invest a lot of money. Shels moved from Harold's Cross Stadium and took over Tolka Park. Former Irish international Pat Byrne became player-manager, and many new players joined, hoping to bring back the club's glory days.

Return to Success: 1990–1999

The investment by the Donnelly family quickly paid off. Shelbourne won their eighth league title at the end of the 1991/92 season, their first in 30 years. They won 3–1 away to Dundalk, with Brian Flood scoring a spectacular goal. Although they lost the league title the next season, they won the FAI Cup in 1993, also after a 30-year wait. A header from Greg Costello was enough to beat Dundalk.

Shelbourne returned to European competitions in 1992, playing Ukrainian club SC Tavriya Simferopol in the new UEFA Champions League. The next season, they won their first European game in 30 years, beating FC Karpaty Lviv of Ukraine. They then played Greek giants Panathinaikos.

Shelbourne were ever present in European competition from 1995-2006

In 1996, under manager Damien Richardson, Shelbourne won both the League of Ireland Cup and the FAI Cup in exciting ways. They won the League Cup for the first time in a penalty shootout against Sligo Rovers. In the FAI Cup Final against St. Patrick's, their goalkeeper was sent off early, and midfielder Brian Flood played 70 minutes in goal! Despite being 1–0 down, Tony Sheridan scored a stunning goal to force a replay. In the replay, Shels won after their goalkeeper saved a late penalty and Stephen Geoghegan scored the winning goal. Shelbourne became only the third club to win the FAI Cup two years in a row in 1997.

The scoreboard in Prenton Park, just before the hour mark.

The 1997–98 season brought disappointment. Shels lost two cup finals and missed out on the league title on the last day. They were also knocked out of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup by Kilmarnock. Dermot Keely took over as manager. In 1998, Shelbourne played Rangers from Glasgow in the 1998–99 UEFA Cup qualifiers. Due to safety concerns, Shelbourne's home game was played in England at Prenton Park in Birkenhead. Shelbourne led 3–0 at one point but lost 5–3.

Glory Years and Challenges: 2000–2006

After a quiet first season, Dermot Keely led Shels to a historic first-ever League and FAI Cup "double" in 1999–2000. They won the league by losing only one game. The double was secured with a goal from Pat Fenlon in the FAI Cup final replay against Bohemians. The next season, they lost the league title on the last day. In Europe, Shelbourne beat a Macedonian club but were then eliminated by Rosenborg BK.

The 2001–02 season had some controversy, but Shelbourne eventually won their 10th league title. They were knocked out of the UEFA Cup by Danish club Brøndby.

Shelbourne team before their game with SC FC FCSB SA in the 2005–06 UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds.

Under new manager Pat Fenlon, the club won back-to-back titles in 2003 and 2004. This was the first time they had done this. In the 2004–05 UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds, Shelbourne beat KR Reykjavík and then HNK Hajduk Split. They became the first Irish club to reach the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League. This was a huge upset in European football for an Irish club. However, their amazing Champions League journey ended when they were beaten by Spanish club Deportivo La Coruña. They drew 0–0 at home in Lansdowne Road in front of 25,000 fans. Shelbourne then entered the UEFA Cup and played French side Lille. They lost 4–2 on aggregate. Shelbourne went on to win the League in 2004.

In 2005, Shels signed some big-name players but finished third in the league. In the Champions League qualifiers, they beat Glentoran but were then knocked out by former European champions Steaua Bucharest.

Shelbourne line-out against Odense BK in the second round of the 2006 Intertoto Cup.

In 2006, Shelbourne won the league title on the last day of the season. They also reached the Intertoto Cup semi-finals, beating Lithuanian club FK Vėtra 5–0 on aggregate, which was their biggest win in European competitions. They were then knocked out by Danish side Odense BK. Shelbourne remained unbeaten at home in Europe for eight games, an Irish record. In 2006, Shelbourne also reached the League of Ireland Cup final but lost on penalties.

However, Shelbourne faced serious financial problems during the 2006 season. Pat Fenlon resigned as manager, and most players left the club.

Demotion and Comeback: 2007–2019

Because of their financial issues, Shelbourne was moved down to the First Division by the FAI before the 2007 season. Former manager Dermot Keely returned and quickly put together a team. They finished a respectable fifth in the 2007 League of Ireland First Division.

