Irish Soccer Clubs

Irish soccer clubs have not as interesting history and a fantastic career to study but still they love to play football. Though their national team hasn’t won the trophy yet but still the famous sport is Football.  England introduced the football to the Irish people in 19^th century.  Once John M. McAlery an Irish business went to Edinburgh, England on vacations there he saw the soccer game very first time. He enjoyed a lot that sport and decided to introduce this game to his home country.

McAlery return to his home land. In 1878, he asked for two Scottish teams (Queens Park and Caledonians) to play an exhibition game in a cricket stadium at Ulster.  McAlery introduced first Irish Soccer club in Cliftonville of Belfast.  Club’s first win was on 1^st November 1879 against Knock 2-0 but they lost their first match on 29^th September 1879 by 1-2. Irish Football Association was established on 18^th November 1880 in Belfast in Queens Hotel. Funding members were from North Ireland and the clubs.

It took ten years for the establishment of Irish Football league. The first meeting was in Belfast Estate Office of the Marques of Dufferin and Ava in 1890 on 14^th March.   Clarence, Cliftonville, Distillery, Glentoran, Linfield, Milford, Oldpark, and Ulster were the founding members.  In Ireland every sports headquarters is in Dublin but due to McAlery  soccerers headquarter was at Belfast which is the second city if Ireland.