{{short description|Irish association football club}} {{Distinguish|Cray Wanderers F.C.}} {{Use Hiberno-English|date=October 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2014}} {{Infobox football club | current = 2025 League of Ireland First Division | clubname = Bray Wanderers | image = Bray Wanderers F.C. Crest.svg | image_size = | fullname = Bray Wanderers Football Club | nickname = The Seagulls | shortname = Wanderers | founded = {{start date and age|1942}} | ground = [[Carlisle Grounds]],<br />[[Bray, County Wicklow|Bray]], [[County Wicklow]] | capacity = 3,200 | owner = Malachy Burke, JB Gough, David Goldstein<ref name="Sep2025 Owners"/> | mgrtitle = Head Coach | manager = [[Paul Heffernan]] | chairman = TBC<ref name="Sep2025 Owners"/> | league = [[League of Ireland First Division]] | season = [[2025 League of Ireland First Division|2025]] | position = [[League of Ireland First Division]], 3rd of 10 | website = {{URL|http://www.braywanderersfc.ie}}| | pattern_la1 = _braywanderers24h | pattern_b1 = _braywanderers24h | pattern_ra1 = _braywanderers24h | pattern_sh1 = | leftarm1 = FFFFFF | body1 = FFFFFF | rightarm1 = FFFFFF | shorts1 = 009650 | socks1 = 009650| | pattern_la2 = | pattern_b2 = _capelliteam23rb | pattern_ra2 = | pattern_sh2 = | pattern_so2 = | leftarm2 = 0000FF | body2 = 0000FF | rightarm2 = 0000FF | shorts2 = 0000FF | socks2 = 0000FF| | pattern_la3 = | pattern_b3 = _capelliteam23sb | pattern_ra3 = | pattern_sh3 = | pattern_so3 = | leftarm3 = 77BBFF | body3 = 77BBFF | rightarm3 = 77BBFF | shorts3 = 77BBFF | socks3 = 77BBFF| }} [[File:Carlisle Grounds, Bray Wanderers.jpg|thumb|260x260px|[[File:Carlisle Grounds.jpg|thumb]]Carlisle Grounds, home of Bray Wanderers, 2024]] '''Bray Wanderers Football Club''' are an [[List of association football clubs in the Republic of Ireland|Irish association football]] club playing in the [[League of Ireland First Division]]. The club in its present form was founded in 1942 in [[Bray, County Wicklow|Bray]], and was known until 2010 as ''Bray Wanderers A.F.C.'' It was elected to the league in 1985, and plays its home matches at the [[Carlisle Grounds]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Johns |first=Nathan |title=Bray Wanderers to keep name in Cabinteely merger |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/national-league/bray-wanderers-to-keep-name-in-cabinteely-merger-1.4745812 |newspaper=[[The Irish Times]]}}</ref> The club colours are green and white, and it goes by the nickname "The Seagulls".
== History == === Early Days === In 1922, some members of St Kevin's Gaelic football club in [[Bray, County Wicklow|Bray]] left the club as a result of a dispute and formed a soccer club called Bray Wanderers. Through the 1930s and 1940s, however, [[Bray Unknowns F.C.|Bray Unknowns]] were the leading team in the town, playing in the [[League of Ireland]] for nineteen seasons from [[1924–25 League of Ireland|1924–25]] to [[1942–43 League of Ireland|1942–43]]. Bray Wanderers went into decline in the mid-thirties but was reformed in 1942–43 and entered the [[Athletic Union League (Dublin)|Athletic Union League]] Division 3 for the 1943–44 season. By the 1948–49 season Wanderers had reached Division 1 of the AUL but the period in between did not pass without controversy. In 1944 the club reached the [[Leinster Football Association]] Shield final but was disqualified for fielding an illegal player in the semi-final. When in Division 2 of the AUL in 1946–47 the club was expelled from the league due to the B team not fulfilling a league fixture, although the club was reinstated the following season. Wanderers won the Junior Cup in 1950-51 and again in 1953–54, defeating Ierne 1–0 in the Final. The following season Wanderers left the AUL and joined the [[Leinster Senior League (association football)|Leinster Senior League]].
=== Mid 1900s === In 1955–56 Wanderers won the [[FAI Intermediate Cup]], defeating Workmens Club 2–1 in the final.<ref name="rsssfIntermediateCup">{{Cite web |title=Ireland - FA Intermediate Cup Winners and Runners-Up |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/ierintermediatecuphist.html |website=[[RSSSF]]}}</ref> There was also a first appearance in the [[FAI Cup]] against [[Longford Town F.C.|Longford Town]] in 1956. They won the FAI Intermediate Cup again two years later, defeating Chapelizod 2–1 in the final.<ref name="rsssfIntermediateCup" /> In 1964–65 they were founder members of the [[League of Ireland B Division]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Lynch |first=Frank |title=A History of Athlone Town F.C: The First 101 Years |publisher=Arcadia |year=1991 |location=Athlone}}</ref> However they left after just one season and once again went into decline. By 1973 [[Bray Unknowns F.C.|Bray Unknowns]] were playing in the LSL and the management changed the name to Bray Wanderers in a partially successful effort to amalgamate the two.