In 2008, they narrowly missed out on promotion. In 2009, their chance for promotion disappeared again when they lost in the play-offs. In 2010, former player Alan Mathews became the new manager. Under Mathews, Shelbourne won the 2010 Leinster Senior Cup.

2011 was a mixed year. New rules allowed the top two teams in the First Division to be promoted automatically. The Reds secured promotion back to the Premier Division with a 4–0 win against Finn Harps on 25 October. Shelbourne also had a memorable Cup run in 2011. They reached the 2011 FAI Cup Final but lost to Sligo Rovers on penalties.

In 2012, Shelbourne finished eighth in the Premier Division. However, they only stayed in the top flight for two seasons, finishing last in the 2013 Premier Division. Alan Mathews was replaced by Johnny McDonnell as manager. In 2014, Shelbourne finished second in the First Division and went into a promotion play-off, but lost. Kevin Doherty then became manager.

The club finished fourth in 2015 and sixth in 2016. Former player Owen Heary took over as manager. In 2017, Heary's first full season ended with a fourth-place finish. In 2018, the team qualified for a promotion play-off but lost. However, in 2019, Shelbourne finally won the First Division and were promoted back to the Premier Division for the first time since 2013. They won the title with a 3–1 away win over Drogheda on 14 September 2019.

Recent Years: 2020–Present

In 2020, Shelbourne played in the Premier Division again. However, they were relegated back to the First Division at the end of the season after a play-off. But they quickly secured promotion again by winning the 2021 First Division championship on 1 October 2021. The next month, former Irish international Damien Duff was appointed as the first team manager.

Shelbourne fans celebrate returning to the Premier Division 1 October 2021 at Tolka Park

In June 2023, Turkish media company Acun Medya bought Shelbourne. In November 2023, Mickey O’Rourke, a long-time supporter, acquired the shareholding from Acun Medya. In the same month, the men's team qualified for UEFA club competitions after finishing fourth in the league.

On 1 November 2024, Shelbourne won the 2024 League of Ireland Premier Division after a 1-0 win against Derry City. Damien Duff's team won the title on the final day, which was a big surprise as they had started the season with very low odds. The final game attracted the largest ever TV audience for a League of Ireland match.

In February 2025, Shels won the President of Ireland's Cup for the first time, beating Drogheda United 2-0 at Tolka Park. In May 2025, Shelbourne announced a deal for an 18-year lease of part of the AUL Complex in Clonshaugh. On 22 June 2025, it was announced that Damien Duff had resigned as head coach. Joey O'Brien took over as head coach.

Stadium History

Aerial view of Tolka Park since redevelopment in 1999.

In 1989, Shelbourne took over the lease for Tolka Park from Dublin Corporation. Before moving to Drumcondra, Shels had played at various grounds. They were at Harold's Cross Stadium from 1982, and before that, Shelbourne Park from 1913 to 1949. They also played at Irishtown Stadium for one season and sometimes at Dalymount Park. Shels had played home games regularly at Tolka Park in earlier decades too.

Before Shelbourne, Tolka Park was home to Drumcondra F.C. from 1924 until 1972. Home Farm then used Tolka Park, but they didn't attract many fans. When Shelbourne moved in, they invested a lot of money to improve the stadium. They made it Ireland's first all-seater stadium and built a new stand in 1999. The first-ever League of Ireland match shown live on TV was between Shelbourne and Derry City at Tolka Park in the 1996–97 season.

In 2016, the club announced plans to move and share Dalymount Park with another team once it was redeveloped. However, in 2021, a group of Shels fans, local residents, and activists started a "Save Tolka Park" campaign. In May 2024, the council gave the club a 250-year lease on Tolka Park, meaning they will stay there.

Supporters and Rivalries

Most of Shelbourne's fans come from the northside of Dublin. However, there are also many supporters from the Southside, especially the Ringsend area where the club began. The average attendance for home league games in 2024 was 4,269.

From Home To Home was the first Shels fanzine

'Briogáid Dearg' (meaning Red Brigade) is the club's main Ultras group, formed in 2003. 'Reds Independent' is a supporters group started in 1998. They give Shelbourne fans an independent voice through Red Inc., which is one of the longest-running fanzines in the world. The 'Shelbourne Supporters' Development Group' was founded in 2006 to help raise money from supporters.

