Waterford F.C. facts for kids
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| Full name | Waterford Football Club | |||
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| Nickname(s) | The Blues, Blues | |||
| Founded | 1930 | |||
| Ground | Waterford RSC, Waterford, Ireland | |||
| Capacity | 5,500 (3,052 seats) | |||
| Chairman | Jamie Piley | |||
| Manager | John Coleman | |||
| League | League of Ireland Premier Division | |||
| 2024 | League of Ireland Premier Division, 7th of 10 | |||
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Waterford Football Club, also known as Waterford FC, is an Irish football team. They are based in Waterford, Ireland. The club plays in the League of Ireland Premier Division. Waterford FC was started in 1930.
The team first played at Kilcohan Park, a greyhound stadium. In the 1993–94 season, they moved to the Waterford Regional Sports Centre. Since 2018, the club and its players have been fully professional.
Contents
Club History
Early Years and First Wins
Waterford first joined the league in the 1930–31 season. They finished ninth. After a short break, they rejoined in 1935–36. In their first season back, they won the Shield.
The club won the FAI Cup for the first time in 1937. They beat St. James's Gate F.C. in the final. They also won the Shield again that year. Waterford finished second in the league in 1937–38 and 1940–41.
The club won the Shield once more in 1952–53. They were also league runners-up in 1954–55 and 1962–63.
Winning League Titles
Waterford won their first league title in the 1965–66 season. They set a record with 13 straight league victories. This win started a very successful time for the club. They won the league title three times in a row from 1968 to 1970.
The title went to Cork Hibernians in 1971. But Waterford won it back in 1971–72 and again in 1972–73. The next season, they won the League of Ireland Cup.
In 1980, the club won the FAI Cup for the second time. They beat St Patrick's Athletic.
Waterford's success meant they played in European competitions. They faced famous clubs like Manchester United and Celtic. Famous player Bobby Charlton even played a few games for the club in 1976.
Changes and Challenges
In May 1982, the club changed its name to Waterford United. The league grew to 22 clubs in 1985. This led to two divisions: Premier and First. Waterford was in the Premier Division.
They were moved down to the First Division in 1988–89. But they quickly won the First Division title in 1989–90. They were promoted back to the Premier Division. However, they were moved down again the next season.
Waterford United was promoted to the top league again in 1991–92. They finished second to Limerick. But they were moved down again after just one season. They were promoted once more in 1997–98. They stayed in the Premier Division until 1999–00.
In 2002, Jimmy McGeough became manager. He led the club to promotion in the 2002–03 season. The League of Ireland changed from a winter to a summer league in 2003. Waterford finished 6th.
In 2004, The Blues finished 5th. They also reached the FAI Cup Final. They lost 2–1 to Longford Town.
In 2006, Waterford United was moved down to the First Division. The FAI took over the league. Waterford was invited back to the Premier Division in 2007. But they were moved down again that season after losing a play-off.
In 2009, Stephen Henderson became manager. The Blues reached the EA Sports Cup Final. They lost 3–1 to Bohemians. They also reached the FAI Cup semi-finals.
In 2010, Henderson's team finished second in the league. They lost in the play-offs for promotion. Henderson was later replaced by Paul O'Brien in 2011. O'Brien's team almost won promotion in 2012. They lost to Dundalk in the play-offs.
In 2013, the club faced financial problems. This caused them to finish lower in the table. Tommy Griffin became manager in 2014. Roddy Collins took over in 2015. He left the club in 2016.
Modern Day Success
In late 2016, Swindon Town chairman Lee Power took control of the club. He changed the name back to Waterford FC. He also updated the club's crest and jersey.
In 2017, former player Alan Reynolds became head coach. Pat Fenlon was appointed director of football. The club signed new players and became more professional.
Waterford FC won the league championship in 2017. They were promoted back to the Premier Division for 2018.
Waterford finished fourth in the 2018 League of Ireland Premier Division. This meant they qualified for the Europa League qualifying round. However, UEFA ruled they did not meet a "three-year rule." So, the spot went to St Patrick's Athletic.