=== League of Ireland === [[File:Performance chart ire BRAYW.svg|thumb|Chart of yearly table positions for Bray Wanderers in League of Ireland]] Bray Wanderers were elected to the [[League of Ireland]] when it was expanded to two Divisions for the 1985–86 season.<ref name="Graham">{{Cite book |last=Graham |first=Alex |title=Football in the Republic of Ireland a Statistical Record 1921–2005 |publisher=Soccer Books Limited |year=2005 |isbn=1-86223-135-4}}</ref><ref name="rsssfloe8586">{{Cite web |title=(Republic of) Ireland League Tables - Second Level |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/ier2hist.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090603033056/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/ier2hist.html |archive-date=3 June 2009 |access-date=10 July 2016 |website=[[RSSSF]]}}</ref><ref name="ballsie">{{Cite web |date=20 February 2015 |title=What Happens (To) Teams That Enter The League Of Ireland First Division? |url=http://www.balls.ie/football/happens-teams-enter-league-ireland-first-division/205914 |access-date=26 March 2016 |publisher=www.balls.ie}}</ref> They played their first game as a League of Ireland club on 8 September 1985 in a [[FAI League Cup]] match against [[Dundalk F.C.|Dundalk]] with Jim Mahon scoring the club's first goal at senior level.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bray Wanderers 1 - 1 Dundalk | 1985/86 League Cup Group 4 |url=https://www.extratime.com/fixtures/198586-league-cup-group-4/bray-wanderers-v-dundalk/40941/2/updates/ |website=[[ExtraTime.com]]}}</ref> The Wanderers' secured promotion to the Premier Division by winning the [[League of Ireland First Division]] Championship that year.<ref name="rsssfloe8586" /><ref name="ballsie" /> They were relegated back down to the First Division in the 1987–88 season.<ref name="rsssfloe8687">{{Cite web |title=(Republic of) Ireland League Tables |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/ierhist.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080221000146/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/ierhist.html |archive-date=21 February 2008 |access-date=6 July 2016 |website=[[RSSSF]]}}</ref> Wanderers did not regain Premier Division status until the 1990–91 season but had their first major success during their spell in the First Division. They won the [[FAI Cup]] in 1990 beating [[St Francis F.C.|St Francis]] 3–0 in the first [[Lansdowne Road]] final with [[John Ryan (Irish footballer)|John Ryan]] becoming only the second player to score a hat-trick in a [[FAI Cup]] final.<ref name="BallsCup90">{{Cite web |last=Meehan |first=Sean |title=The 1990 FAI Cup Final Remains One Of Irish Football's Great Stories |url=https://www.balls.ie/football/30-years-on-the-1990-fai-cup-final-remains-one-of-irish-footballs-great-stories-433979 |website=Balls.ie|date=15 May 2020 }}</ref> They made history by becoming the first ever First Division side to win the trophy.<ref name="BallsCup90" /> Due to this cup win, Wanderers competed in European competition,<ref name="trab" /> for the first time in their history in the 1990–91 season. They were defeated, however, by [[Trabzonspor]] in the [[European Cup Winners' Cup]] preliminary round.<ref name="trab">{{Cite web |title=Trabzonspor - Record against Bray Wanderers |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/teams/te1928/trabzonspor/records-all-time-appearances/ |website=worldfootball.net|date=June 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Byrne |first=Cormac |date=10 March 2017 |title=Bohs to re-unite Bray with special gift after it was found in strange place |url=http://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/soccer/soccer-news/bohemians-re-unite-bray-wanderers-10003618 |website=Irish Mirror}}</ref><!--article mentions 1999, but Bray played Grashoppers in '99-->
After two seasons in the Premier Division, the club was once again relegated to the First Division where they remained for three seasons.<ref name="brief">{{Cite web |last=Duffy |first=Michael |others=Incorporating material by Jim Tobin; updated 2006 by Mícheál Ó hUanacháin |title=Bray Wanderers A.F.C. – a brief history |url=http://www.braywanderers.com/showarticle.php?id=18 |access-date=23 May 2023 |publisher=Bray Wanderers A.F.C.}}</ref> In 1995–96 season, Wanderers were promoted back to the Premier Division as First Division champions, but were relegated back down in the following season.<ref name="brief" /> The next two seasons followed a similar pattern as they went back up and came straight back down. In 1998–99, a season they got relegated again, Wanderers won their second FAI Cup,<ref name="brief" /> defeating [[Finn Harps F.C.|Finn Harps]] after two replays which earned them a spot in the [[1999-2000 UEFA Cup]] against a [[Roy Hodgson]] led [[Grasshopper Club Zürich|Grasshoppers]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Scully |first=Michael |date=4 August 1999 |title=Football: Celtic Class Sees Off Wanderers; Bray Wanderers 0 Celtic 2. |url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Football%3A+CELTIC+CLASS+SEES+OFF+WANDERERS%3B+Bray+Wanderers+0+Celtic+2.-a060433459 |work=[[Irish Mirror]] |via=[[TheFreeLibrary]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Bray-Grasshoppers |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/match/56592--bray-vs-grasshoppers/ |website=[[UEFA]]}}</ref>
In 1999–00, the club won promotion back to the Premier Division,<ref name="brief" /> and in 2000–01 Wanderers achieved their highest ever league finish of 4th place in the Premier Division. The club could not build on this as they were relegated back down in 2002–03 but were once again promoted in 2004.<ref name="brief" /> The club was relegated at the end of the 2009 season, but the demise of [[Cork City F.C.]] meant they were reinstated to the Premier Division. Finishing in a promotion/relegation play-off in 2010, the club maintained its Premier status following a penalty shoot-out with [[Monaghan United F.C.|Monaghan United]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Walsh |first=Daire |title=Bray Wanderers 1–1 Monaghan United (7-6 on penalties) |url=https://www.extratime.com/articles/4640/bray-wanderers-11-monaghan-united-7-6-on-penalties/ |website=[[ExtraTime.com]]}}</ref>
The following season, finishing sixth in the Premier Division, the club gained a place in the all-Ireland [[2012 Setanta Sports Cup|Setanta Cup]], but early in 2012 conceded home and away matches to [[Glentoran FC]] in the first round of the competition (2–4 & 0–3).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bray let it slip on debut |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/bray-let-it-slip-on-debut-1.462526 |website=[[IrishTimes.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=McCormack |first=John |title=Glentoran 3 - 0 Bray Wanderers |url=https://www.extratime.com/articles/7438/glentoran-3---0-bray-wanderers/ |website=[[ExtraTime.com]]}}</ref>
In the 2012 season, Bray finished tenth of 12 clubs in the Premier Division, five points above Dundalk, who had to survive a promotion/relegation battle against Waterford United to ensure their survival in the top flight.
