{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}} {{Use Irish English|date=December 2021}} {{Infobox football club | clubname = Kildare County F.C. | image = Kildarecountyfccrest.png | alt = Kildare County FC crest | fullname = Kildare County Football Club | nickname = ''The Thoroughbreds''<ref name="LOI Lost Clubs" /> | founded = [[2002–03 League of Ireland First Division|2002]] | dissolved = [[2009 League of Ireland First Division|2009]] | ground = [[Station Road, Newbridge|Station Road]] | chairman = | manager = | league = [[League of Ireland First Division]]<br>[[League of Ireland U21 Division]] | pattern_la1=|pattern_b1= | leftarm1=FFFFFF|body1=FFFFFF|rightarm1=FFFFFF|shorts1=000000|socks1=FFFFFF | pattern_la2=_whiteshoulders|pattern_b2=_whiteshoulders|pattern_ra2=_whiteshoulders | leftarm2=FF0000|body2=FF0000|rightarm2=FF0000|shorts2=FF0000|socks2=FF0000 }}
'''Kildare County F.C.''' was an [[List of association football clubs in the Republic of Ireland|Irish association football club]] based in [[Newbridge, County Kildare]]. Between [[2002–03 League of Ireland First Division|2002–03]] and [[2009 League of Ireland First Division|2009]] they played in the [[League of Ireland First Division]]. During this time they also entered a team in the [[League of Ireland U21 Division]].
==History== ===Foundation=== Kildare County Football Club was formed in 2002 by members of [[Newbridge Town F.C.]] in order to enter a team in the [[League of Ireland First Division]].<ref name="examiner_invite">{{cite web|url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/kildare-county-football-club-to-be-invited-to-join-the-eircom-league-40788.html#!|title=Kildare County Football Club to be invited to join the eircom League|website=Irish Examiner |access-date=6 December 2016|date=21 February 2002|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250709084059/https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/arid-30040788.html#!#!|archive-date=2025-07-09}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Ireland Foundation Dates |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/ierfound.html |access-date=2026-03-05 |website=www.rsssf.org}}</ref> After [[St Francis F.C.|St Francis]] withdrew from the First Division just two weeks before the start of the [[2001–02 League of Ireland First Division|2001–02]] season, the [[League of Ireland]] began to look for a replacement club for [[2002–03 League of Ireland First Division|2002–03]]. Twelve clubs, including Newbridge Town, were approached to see if they were interested in joining the First Division.<ref name="examiner_invite" /> Members of Newbridge Town subsequently decided to form Kildare County as a separate legal entity and applied to join the First Division. The name Kildare County was chosen in an attempt to attract potential sponsors, players and supporters from throughout [[County Kildare]]. In February 2002 it was announced that Kildare County would be offered the First Division place ahead of Mullingar Town.<ref name="newbridgetown1">{{cite web|url=http://www.newbridgetownfc.com/contentPage/133347/club_history|title=Club History – The Story of Newbridge Town F.C.|website=newbridgetownfc.com|access-date=6 December 2016|archive-date=20 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220145227/http://www.newbridgetownfc.com/contentPage/133347/club_history|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="irishtimes1">{{cite web|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/news/kildare-county-named-as-new-eircom-league-club-1.414411|title=Kildare County named as new eircom League club|website=The Irish Times |access-date=6 December 2016|date=21 February 2002}}</ref><ref name="independent1">{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/kildare-win-place-in-soccers-ranks-26059452.html|title=Kildare win place in soccer's ranks|website=Irish Independent|access-date=8 December 2016|date=22 February 2002}}</ref><ref name="wordpress">{{cite web|url=https://thepathslesstravelled.wordpress.com/2011/03/04/the-graveyard-of-the-irish-football/|title=The graveyard of the Irish football|publisher=thepathslesstravelled|access-date=6 December 2016|date=4 March 2011}}</ref><ref name="LOI Lost Clubs">{{Cite web |title=The Lost Clubs: Kildare County |url=https://www.leagueofireland.ie/news/lost-clubs-kildare-county/ |access-date=2026-01-06 |website=www.leagueofireland.ie |language=en|last=Murray|first=Trevor}}</ref>
