# Kildare County F.C. > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Kildare_County_F.C. > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Kildare_County_F.C..md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kildare_County_F.C. > Source revision: 1343962917 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Football club Kildare County F.C. Full name Kildare County Football Club Nickname The Thoroughbreds[1] Founded 2002 Dissolved 2009 Ground Station Road League League of Ireland First Division League of Ireland U21 Division Home colours Away colours **Kildare County F.C.** was an [Irish association football club](/source/List_of_association_football_clubs_in_the_Republic_of_Ireland) based in [Newbridge, County Kildare](/source/Newbridge%2C_County_Kildare). Between [2002–03](/source/2002%E2%80%9303_League_of_Ireland_First_Division) and [2009](/source/2009_League_of_Ireland_First_Division) they played in the [League of Ireland First Division](/source/League_of_Ireland_First_Division). During this time they also entered a team in the [League of Ireland U21 Division](/source/League_of_Ireland_U21_Division). ## History ### Foundation Kildare County Football Club was formed in 2002 by members of [Newbridge Town F.C.](/source/Newbridge_Town_F.C.) in order to enter a team in the [League of Ireland First Division](/source/League_of_Ireland_First_Division).[2][3] After [St Francis](/source/St_Francis_F.C.) withdrew from the First Division just two weeks before the start of the [2001–02](/source/2001%E2%80%9302_League_of_Ireland_First_Division) season, the [League of Ireland](/source/League_of_Ireland) began to look for a replacement club for [2002–03](/source/2002%E2%80%9303_League_of_Ireland_First_Division). Twelve clubs, including Newbridge Town, were approached to see if they were interested in joining the First Division.[2] 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](/source/County_Kildare). In February 2002 it was announced that Kildare County would be offered the First Division place ahead of Mullingar Town.[4][5][6][7][1] ### Early seasons In March 2002 Kildare County appointed [Dermot Keely](/source/Dermot_Keely) as their first manager and John Gill as his assistant.[8] On 15 June 2002 the club made their official debut in a friendly against [Bray Wanderers](/source/Bray_Wanderers_A.F.C.). The game finished 2–2 with Keith O'Connor and Alan Kelly becoming the first and second players to score for County.[9][10] On 6 July 2002 Kildare County made their competitive debut against [Limerick](/source/Limerick_F.C.) at [Station Road](/source/Station_Road%2C_Newbridge) in a First Division Cup game. Philip Gorman and Shey Zellor scored for County as they won 2–0.[11][12] On 24 August County made their [League of Ireland First Division](/source/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.[13][14][15] Dermot Keely remained in charge of County for the [2002–03](/source/2002%E2%80%9303_League_of_Ireland_First_Division) season, guiding them to fifth place. In July 2003, midway through the [2003](/source/2003_League_of_Ireland_First_Division) season, Keely resigned as County manager in order to take charge of [Derry City](/source/Derry_City_F.C.).[16][15][17] During their first three seasons in the [League of Ireland First Division](/source/League_of_Ireland_First_Division), Kildare County challenged for promotion to the [League of Ireland Premier Division](/source/League_of_Ireland_Premier_Division) and on each occasion finished just outside the qualifying places for the promotion play-offs.[17][18] 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](/source/Finn_Harps_F.C.).[12] They were also quarter-finalists in both the 2003 and [2004 FAI Cups](/source/2004_FAI_Cup).[15][19][20] ### Decline Supporters club logo Between [2005](/source/2005_League_of_Ireland_First_Division) and [2009](/source/2009_League_of_Ireland_First_Division), Kildare County finished in the bottom half of [League of Ireland First Division](/source/League_of_Ireland_First_Division) table every season.[21] In [2008](/source/2008_League_of_Ireland_First_Division) Kildare County finished bottom of the table and were initially relegated to the [A Championship](/source/2009_A_Championship) after losing the promotion/relegation play-off to [Mervue United](/source/Mervue_United_A.F.C.). However they subsequently gained a reprieve after [Cobh Ramblers](/source/Cobh_Ramblers_F.C.) were refused a First Division license and were relegated directly from the [2008 Premier Division](/source/2008_League_of_Ireland_Premier_Division) to the A Championship.[17][18][22][23] In 2009 Kildare County again finished bottom of the table and they subsequently withdrew from the league.[24] The last fixture the club played was against [Shelbourne](/source/Shelbourne_F.C.) 