Alan Reynolds resigned as manager in June 2020. In June 2021, Lee Power sold the club to R&S Holdings Ltd. Richard Forrest led this new ownership.
The club finished 9th in 2021. They lost a relegation play-off to UCD AFC. This meant Waterford returned to the First Division.
In June 2022, Danny Searle became manager. In August 2022, Andrew Pilley bought the club. He was also the owner of Fleetwood Town F.C..
Searle was removed from his position in March 2023. Keith Long was appointed as the new manager. In July 2023, the club's owner, Andrew Pilley, faced legal issues in the UK. In November 2023, Waterford FC won promotion back to the Premier Division. They beat Cork City in a play-off.
In May 2024, Jamie Pilley, the son of the former owner, took over the club. He owns it through The Willows 96 Holdings Limited.
Players
Current Squad
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Out on Loan
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Technical Staff
| Position | Staff |
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| Head Coach | Vacant |
| Assistant Manager | Matt Craddock |
| Coach | David Breen |
| Goalkeeping coach | Brian Murphy |
| Strength & Conditioning Coach | Darragh Mulcahy |
| Analyst | Shane Nolan |
| Physios | David Browne & Derek O'Neill |
| Doctor | Simon Colquhoun |
| Kitmen | Kevin Burns & Michael Walsh |
Women's Squad
Club Overview
Waterford Women’s F.C. is a professional women’s football club. It is based in Waterford, Ireland. The team plays in the SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division. The club was started in December 2024. This was a big moment for women's football in Waterford.
The club is supported by Hess Sports Group and Waterford Football Club. Hess Sports Group owns most of the club.
History of the Women's Team
In December 2024, Hess Sports Group and Waterford Football Club announced the new team. Waterford Women’s F.C. joined the SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division. This was a key step for women's football in Ireland. The club builds on the area's football history. Teams like Benfica W.S.C. played women's football in the 1980s and 1990s.
Ownership and Goals
Hess Sports Group owns 75% of the club. Power Grade Limited, who own Waterford Football Club, own 25%. This partnership aims to help women's football grow. It also helps it become strong for the future.
Hess Sports Group supports women’s professional sports. This includes Hess Cycling Team and Hess Football. The company wants to help athletes. They also want to involve the community.
Waterford Women’s F.C. wants to inspire future female footballers. They offer a professional place for talent to shine. The club's goal is to encourage young girls and women to play sports. Starting this club is important for including women in Irish football.
Head Coach
On December 16th, 2024, Gary Hunt was announced as the first Head Coach. He leads Waterford Women’s F.C. for the 2025 SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division season. Hunt had coached for Waterford FC before.
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Stadium
Waterford FC plays home games at the Waterford Regional Sports Centre, or RSC. They have played there since the 1992–93 season. The stadium has two stands. It can hold 5,500 people, with 3,052 seats.
The highest number of fans at the RSC was 8,500. This was for an FAI Cup semi-final in 1997. Fans were allowed to stand on the running track then. The RSC also hosted the 2009 League of Ireland Cup final. Before the RSC, Waterford played at Kilcohan Park.
Supporters and Rivalries
Supporters
Waterford FC gets support from Waterford City and County. Fans also come from the wider South East region. Waterford fans have official and unofficial groups.
Fan Groups
- Blues Supporter Club (B.S.C)
The Blues Supporters Club is the official fan group. It started in December 2009. The BSC arranges travel for fans to away games. They also run the club shop. They organize many fundraising events and match day activities. There is also a branch in Dungarvan for fans in West Waterford.
- Ultras
Rivals
Waterford has a big rivalry with Cork City. This is called the Munster Derby. They had many exciting games in the 2000s. The rivalry became strong again in 2017. This was after Lee Power took over Waterford.
A tackle by Patrick McClean on Cork's Sean Maguire caused a lot of talk. It led to arguments between players on social media. Irish international players James McClean and Shane Duffy also got involved.
Waterford also signed Kenny Browne, a Cork player from Waterford. This caused more arguments with Cork's manager. Recently, Waterford beat Cork in the Premier Division Promotion Playoff Final.