In 2013, Bray were again in the relegation mix, and having finished second-last they played First Division promotion play-off winners Longford Town over two legs, winning 5–4 on aggregate.
On 10 January 2014, it was announced that [[Alan Mathews]] would be the new manager with Barry O'Connor as his assistant. The club ended the season in tenth place, just one point above [[University College Dublin A.F.C.|UCD]], and entered the 2015 season as the fourth-longest surviving Premier Division club.{{citation needed|date=December 2022}}
===2015: Five managers in one season=== The club had five first team managers in total across the 2015 season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dodge |first=John |date=July 27, 2015 |title=What's Going On At Bray Wanderers? |url=https://www.balls.ie/football/what-is-going-on-at-bray-wanderers-300789 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200929003431/https://www.balls.ie/football/what-is-going-on-at-bray-wanderers-300789 |archive-date=2020-09-29 |website=[[Balls.ie]]}}</ref> On 1 April 2015, Mathews resigned suddenly, together with the rest of his backroom team, citing a breakdown in communication with the club's new owners: Gerry Mulvey & Denis O'Connor, who had taken over during the off-season.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1 April 2015 |title=Alan Mathews and Bray staff resign en masse |url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/irish-soccer-league/2015/0401/691470-alan-mathews-and-bray-staff-resign-en-masse/ |access-date=1 April 2015 |work=[[RTÉ News]]}}</ref> The club appointed Under-19 coach [[Maciej Tarnogrodzki]] as interim senior team manager the following day.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-04-02 |title=New Management Team Appointment |url=http://www.bwfc.ie/club-statement/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150406181830/http://www.bwfc.ie/club-statement/ |archive-date=6 April 2015 |publisher=Bray Wanderers FC Website}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2 April 2015 |title=Maciej Tarnogrodzki named Bray caretaker coach |url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/irish/2015/0402/691621-maciej-tarnogrodzki-named-bray-caretaker-coach/ |publisher=RTÉ News website (2/04/2015)}}</ref> The following month, the club announced that former Shamrock Rovers boss [[Trevor Croly]] had signed a three-year contract to manage the club.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-05-11 |title=Croly Announced as Bray Manager |url=http://www.bwfc.ie/croly-announced-as-bray-manager/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518093055/http://www.bwfc.ie/croly-announced-as-bray-manager/ |archive-date=18 May 2015 |publisher=Bray Wanderers FC Website}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-05-11 |title=Trevor Croly unveiled as Bray Wanderers Manager |url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/irish/2015/0511/700289-trevor-croly-unveiled-as-bray-wanderers-manager/ |publisher=[[RTÉ News]]}}</ref>
Just one month later however, Croly also resigned in a similar fashion to Mathews before him. [[Mick Cooke (football manager)|Mick Cooke]] was brought in to replace him as the fifth manager of the season (including temporary Player/Manager David Cassidy), and Bray finished the 2015 season in 8th position.
=== 2016 - 2021 === In July 2017, after much speculation about the future of the club, majority shareholder and interim chairman Gerry Mulvey released a statement which confirmed that the club was financially stable and outlined big plans for the future of the club. The statement was widely ridiculed, mainly due to its branding of [[Wicklow County Council]] as "the [[North Korea]] of Ireland for business" after the council's repeated refusal to allow the Carlisle Grounds to be rezoned.<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 July 2017 |title=Bizarre Bray missive invites more ridicule |url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/bizarre-bray-missive-invites-more-ridicule-35975512.html |access-date=28 July 2017 |website=Irish Independent}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=27 July 2017 |title='The North Korea of Ireland for business, Conor McGregor and Barcelona' - Bray FC release truly bizarre statement |url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/the-north-korea-of-ireland-for-business-conor-mcgregor-and-barcelona-bray-fc-release-truly-bizarre-statement-35973427.html |access-date=28 July 2017 |website=[[Irish Independent]]}}</ref>
In September 2017, the [[Football Association of Ireland|FAI]] launched an investigation into alleged [[Match fixing in association football|match-fixing]] surrounding Bray Wanderers friendly against [[Waterford F.C.|Waterford]] on 8 September 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 September 2017 |title=STATEMENT ON BRAY WANDERERS FC |url=http://sseairtricityleague.ie/news/statement-on-bray-wanderers-fc/id-1063 |access-date=13 September 2017 |website=[[SSEAirtricityLeague.ie]] |publisher=[[SSE Airtricity League]]}}</ref> The FAI released a formal statement in February 2018 affirming that no evidence to support any charge had been found.