Shelbourne fans before a League of Ireland Premier Division match v Derry City Tolka Park 1 April 2024

In October 2012, fans agreed to launch the "The 1895 Trust," named after the club's founding year. The Trust was officially launched in 2013. In 2016, some fans protested against the club's plan to redevelop Tolka Park for housing and move the team to Dalymount Park.

Shelbourne has a rivalry with Bohemians because they are located close to each other. They also have rivalries with other Dublin teams like St Patrick's Athletic and Shamrock Rovers. Some Shelbourne fans are also friends with fans of Danish club Brøndby IF and Italian club AS Roma.

European Football

Shelbourne has a long and interesting history in European competitions. They have played against famous clubs like Sporting Lisbon, Barcelona, Atlético Madrid, Panathinaikos, Rangers, Rosenborg, Brøndby, Hajduk Split, Deportivo de La Coruña, Lille, Steaua Bucharest, and FC Zürich.

Shelbourne first played in Europe in the 1962-63 season against Sporting Lisbon. From 1995 to 2006, Shelbourne was always in European competitions and had a lot of success. After a period of decline, they have re-emerged in the 2024-25 UEFA Team Rankings. The club returned to the UEFA Champions League qualifiers in 2025.

Away Match Ticket Hajduk Split v Shelbourne Champions League qualifying tie 28 July 2004

European Competition Overview

Players

No. Position Player 1 GK Conor Kearns 2 DF Sean Gannon 3 DF Tyreke Wilson 4 DF Kameron Ledwidge 5 MF Ellis Chapman 6 MF Jonathan Lunney 7 MF Harry Wood 8 MF Mark Coyle (captain) 9 FW Seán Boyd 10 FW John Martin 11 FW Mipo Odubeko 14 MF Ali Coote 15 DF Sam Bone 16 MF John O'Sullivan

No. Position Player 17 MF Daniel Kelly 18 DF James Norris (on loan from Liverpool) 19 GK Lorcan Healy 23 MF Kerr McInroy 24 DF Lewis Temple 25 GK Daithi Folan 27 MF Evan Caffrey 29 DF Paddy Barrett 33 DF Derinsola Adewale 41 DF Luca Cailloce 44 FW Daniel Ring 45 MF Taylor McCarthy 50 GK Ali Topcu 77 MF Rayhaan Tulloch

Players on Loan

No. Position Player 28 MF Ryan O'Kane (on loan to Sligo Rovers until November 2025)

Technical Staff

Famous Former Players

Famous Former Managers

Other Shelbourne Teams

Women’s Team

In 2015, Shelbourne Ladies took over Raheny United's senior women's team. This meant Shelbourne Ladies replaced Raheny United in the Women's National League. In the 2015–16 season, Shelbourne Ladies finished as runners-up in several competitions. However, they did win the WNL Cup in May 2016. In 2016, Shelbourne won the double, taking both the FAI Women's Cup and the Women's National League title. Leanne Kiernan scored a hat-trick in the FAI Women's Cup final.

With that league title, they qualified for the 2017–18 UEFA Women's Champions League. In March 2019, Shelbourne announced they would drop "Ladies" from the women's team name to promote equality. They also moved their home games to the main stadium at Tolka Park. The WNL team won the WNL and FAI Women's Cup in 2022, and the cup again in 2024.

U-19 Team

In 2011, the Football Association of Ireland announced a new League of Ireland U19 Division. This gave young players in Ireland a chance to join the first teams of League of Ireland clubs. The age group has since changed to Under 20.

Schoolboy Teams

Shelbourne has seventeen schoolboy teams that play in the Dublin & District Schoolboy Leagues. These teams have played in youth cups around the world. They also have a new U13s League of Ireland SSE Airtricity schoolboy team.

Shelbourne is also part of a football scholarship program with Larkin Community College in Dublin. This program has helped more students stay in school.

Amateur Team

Shelbourne also has an amateur team that plays in the United Churches Football League, Division 1. They won promotion to Division 1 in 2008 and reached the Premier Division a year later. In 2013, they won the Premier Division. In 2014, they won the Maher Cup. In 2015, the team moved to the United Churches Football League.