===Early seasons=== In March 2002 Kildare County appointed [[Dermot Keely]] as their first manager and John Gill as his assistant.<ref name="independent2">{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/keely-bounces-back-to-take-kildare-reins-26053190.html|title=Keely bounces back to take Kildare reins|website=Irish Independent|access-date=8 December 2016|date=29 March 2002}}</ref> On 15 June 2002 the club made their official debut in a friendly against [[Bray Wanderers A.F.C.|Bray Wanderers]]. The game finished 2–2 with Keith O'Connor and Alan Kelly becoming the first and second players to score for County.<ref name="irishexaminer2">{{cite web|url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/keelys-kildare-county-host-bray-in-friendly-54903.html|title=Keely's Kildare County host Bray in friendly|website=Irish Examiner|access-date=8 December 2016|date=12 June 2002}}</ref><ref name="breakingnews1">{{cite web|url=http://www.breakingnews.ie/sport/kildare-county-off-to-good-start-55545.html|title=Kildare County off to good start|website=breakingnews.ie|access-date=10 December 2016|date=16 June 2002}}</ref> On 6 July 2002 Kildare County made their competitive debut against [[Limerick F.C.|Limerick]] at [[Station Road, Newbridge|Station Road]] in a First Division Cup game. Philip Gorman and Shey Zellor scored for County as they won 2–0.<ref name="irishexaminer5">{{cite web|url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/kildare-make-impressive-start-to-campaign-58682.html|title=Kildare make impressive start to campaign|website=Irish Examiner|access-date=10 December 2016|date=6 July 2002}}</ref><ref name="rsssf202003cups">{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iercup03.html|title=Ireland Cups 2002/03|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=10 December 2016}}</ref> On 24 August County made their [[League of Ireland First Division]] debut at Station Road again against Limerick. This time they lost 3–1 with Philip Gorman scoring the club's first league goal.<ref name="newbridgetown2">{{cite web|url=http://www.newbridgetownfc.com/news/10010288/philly_gorman:100_and_counting.|title=Philly Gorman: 100 and counting – Kildare soccer legend hits the ton|website=newbridgetownfc.com|access-date=10 December 2016|date=10 August 2016|archive-date=5 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170305002207/http://www.newbridgetownfc.com/news/10010288/philly_gorman:100_and_counting.|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="breakingnews2">{{cite web|url=http://www.breakingnews.ie/sport/other/kildare-face-limerick-on-saturday-64386.html|title=Kildare face Limerick on Saturday|website=breakingnews.ie|access-date=10 December 2016|date=18 August 2002}}</ref><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|isbn=1-86223-135-4}}</ref> Dermot Keely remained in charge of County for the [[2002–03 League of Ireland First Division|2002–03]] season, guiding them to fifth place. In July 2003, midway through the [[2003 League of Ireland First Division|2003]] season, Keely resigned as County manager in order to take charge of [[Derry City F.C.|Derry City]].<ref name="irishexaminer3">{{cite web|url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/keely-unveiled-as-candystripes-boss-106885.html|title=Keely unveiled as Candystripes boss|website=Irish Examiner|access-date=8 December 2016|date=21 July 2003}}</ref><ref name="Graham"/><ref name="rsssfloe">{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/ier2hist.html |title=(Republic of) Ireland League Tables - Second Level |access-date=10 July 2016 |url-status=live |website=[[RSSSF]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090603033056/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/ier2hist.html |archive-date= 3 June 2009 }}</ref> During their first three seasons in the [[League of Ireland First Division]], Kildare County challenged for promotion to the [[League of Ireland Premier Division]] and on each occasion finished just outside the qualifying places for the promotion play-offs.