The [[2018 League of Ireland Premier Division|2018 season]] went badly for Bray, with the club losing 28 of their 36 league matches and exiting every cup competition at the first time of asking. The financial situation was not any better, with players voting to strike due to unpaid wages and medical costs.<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 July 2018 |title=Bray Wanderers Players Reveal Plight As They Confirm Strike Action |url=https://extra.ie/2018/07/13/sport/soccernews/bray-wanderers-strike-action |access-date=10 July 2021 |website=Extra.ie}}</ref> The players were eventually paid before the strike went ahead. On 26 July 2018, after several weeks of speculation over Bray's future, the club was taken over by St. Joseph's Boys academy director Niall O'Driscoll. Mulvey remained in a minority role.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Troubled Bray Wanderers confirm takeover by academy coach Niall O'Driscoll |url=http://www.extratime.ie/articles/21419/troubled-bray-wanderers-confirm-takeover-by-academy-coach-niall-odriscoll/ |access-date=10 July 2021 |website=ExtraTime.ie |language=en}}</ref> Bray were officially relegated to the [[League of Ireland First Division]] in October 2018, ending a 12-year stay in the top flight of Irish football.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Goulden |first=David |date=6 October 2018 |title=Bray relegated as Sligo win to secure top-flight status |url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2018/1006/1001428-bray-relegated-as-sligo-win-to-secure-top-flight-status/ |access-date=10 July 2021 |website=rte.ie |language=en}}</ref>
===Merger with Cabinteely=== In November 2021, Bray Wanderers and [[Cabinteely F.C.]] announced a merger, technically a takeover of Wanderers by Cabinteely.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |date=26 November 2021 |title=Cabinteely FC and Bray Wanderers set to merge after takeover agreement |url=https://extra.ie/2021/11/26/sport/soccernews/cabinteely-fc-bray-wanderers-set-takeover |website=extra.ie}}</ref> The newly created team would be known as Bray Wanderers and continue to play in the [[Carlisle Grounds]], with the intention to apply for a First Division licence.<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 December 2021 |title=Bray Wanderers and Cabinteely confirm name of newly merged team |url=https://extra.ie/2021/12/03/sport/soccernews/bray-wanderers-cabinteely-name-merged-team |website=extra.ie}}</ref> Bray's former manager [[Pat Devlin (footballer)|Pat Devlin]] returned for his second spell in the post, and the then Director of Football (DoF) at Cabinteely became the DoF for the new Bray Wanderers.<ref name="auto" />
Since the merger and Devlin's return to Bray Wanderers, there have been a number of conflicts. One such incident saw Devlin and fans engage in an "ugly exchange" at an away fixture against [[Wexford F.C.|Wexford FC]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 May 2022 |title=Stewards forced to intervene as Pat Devlin and Bray fans in ugly exchange |url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/arid-40863752.html |website=irishexaminer.com}}</ref> There was even a substantial drop in attendance at the [[Carlisle Grounds]] at one point, as Bray experienced one of the worst seasons in their history, going from a title challenging side to one near the bottom of the table.{{citation needed|date=December 2022}} In mid-2022, club chairman Tony Richardson reportedly stated that the club were "making progress" in "eliminating crowd trouble which [..] marred some of their games this season",<ref name="independent.ie">{{Cite web |date=28 June 2022 |title=Bray Wanderers chief vows to take action over crowd trouble |url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/bray-wanderers-chief-vows-to-take-action-over-crowd-trouble-41796763.html |website=[[Independent.ie]]}}</ref> and the club stated that it had appointed a "Fan Liaison Officer [..] for dialogue with fans who wish to make their point".<ref>{{Cite web |date=5 May 2022 |title=Bray give their backing to Pat Devlin after he was confronted by fans |url=https://www.the42.ie/devo-row-5755656-May2022/ |access-date=3 December 2022 |website=the42.ie}}</ref> A report in the ''[[Bray People]]'', after the clubs's eighth home league defeat of the season, referred to a "lack of goals" and a video reputedly showing "people throwing pyrotechnics [..] over the walls of the Carlisle Grounds".<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 August 2022 |title=Bray Wanderers' Pat Devlin: "There's no point in kicking a dog when he's down" |url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/wicklow/sport/soccer/bray-wanderers-pat-devlin-theres-no-point-in-kicking-a-dog-when-hes-down-41913745.html |access-date=3 December 2022 |website=[[Wicklow People]] |publisher=Bray People |via=[[Independent.ie]]}}</ref> With a 5–1 home defeat in Bray's final home game of the 2022 season to [[Cobh Ramblers F.C.|Cobh Ramblers]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=SSE Airtricity League |url=https://www.sseairtricityleague.ie/competition/first-division/id-02GUHFMLNG000001VUM100GLVVH6KORK-G#table |website=[[SSEAirtricityLeague.ie]]}}</ref> the season ended with a 18.75% win record, among the worst season performances in the club's history.{{citation needed|date=December 2022}}
===2022 – Present=== In November 2022, former [[Wexford F.C.|Wexford FC]] manager Ian Ryan was appointed as head coach, with Devlin remaining as "Head of Football".<ref name="Ryan Appointed">{{Cite web |title=Ian Ryan appointed as head coach of Bray Wanderers |url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/wicklow/sport/ian-ryan-appointed-as-head-coach-of-bray-wanderers-42147425.html |website=[[Wicklow People]] |date=15 November 2022 |via=[[Independent.ie]]}}</ref> In March 2023, Bray progressed to the semi-final of the [[2022–23 Leinster Senior Cup|Leinster Senior Cup]] with a 2–1 victory over reigning League of Ireland Premier Division champions [[Shamrock Rovers]]. Bray Wanderers were eliminated by LSL side Usher Celtic and slipped to a 7th-place finish in the First Division.