Waterford also plays against Wexford. They are nearby rivals in the south east. However, this rivalry is not as strong.
In the 1960s and 70s, Waterford had a big rivalry with Shamrock Rovers. This is now known as the 'old feud'.
Honours
- League of Ireland: 6
- 1965–66, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1969–70, 1971–72, 1972–73
- FAI Cup: 2
- 1936–37, 1979–80
- League of Ireland First Division: 4
- 1989–90, 1997–98, 2002–03, 2017
- League of Ireland Cup: 2
- 1973–74, 1984–85
- League of Ireland Shield: 5
- 1930–31, 1936–37, 1952–53, 1958–59, 1968–69
- LFA President's Cup: 1
- 1973–74
- Top Four Cup : 5
- 1967–68, 1968–69, 1969–70, 1970–71, 1972–73
- Texaco Cup: 1
- 1974–75
- Munster Senior League: 1
- 1932–33
- Munster Senior Cup: 16
- 1934–35, 1945–46, 1947–48, 1955–56, 1956–57, 1965–66, 1966–67, 1975–76, 1980–81, 1985–86, 1986–87, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2024
- Dr Tony O'Neill Cup: 1
- 2000–01
- Enda McGuill Cup: 1
- 2001–02
European Record
Overview
| Competition | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
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| European Cup | 14 | 3 | 0 | 11 | 15 | 47 | - 32 |
| European Cup Winners' Cup | 8 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 14 | - 8 |
| TOTAL | 22 | 4 | 1 | 17 | 21 | 61 | - 40 |
Matches Played
| Season | Competition | Round | Opponent | Home | Away | Aggregate |
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| 1966–67 | European Cup | PR |  Vorwärts Berlin |
1–6 | 0–6 | 1–12 |
| 1968–69 | European Cup | 1R |  Manchester United |
1–3 | 1–7 | 2–10 |
| 1969–70 | European Cup | 1R |  Galatasaray |
2–3 | 0–2 | 2–5 |
| 1970–71 | European Cup | 1R |  Glentoran |
1–0 | 3–1 | 4–1 |
| 2R |  Celtic |
0–7 | 2–3 | 2–10 | ||
| 1972–73 | European Cup | 2R |  Omonia |
0–2 | 2–1 | 2–3 |
| 1973–74 | European Cup | 1R |  Újpest |
2–3 | 0–3 | 2–6 |
| 1979–80 | European Cup Winners' Cup | 1R |  Göteborg |
1–1 | 0–1 | 1–2 |
| 1980–81 | European Cup Winners' Cup | 1R |  Hibernians |
4–0 | 0–1 | 4–1 |
| 2R |  Dinamo Tbilisi |
0–1 | 0–4 | 0–5 | ||
| 1986–87 | European Cup Winners' Cup | 1R |  Bordeaux |
1–2 | 0–4 | 1–6 |
Notable Former Players
These players have represented their national teams or played for special League of Ireland teams.
- Republic of Ireland internationals
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- League of Ireland XI representatives
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- Republic of Ireland U23 internationals
Derek McGrath
- Republic of Ireland U21 internationals
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- Republic of Ireland B internationals
- Dan Connor
- Neale Fenn
- Republic of Ireland U17 internationals
- Gary Dempsey
- Other Internationals
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Former Managers
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Kits and Colours
Waterford FC's main colours have always been blue with white trim. This has been true since the 1930s. These colours are inspired by County Waterford.
The club's current kit for the 2020 season was made by Umbro. It featured a traditional blue home kit and a white away kit. The club was sponsored by 24/7 Cardiac Cover for the Southeast.
Away kits have mostly been white with blue trim. However, the club has also had yellow kits over the years. The last yellow kit was in the 2016 season. For the 2012 and 2013 seasons, Waterford had a green third kit. This was similar to the Republic of Ireland national team's kit. In 2010, Waterford had a rare red away kit. Fans did not like it much.
Some of the companies that have made kits for the club include Umbro, Adidas, Nike, Uhlsport, Macron, Azzurri, and Diadora.
See also
In Spanish: Waterford Football Club para niños