<ref name="rsssfloe"/><ref name="ballsie">{{cite web|url=http://www.balls.ie/football/happens-teams-enter-league-ireland-first-division/205914|title=What Happens (To) Teams That Enter The League Of Ireland First Division? |website=balls.ie|access-date=26 March 2016|date=20 February 2015}}</ref> In the 2002–03 First Division Cup they won their regional group and finished as overall runners up, losing 4–0 on aggregate in the final to [[Finn Harps F.C.|Finn Harps]].<ref name="rsssf202003cups" /> They were also quarter-finalists in both the 2003 and [[2004 FAI Cup]]s.<ref name="Graham"/><ref name="rsssf2003cups">{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iercup03a.html|title=Ireland Cups 2003|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=10 December 2016}}</ref><ref name="rsssf2004">{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/ier04.html|title=Ireland 2004|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=16 July 2016}}</ref>
===Decline=== [[File:Kildare County Supporters club logo.jpg|thumb|upright|Supporters club logo]] Between [[2005 League of Ireland First Division|2005]] and [[2009 League of Ireland First Division|2009]], Kildare County finished in the bottom half of [[League of Ireland First Division]] table every season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wallace |first=Keith |title=Season Preview 2008: Kildare County |url=https://www.extratime.com/articles/79/season-preview-2008-kildare-county/ |access-date=2025-12-17 |website=extratime.com |language=en}}</ref> In [[2008 League of Ireland First Division|2008]] Kildare County finished bottom of the table and were initially relegated to the [[2009 A Championship|A Championship]] after losing the promotion/relegation play-off to [[Mervue United A.F.C.|Mervue United]]. However they subsequently gained a reprieve after [[Cobh Ramblers F.C.|Cobh Ramblers]] were refused a First Division license and were relegated directly from the [[2008 League of Ireland Premier Division|2008 Premier Division]] to the A Championship.<ref name="rsssfloe">{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/ier2hist.html |title=(Republic of) Ireland League Tables - Second Level |access-date=10 July 2016 |url-status=live |website=[[RSSSF]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090603033056/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/ier2hist.html |archive-date= 3 June 2009 }}</ref><ref name="ballsie"/><ref name="rsssf2007">{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/ier07.html|title=Ireland 2007|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=21 July 2016}}</ref><ref name="rsssf2008">{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/ier08.html|title=Ireland 2008|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=25 July 2016}}</ref> In 2009 Kildare County again finished bottom of the table and they subsequently withdrew from the league.<ref name="rsssf2009">{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/ier09.html|title=Ireland 2009|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=27 July 2016}}</ref> The last fixture the club played was against [[Shelbourne F.C.|Shelbourne]] on Saturday, 7 November 2009. In the week before the game the entire club board and the team manager Joe Somerville resigned, leaving the club's players unpaid. The players were owed a total of €21,650 and as a result were reluctant to take to the pitch. However [[Stephen McGuinness]], the general secretary of the [[Professional Footballers' Association of Ireland|PFAI]], persuaded the players to participate in the game. Meanwhile, fans had to run the ticket sales and canteen. County lost 5–1 and after fulfilling this last game, it was officially over. County were due to play [[Salthill Devon F.C.|Salthill Devon]] in a promotion/relegation play-off but as a result of their resignation this did not happen and Salthill Devon subsequently replaced Kildare County in the [[2010 League of Ireland First Division|2010 First Division]].<ref name="irishexaminer4">{{cite web|url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/domestic/more-bad-news-for-fai-as-kildare-county-fold-105165.html|title=More bad news for FAI as Kildare County fold|website=Irish Examiner|access-date=10 December 2016|date=9 November 2009}}</ref><ref name="wordpress"/>