Bray started the 2024 season poorly with one win from the opening 8 games. In May 2024, Ian Ryan unexpectedly resigned as manager with Bray in 6th place.<ref name="Ryan Resigns">{{Cite news |title=Bray seeking new manager as Ian Ryan resigns|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2024/0522/1450657-bray-seeking-new-manager-as-ian-ryan-resigns/ |work=[[RTÉ]] |date=22 May 2024}}</ref> Assistants Lorcan Fitzgerald and Paul Heffernan took charge of the club and oversaw an upturn in results, raising Bray to third in the table. On September 10, Lorcan Fitzgerald also resigned from management leaving Paul Heffernan in sole charge.<ref name="Fitzgerald Resigns">{{Cite web |title=Lorcan Fitzgerald 'steps back' from first team coaching duties with Bray Wanderers/|url=https://www.extratime.com/articles/34719/lorcan-fitzgerald-steps-back-from-first-team-coaching-duties-bray-wanderers/|website=[[Extratime]] |date=10 September 2024 |via=[[Extratime.ie]]}}</ref> Bray ended the 2024 regular season in 5th place earning the last play-off position. In the promotion semi-final Bray beat [[University College Dublin A.F.C.|UCD]] 2–1 on aggregate over two legs after winning the opening leg 2–0 at home. In November, Bray faced [[Athlone Town F.C.|Athlone Town]] in the promition play-off final at [[Dalymount Park]]. After going 2–0 down early on Bray pulled one back through Conor Knight's deflected shot before Cole Omorehiomwan scored a last minute header to level at 2–2 and force extratime. After a goalless extratime, goalkeeper Jimmy Corcoran saved two penalties as Bray won 4–2 on [[Penalty shoot-out (association football)|penalties]] to advance to the promotion/relegation final.<ref name="Play-Off Final">{{Cite web |date=2 November 2024 |title=First Division Playoff Final Report: Bray Wanderers 2 - 2 Athlone Town AET (Bray win 4-2 on penalties)|url=https://www.extratime.com/articles/34970/first-division-playoff-final-report-bray-wanderers-2---2-athlone-town-aet-bray-win-4-2-on-penalties/ |access-date=23 October 2025 |website=extratime.com}}</ref> In front of over 5,000 spectators, Bray lost 3–1 to [[Drogheda United F.C.|Drogheda United]] at [[Tallaght Stadium]] ending their promotion hopes.
Early in 2025 Bray Wanderers announced a partnership with Next Level Soccer. A football club and youth academy in the USA.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-07 |title=US soccer business becomes part-owner of Bray Wanderers, promising 'direct path to Europe' for American players |url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/us-soccer-business-becomes-part-owner-of-bray-wanderers-promising-direct-path-to-europe-for-american-players/a445251050.html |access-date=2025-07-21 |website=www.independent.ie |language=en}}</ref>
== Ownership == On Friday 26 November 2021, Bray Wanderers merger with [[Cabinteely F.C.|Cabinteely]] was officially announced with Cabinteely chairman Tony Richardson becoming majority shareholder of Bray Wanderers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/arid-40753323.html|title=Bray Wanderers and Cabinteely announce merger to create 'dynamic new force in Irish football'|first=John|last=Fallon|date=26 November 2021|accessdate=3 August 2025|website=irishexaminer.com}}</ref>
In March 2025, a US-based company named 'Next-Level Sports' entered a partnership with Bray Wanderers and became part-owners.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/us-soccer-business-becomes-part-owner-of-bray-wanderers-promising-direct-path-to-europe-for-american-players/a445251050.html|title=US soccer business becomes part-owner of Bray Wanderers, promising 'direct path to Europe' for American players|first=Sean|last=O'Connor|date=26 November 2021|accessdate=3 August 2025|website=irishexaminer.com}}</ref>
In September 2025, the club was transferred to an ownership consortium of Malachy Burke, JB Gough, and David Goldstein.<ref name="Sep2025 Owners">{{Cite news |last=Branigan |first=Peter |date=September 3, 2025 |title=Consortium takes over at Bray Wanderers |url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2025/0903/1531544-consortium-takes-over-at-bray-wanderers/ |website=[[RTÉ Sport]] |language=en}}</ref>
== Supporters == Bray Wanderers has maintained a small, but loyal fanbase through the years with average attendances generally numbering at around 500–1500 fans.
Levels of support have fluctuated in recent years. Lows of 271 fans in attendance where recorded in the relegation season of [[2018 League of Ireland Premier Division|2018]]. Attendance also dropped significantly following the clubs merger with Cabinteely in [[2022 League of Ireland First Division|2022]]. However, average crowds have also reached over 1000 supporters at times during the [[2019 League of Ireland First Division|2019]] season <ref>{{Cite web|last=Penrose |first=Gareth |date=20 February 2025 |title=From Athlone to the Aviva:: A deep dive into a decade of League of Ireland attendances |url=https://www.extratime.com/articles/35499/from-athlone-to-the-aviva-a-deep-dive-into-a-decade-of-league-of-ireland-attendances/}}</ref> and regularly in [[2025 League of Ireland First Division|2025]].<ref>{{Cite web|title= Match Report - Bray Wanderers 1 Wexford FC 0 |date=5 July 2025 |url=https://www.braywanderersfc.ie/news/match-report-bray-wanderers-1-wexford-fc-0/}}</ref>
In March 2008, the [[Ultras|Ultra]] group of Bray Wanderers fans, "Na Fánaithe",<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bailey |first=Ryan |date=4 May 2015 |title=13 signs you're a hardcore Bray Wanderers fan |url=https://www.the42.ie/bray-wanderers-fan-signs-2065240-May2015/ |website=The42}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Na Fanaithe (@NFanaithe08) |url=https://twitter.com/nfanaithe08 |access-date=2023-02-14 |website=Twitter |language=en}}{{primary source inline|date=February 2023}}</ref> was formed by five members of the supporters club.{{citation needed|date=December 2022}} Unlike similar groups in [[Dublin]], such as "Briogáid Dearg", "SRFC Ultras", "Shed End Invincibles" and "Notorious Boo Boys", Na Fánaithe is a much smaller group.{{citation needed|date=December 2022}}
In July 2022, Bray Wanderers fans formed a new supporters club, the "1985 Seagulls" group.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Overwhelming feeling of positivity following first meeting of 1985 Seagulls Supporters Club |date=23 August 2022 |url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/wicklow/sport/overwhelming-feeling-of-positivity-following-first-meeting-of-1985-seagulls-supporters-club-41932225.html}}</ref>
For away matches, supporters clubs usually organise a bus to run direct to the relevant ground. The Bray Wanderers Supporters Club operated this service for a number of years until it stopped in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Duffy |first=Michael |date=3 March 2019 |title=Supporters bus to Galway |url=https://braywanderersfc.ie/supporters-bus-to-galway/}}</ref> Since 2022, the 1985 Seagulls group have taken over the running of this service.