Reserve Team

The Shelbourne A team played in the 2010 A Championship. They finished sixth in their group. The team did not play in the 2011 Championship, which was the last one. Before this, the reserve team played in other leagues like the Leinster Junior League and League of Ireland "B" Division.

Club Honours

• League of Ireland/Premier Division 14:
  • 1925–26, 1928–29, 1930–31, 1943–44, 1946–47, 1952–53, 1961–62, 1991–92, 1999–2000, 2001–02, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2024
• League of Ireland First Division 2:
  • 2019, 2021
• Irish Cup: 3
  • 1905–06, 1910–11, 1919–20
• FAI Cup: 7
  • 1938–39, 1959–60, 1962–63, 1992–93, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1999–2000
• League of Ireland Cup: 1
  • 1995–96
• League of Ireland Shield: 8
  • 1921–22, 1922–23, 1925–26, 1929–30, 1943–44, 1944–45, 1948–49, 1970–71
• LFA President's Cup: 8
  • 1929–30 [shared], 1939–40, 1947–48 [shared], 1960–61, 1993–94, 1995–96, 1998–99, 2002–03
• FAI Super Cup: 1
  • 2001–02
• President of Ireland's Cup: 1
  • 2025

• Dublin City Cup: 4
  • 1941–42, 1946–47, 1962–63, 1964–65
• City Cup: 1
  • 1908–09
• Gold Cup: 1
  • 1914–15
• Top Four Cup: 1
  • 1961–62
• Leinster Senior League: 12 (record)
  • 1902–03, 1903–04, 1906–07, 1907–08, 1908–09, 1910–11, 1915–16, 1916–17, 1918–19, 1923–24, 1942–43, 1943–44
• Leinster Senior Cup: 21
  • 1899–1900, 1900–01, 1903–04, 1905–06, 1907–08, 1908–09, 1912–13, 1913–14, 1916–17, 1918–19 1923–24, 1930–31, 1945–46, 1948–49, 1962–63, 1967–68, 1971–72, 1993–94, 2010, 2017, 2018
• FAI Intermediate Cup: 1
  • 1933

• Leinster Junior League: 1
  • 1896-97

• Leinster Junior Cup: 1
  • 1896-97

• Enda McGuill Cup: 1
  • 2003

• FAI Youth Cup: 3
  • 1959, 1961, 1969

Club Records

Match Results

• Biggest League Win:
  • 9–0 vs Pioneers, 16 December 1922
  • 9–0 vs Bray Unknowns, 4 September 1926
• Biggest League Defeat:
  • 0–9 vs Dundalk, 27 November 1980
• Biggest FAI Cup Win:
  • 9–0 vs Bray Unknowns, 6 January 1923
• Biggest European Win:
  • single tie: 4–0 vs Vėtra home, 24 June 2006
  • aggregate: 5–0 vs Vėtra, June 2006

Goals and Scorers

• Most League goals in a season:
  • 72 (1922–23)
• Most League goals in a game:
  • 6, John Ledwidge vs Jacobs, 9–1 home, 10 October 1929
  • 6, Alex Hair vs Jacobs, 7–0 home, 6 September 1930
• Most FAI Cup goals in a game:
  • 5, Stephen Doyle vs Bray Unknowns 9–0 home, 6 January 1923
• Top League scorer:
  • season: 29, Alex Hair, (1930–31)
  • total: 126, Eric Barber, (1958–66), (1971–75), (1978–80)
• Top European scorer:
  • season: 5, Jason Byrne, (2004–05)
  • total: 8, Jason Byrne, (2003–06)

International Caps

Players who played for their national teams while with Shelbourne:

•  Ireland (IFA): 5 players
  • First: Val Harris vs England home, 17 February 1906.
  • Last: Ed Brookes vs Scotland away, 13 March 1920.
  • Most: Val Harris (6), (1906–08).
•  Irish Free State/Republic of Ireland (FAI): 23 players
  • First: Mick Foley and Fran Watters vs Italy away, 21 March 1926.
  • Last: Jason Byrne vs Chile home, 24 May 2006.
  • Most: Joe Haverty (7), (1965–66).

See also

In Spanish: Shelbourne Football Club para niños