===U21 Division=== In addition to playing in the [[League of Ireland First Division]], Kildare County also entered a team in the [[League of Ireland U21 Division]].<ref name="breakingnews3">{{cite web|url=http://www.breakingnews.ie/sport/other/kildare-u-21s-record-first-ever-victory-of-eircom-64387.html|title=Kildare U-21's record first ever victory of eircom|website=breakingnews.ie|access-date=10 December 2016|date=18 August 2002}}</ref> In 2006, with a team managed by Thomas Donnelly, they reached the [[Enda McGuill Cup]] final, losing 1–0 to [[Cork City F.C.|Cork City]] in the final.<ref name="footie">{{cite web|url=http://foot.ie/archive/index.php/t-128081.html|title=List of Winners|website=foot.ie|access-date=16 September 2016|date=17 November 2009}}</ref>
==League placings== [[File:Performance chart ire KILD.svg|thumb|Chart of yearly table positions for Kildare County in League of Ireland]] {| class="wikitable" |- ! Season ! Points Total ! Position |- |[[2002–03 League of Ireland First Division|2002–03]] |33 |5th |- |[[2003 League of Ireland First Division|2003]] |55 |5th |- |[[2004 League of Ireland First Division|2004]] |62 |4th |- |[[2005 League of Ireland First Division|2005]] |41 |8th |- |[[2006 League of Ireland First Division|2006]] |43 |7th |- |[[2007 League of Ireland First Division|2007]] |39 |7th |- |[[2008 League of Ireland First Division|2008]] |26 |10th |- |[[2009 League of Ireland First Division|2009]] |15 |12th |}
{{small|'''Source''':<ref name="rsssfloe"/><ref name="rsssf2007">{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/ier07.html|title=Ireland 2007|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=21 July 2016}}</ref><ref name="rsssf2008">{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/ier08.html|title=Ireland 2008|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=25 July 2016}}</ref><ref name="rsssf2009">{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/ier09.html|title=Ireland 2009|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=27 July 2016}}</ref>}}
==Notable players== ;[[League of Ireland XI]] representative * {{flagicon|Ireland}} [[Ger O'Brien]]
;[[Republic of Ireland national under-23 football team|Republic of Ireland U23]] internationals * {{flagicon|Ireland}} [[Ger O'Brien]]
;[[Republic of Ireland national under-21 football team|Republic of Ireland U21]] internationals * {{flagicon|Ireland}} [[Pádraig Amond]] * {{flagicon|Ireland}} [[Thomas Morgan (footballer)|Thomas Morgan]] * {{flagicon|Ireland}} [[Richie Purdy]]
;[[Republic of Ireland national under-17 football team|Republic of Ireland U17]] internationals * {{flagicon|Ireland}} [[Alan Keely]] * {{flagicon|Ireland}} [[Marc Kenny]] * {{flagicon|Ireland}} [[Alan McDermott]] * {{flagicon|Ireland}} [[Ger Robinson]]
; Most appearances * {{flagicon|Ireland}} [[Philip Byrne]]: (124)
==Managers== {| class="wikitable |- ! style="text-align:left" |Seasons ! style="text-align:left" |Manager |- | 2002–2003 | [[File:Flag of Ireland.svg|20px]] [[Dermot Keely]] |- | 2003 | [[File:Flag of Ireland.svg|20px]] Eric Hannigan |- | 2004–2008 | [[File:Flag of Ireland.svg|20px]] [[John Ryan (footballer, born 1968)|John Ryan]] |- |2008 |[[File:Flag of Ireland.svg|20px]] [[Tony Cousins]] |- |2009 |[[File:Flag of Ireland.svg|20px]] Thomas Donnelly |- |2009 |[[File:Flag of Ireland.svg|20px]] Joe Somerville |}
'''Source:'''<ref name="LOI Lost Clubs" />
==Honours== *'''First Division Cup''' ** ''Runners up'': [[2002–03 League of Ireland First Division|2002–03]]: '''1''' *'''[[Enda McGuill Cup]]''' ** ''Runners up'': 2006: '''1'''
{{small|'''Source''':<ref name="rsssf202003cups" /><ref name="footie"/> }}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [https://www.facebook.com/Kildare-County-FC-104190839343/ Kildare County F.C. on Facebook]
{{League of Ireland clubs}}
[[Category:Kildare County F.C.| ]] [[Category:Association football clubs established in 2002]] [[Category:Association football clubs disestablished in 2009]] [[Category:Defunct League of Ireland clubs]] [[Category:Association football clubs in County Kildare]] [[Category:2002 establishments in Ireland]] [[Category:2009 disestablishments in Ireland]] [[Category:Former League of Ireland First Division clubs]]