== Honours == * '''[[FAI Cup]]: 2''' ** 1990, [[1999 FAI Cup Final|1999]] * '''[[League of Ireland First Division]]: 3''' ** [[1985–86 League of Ireland First Division|1985–86]], [[1995–96 League of Ireland First Division|1995–96]], [[1999–2000 League of Ireland First Division|1999–2000]] * '''[[League of Ireland First Division Shield]]: 1''' ** 1995–96 * '''[[Leinster Senior League Senior Division|Leinster Senior League]]: 3''' ** 1957–58, 1958–59, 1959–60 * '''[[FAI Intermediate Cup]]: 2''' ** 1955–56, 1957–58 * '''[[FAI Junior Cup]]: 2''' ** 1950–51, 1953–54 * '''[[Enda McGuill Cup]]: 1''' ** 2005
{{small|'''Source''':<ref name="stadium.aviva.ie">{{Cite web |title=FAI Junior Cup Winners |url=https://stadium.aviva.ie/aviva-grassroots-sports/fai-junior-cup/cup-winners/ |access-date=10 April 2016 |publisher=stadium.aviva.ie}}</ref><ref name="faiyearbook1995">{{Cite book |last=Mark Herbert |first=Donie Butler |title=FAI Yearbook & Diary 1995 |publisher=Sportsworld Ltd |year=1994–95 |location=Dublin}}</ref><ref name="braywanderers">{{Cite web |title=Club History 1920s to 1985 |url=http://www.braywanderers.com/showarticle.php?id=636 |access-date=10 April 2016 |publisher=www.braywanderers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Graham |first=Alex |title=Football in the Republic of Ireland a Statistical Record 1921–2005 |publisher=Soccer Books Limited |year=2005 |isbn=1-86223-135-4}}</ref><ref name="rsssfloe">{{Cite web |title=(Republic of) Ireland League Tables - Second Level |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/ier2hist.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090603033056/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/ier2hist.html |archive-date=3 June 2009 |access-date=10 July 2016 |website=[[RSSSF]] |df=dmy}}</ref> }}
== Records ==
===Most appearances for Bray Wanderers ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |- !# !Name !Seasons !Appearances |- |1 |align="left"|{{flagicon|Ireland}} Colm Tresson |1990-1992, 1998-2012 |441 |- |2 |align="left"|{{flagicon|Ireland}} Kieran 'Tarzan' O'Brien |1993-2006 |374 |- |3 |align="left"|{{flagicon|Ireland}} Alan Smyth |1988-1995, 1996 - 2000 |353 |- |4 |align="left"|{{flagicon|Ireland}} Anthony 'Bo' McKeever |1985-1993, 1995-2000 |352 |- |5 |align="left"|{{flagicon|Ireland}} Mick Doohan |1988-1993, 1998-2003 |343 |}
===Most goals scored for Bray Wanderers===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |- !# !Name !Seasons !Goals |- |1 |align="left"|{{flagicon|Ireland}} [[Jason Byrne (footballer)|Jason Byrne]] |1998-2003, 2012-2013 |95 |- |2 |align="left"|{{flagicon|Ireland}} Kieran 'Tarzan' O'Brien |1993-2006 |90 |- |3 |align="left"|{{flagicon|Ireland}} Colm Tresson |1990-1992, 1998-2012 |74 |- |4 |align="left"|{{flagicon|Ireland}} [[Eamon Zayed]] |2002-2006 |59 |- |5 |align="left"|{{flagicon|Ireland}} [[Richie Parsons]] |1988–1991, 1995–1999, 2001–2002 |55 |}
Source:<ref>https://www.braywanderersfc.ie/club/history/</ref>
===Club Records===
* '''Record Victory:''' 7–0 v [[Cobh Ramblers]] 17 October 1997, 7–0 v [[St. Mochta's F.C.|St. Mochta's]] [[2007 FAI Cup]], 17 June 2007 * '''Record League Defeat:''' 8–1 v [[Dundalk F.C.|Dundalk]] 4 May 2015 * '''Most Points in a League Season:''' 72 in 1999–00 * '''Most League Goals in a Season:''' 19, [[Eamon Zayed]], 2003 * '''Most League Goals:''' 72, [[Jason Byrne (footballer)|Jason Byrne]] 1998–03, 2012–13
==European record== ===Overview=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |-bgcolor="#E4E4E4" ! style="border-bottom:1px solid #AAAAAA"| Competition ! style="border-bottom:1px solid #AAAAAA" align="center"| Matches ! style="border-bottom:1px solid #AAAAAA" align="center"| W ! style="border-bottom:1px solid #AAAAAA" align="center"| D ! style="border-bottom:1px solid #AAAAAA" align="center"| L ! style="border-bottom:1px solid #AAAAAA" align="center"| GF ! style="border-bottom:1px solid #AAAAAA" align="center"| GA |- | style="text-align:left;"| [[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup]] | 2 || 0 || 0 || 2 || 0 || 8 |- | style="text-align:left;"| [[UEFA Cup Winners' Cup|European Cup Winners' Cup]] | 2 || 0 || 1 || 1 || 1 || 3 |- | '''Overall''' | '''4''' || '''0''' || '''1''' || '''3''' || '''1''' || '''11''' |}
===Matches=== {| class="wikitable" style="font-size:100%; text-align: center;" ! Season ! Competition ! Round ! Opponent ! Home ! Away ! [[Aggregate score|Aggregate]] |- | [[1990–91 European Cup Winners' Cup|1990–91]] | [[UEFA Cup Winners' Cup|European Cup Winners' Cup]] | [[1990–91 European Cup Winners' Cup#Qualifying round|QR]] | align="left"| {{flagicon|TUR}} [[Trabzonspor]] | bgcolor="#ffffdd" style="text-align:center;"| 1–1 | bgcolor="#ffdddd" style="text-align:center;"| 0–2 | bgcolor="#ffdddd" style="text-align:center;"| '''1–3''' |- | [[1999–2000 UEFA Cup|1999–00]] | [[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup]] | [[1999–2000 UEFA Cup#Qualifying round|QR]] | align="left"| {{flagicon|SUI}} [[Grasshopper Club Zürich|Grasshoppers]] | bgcolor="#ffdddd" style="text-align:center;"| 0–4 | bgcolor="#ffdddd" style="text-align:center;"| 0–4 | bgcolor="#ffdddd" style="text-align:center;"| '''0–8''' |}
== Current squad == {{fs start}} {{fs player|no=1|nat=IRL|pos=GK|name=[[Jimmy Corcoran (footballer)|Jimmy Corcoran]]|other=[[Captain (association football)|captain]]}} {{fs player|no=2|nat=IRL|pos=MF|name=Alain Kizenga}} {{fs player|no=3|nat=IRL|pos=DF|name=Benjamin Fagbemi}} {{fs player|no=4|nat=IRL|pos=DF|name=Jamie Duggan}} {{fs player|no=5|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=Mark Chidi}} {{fs player|no=6|nat=SLE|pos=MF|name=John Sesay}} {{fs player|no=7|nat=IRL|pos=MF|name=Conor Knight}} {{fs player|no=8|nat=IRL|pos=MF|name=Sean Brennan}} {{fs player|no=9|nat=IRL|pos=FW|name=Dan Ring|other=on loan from [[Shelbourne F.C.|Shelbourne]]}} {{fs player|no=10|nat=IRL|pos=MF|name=Richard Ferizaj}} {{fs player|no=11|nat=NGA|pos=FW|name=[[Ifunanyachi Achara]]}} {{fs player|no=12|nat=IRL|pos=DF|name=Declan Osagie|other=on loan from [[Bohemian F.C.|Bohemians]]}} {{fs player|no=13|nat=IRL|pos=GK|name=Rian Hogan}} {{fs player|no=14|nat=DRC|pos=MF|name=Aime Azende}} {{fs mid}} {{fs player|no=15|nat=IRL|pos=MF|name=Ryan Kelly}} {{fs player|no=16|nat=USA|pos=MF|name=Kyle Tucker}} {{fs player|no=17|nat=IRL|pos=MF|name=Cian Doyle|other=[[Captain (association football)#Vice-captain|vice-captain]]}} {{fs player|no=18|nat=IRL|pos=MF|name=[[Ben McCormack]]}} {{fs player|no=19|nat=IRL|pos=FW|name=Billy O'Neill}} {{fs player|no=20|nat=IRL|pos=FW|name=Tyreik Sammy|other=on loan from [[Shelbourne F.C.|Shelbourne]]}} {{fs player|no=22|nat=IRL|pos=DF|name=Jack Lawless}} {{fs player|no=23|nat=IRL|pos=MF|name=Jamie Ryan}} {{fs player|no=24|nat=IRL|pos=MF|name=Philip Cooney}} {{fs player|no=25|nat=IRL|pos=MF|name=Stephen McGuinness}} {{fs player|no=26|nat=IRL|pos=MF|name=Flynn Ryan}} {{fs player|no=27|nat=IRL|pos=DF|name=Dean O'Shea}} {{fs player|no=28|nat=IRL|pos=FW|name=Cristiano Bramley}} {{fs player|no=29|nat=IRL|pos=MF|name=Leon Keogh}} {{fs player|no=30|nat=IRL|pos=MF|name=Ethan Cheese}} {{fs end}}
==Technical staff== {| class=wikitable |- ! style=|Position ! style=|Staff |- | Head Coach || [[Paul Heffernan]] |- | Assistant Head Coach || Gavin Teehan |- | First Team Coach || Graham Kelly |- | Goalkeeping Coach || Stephen McGuinness |- | Director of Athletic Performance || Paul McGrath |- | Physio || Andrew Omojoefodun |- | Kit Men || Joe Walsh, Joseph Walsh & Josh Dolan |- | Academy Director || Dave Foley |}
== Managers == {| class="wikitable" |- ! style="color:#FFFFFF; background:#008000;"|Dates ! style="color:#FFFFFF; background:#008000;"|Name ! style="color:#FFFFFF; background:#008000;"|Notes |- | July 1985 – December 90 | {{flagicon|IRL}} [[Pat Devlin (footballer)|Pat Devlin]] | [[League of Ireland First Division]] Champions [[1985–86 League of Ireland|1985–86]], <br /> [[FAI Cup]] Winners 1990 |- | December 1990 – March 95 | {{flagicon|IRL}} John Holmes | First Division Runner-up [[1990–91 League of Ireland|1990–91]] |- | March 1995 – August 95 | {{flagicon|IRL}} [[Pat Devlin (footballer)|Pat Devlin]] | First Division Champions [[1995–96 League of Ireland|1995–96]], <br /> [[1999–2000 League of Ireland|1999–00]], <br /> FAI Cup Winners 1999, <br /> First Division Runner-up [[1997–98 League of Ireland|1997–98]], <br /> [[2003 League of Ireland|2003]] |- | August 2005 – October 2005 | {{flagicon|IRL}} Tony McGuirk{{efn|In absence of Devlin for medical reasons <ref>[https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-135488906 Devoted Fan & Absent Boss Believe in Tony], The Mirror (London, England) 26 Aug 2005</ref>}} |- | October 2005 – 10 May 2006 | {{flagicon|IRL}} [[Pat Devlin (footballer)|Pat Devlin]] |- | 10 May 2006 – 26 September 2006 | {{flagicon|IRL}} Tony McGuirk{{efn|In absence of Devlin with Republic of Ireland B Team <ref>{{Cite news |date=18 May 2006 |title=McGuirk laments 'schoolboy' errors in Bray defence |url=http://www.independent.ie/regionals/wicklowpeople/sport/other-sports/mcguirk-laments-schoolboy-errors-in-bray-defence-27742084.html |work=[[Wicklow People]] |via=[[Independent.ie]]}}</ref>}} |- | 27 September 2006 – 9 August 2010 | {{flagicon|IRL}} [[Eddie Gormley]] |- | 10 August 2010 – December 2011 | {{flagicon|IRL}} [[Pat Devlin (footballer)|Pat Devlin]]{{efn|With [[Keith Long]]}} |- | 1 December 2011 – 15 September 2012 | {{flagicon|IRL}} [[Keith Long]] |- | 16 September 2012 – 31 December 2012 | {{flagicon|IRL}} [[Eddie Gormley]]{{efn|With Pat Devlin}} |- | 1 January 2012 – December 2013 | {{flagicon|IRL}} [[Pat Devlin (footballer)|Pat Devlin]] |- | 10 January 2014 – 1 April 2015 | {{flagicon|IRL}} [[Alan Mathews]] |- | Caretaker 2 April 2015 – 6 May 2015 | {{flagicon|Poland}} [[Maciej Tarnogrodzki]] |- | 11 May 2015 – 3 July 2015 | {{flagicon|IRL}} [[Trevor Croly]] |- | 7 July 2015 – April 2016 | {{flagicon|IRL}} [[Mick Cooke (football manager)|Mick Cooke]] |- | April 2016 – October 2017 | {{flagicon|IRL}} [[Harry Kenny]] |- | Dec 2017 – April 2018 | {{flagicon|IRL}} Dave Mackey |- | 8 June 2018 – 18 July 2018 |{{flagicon|IRL}} [[Martin Russell (footballer)|Martin Russell]] |- | 7 August 2018 – 2 December 2021 | {{flagicon|IRL}} Gary Cronin |- | 26 November 2021 - 15 November 2022 | {{flagicon|IRL}} [[Pat Devlin (footballer)|Pat Devlin]] | Officially "Head of Football" rather than manager. |- | 15 November 2022 – 22 May 2024 | {{flagicon|IRL}} Ian Ryan |- | 22 May 2024 – 10 September 2024 | {{flagicon|IRL}} Lorcan Fitzgerald | Interim |- | 10 September 2024 – 1 December 2024 | {{flagicon|IRL}} [[Paul Heffernan]] | Interim |- | 2 December 2024 – Present | {{flagicon|IRL}} [[Paul Heffernan]] |}
== Notes == {{notelist}}
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == {{commons category|Bray Wanderers F.C.}} * [http://www.braywanderersfc.ie/ Bray Wanderers AFC] – official website * [https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2020/0512/1137993-you-cant-lose-youll-make-the-league-look-bad/ "'You can't lose, you'll make the league look bad'"], [[RTÉ Sport]], 13 May 2020. * [http://inform.fai.ie/Statsportal/ClubDetails.aspx?clubID=1313&TeamID=&lang=en Team profile] on Airtricity League site * [https://web.archive.org/web/20080221000146/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/ierhist.html Republic of Ireland historical League Tables 1921/2-2006] by the [[Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation]] (archived)
{{Bray Wanderers F.C.}} {{League of Ireland clubs}} {{League of Ireland First Division}} {{Irish clubs in European football}} {{authority control}}
[[Category:Bray Wanderers F.C.| ]] [[Category:Association football clubs established in 1942]] [[Category:Association football clubs in County Wicklow]] [[Category:Former Athletic Union League (Dublin) clubs]] [[Category:Former League of Ireland Premier Division clubs]] [[Category:Former Leinster Senior League clubs]] [[Category:League of Ireland B Division clubs]] [[Category:League of Ireland First Division clubs]] [[Category:Sport in Bray, County Wicklow|Wanderers]] [[Category:1942 establishments in Ireland]]