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](/source/Stephen_McGuinness), the general secretary of the [PFAI](/source/Professional_Footballers'_Association_of_Ireland), 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](/source/Salthill_Devon_F.C.) 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 First Division](/source/2010_League_of_Ireland_First_Division).[25][7] ### U21 Division In addition to playing in the [League of Ireland First Division](/source/League_of_Ireland_First_Division), Kildare County also entered a team in the [League of Ireland U21 Division](/source/League_of_Ireland_U21_Division).[26] In 2006, with a team managed by Thomas Donnelly, they reached the [Enda McGuill Cup](/source/Enda_McGuill_Cup) final, losing 1–0 to [Cork City](/source/Cork_City_F.C.) in the final.[27] ## League placings Chart of yearly table positions for Kildare County in League of Ireland Season Points Total Position 2002–03 33 5th 2003 55 5th 2004 62 4th 2005 41 8th 2006 43 7th 2007 39 7th 2008 26 10th 2009 15 12th **Source**:[17][22][23][24] ## Notable players **[League of Ireland XI](/source/League_of_Ireland_XI) representative** - [Ger O'Brien](/source/Ger_O'Brien) **[Republic of Ireland U23](/source/Republic_of_Ireland_national_under-23_football_team) internationals** - [Ger O'Brien](/source/Ger_O'Brien) **[Republic of Ireland U21](/source/Republic_of_Ireland_national_under-21_football_team) internationals** - [Pádraig Amond](/source/P%C3%A1draig_Amond) - [Thomas Morgan](/source/Thomas_Morgan_(footballer)) - [Richie Purdy](/source/Richie_Purdy) **[Republic of Ireland U17](/source/Republic_of_Ireland_national_under-17_football_team) internationals** - [Alan Keely](/source/Alan_Keely) - [Marc Kenny](/source/Marc_Kenny) - [Alan McDermott](/source/Alan_McDermott) - [Ger Robinson](/source/Ger_Robinson) **Most appearances** - [Philip Byrne](/source/Philip_Byrne): (124) ## Managers Seasons Manager 2002–2003 Dermot Keely 2003 Eric Hannigan 2004–2008 John Ryan 2008 Tony Cousins 2009 Thomas Donnelly 2009 Joe Somerville **Source:**[1] ## Honours - **First Division Cup** - *Runners up*: [2002–03](/source/2002%E2%80%9303_League_of_Ireland_First_Division): **1** - **[Enda McGuill Cup](/source/Enda_McGuill_Cup)** - *Runners up*: 2006: **1** **Source**:[12][27] ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-LOI_Lost_Clubs_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-LOI_Lost_Clubs_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-LOI_Lost_Clubs_1-2) Murray, Trevor. ["The Lost Clubs: Kildare County"](https://www.leagueofireland.ie/news/lost-clubs-kildare-county/). *www.leagueofireland.ie*. Retrieved 6 January 2026. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-examiner_invite_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-examiner_invite_2-1) ["Kildare County Football Club to be invited to join the eircom League"](https://web.archive.org/web/20250709084059/https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/arid-30040788.html#!#!). *Irish Examiner*. 21 February 2002. Archived from [the original](http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/kildare-county-football-club-to-be-invited-to-join-the-eircom-league-40788.html#!) on 9 July 2025. Retrieved 6 December 2016. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Ireland Foundation Dates"](https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/ierfound.html). *www.rsssf.org*. Retrieved 5 March 2026. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-newbridgetown1_4-0)** ["Club History – The Story of Newbridge Town F.C."](https://web.archive.org/web/20161220145227/http://www.newbridgetownfc.com/contentPage/133347/club_history) *newbridgetownfc.com*. Archived from [the original](http://www.newbridgetownfc.com/contentPage/133347/club_history) on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 6 December 2016. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-irishtimes1_5-0)** ["Kildare County named as new eircom League club"](http://www.irishtimes.com/news/kildare-county-named-as-new-eircom-league-club-1.414411). *The Irish Times*. 21 February 2002. Retrieved 6 December 2016. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-independent1_6-0)** ["Kildare win place in soccer's ranks"](http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/kildare-win-place-in-soccers-ranks-26059452.html). *Irish Independent*. 22 February 2002. Retrieved 8 December 2016. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-wordpress_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-wordpress_7-1) ["The graveyard of the Irish football"](https://thepathslesstravelled.wordpress.com/2011/03/04/the-graveyard-of-the-irish-football/). thepathslesstravelled. 4 March 2011. Retrieved 6 December 2016. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-independent2_8-0)** ["Keely bounces back to take Kildare reins"](http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/keely-bounces-back-to-take-kildare-reins-26053190.html). *Irish Independent*. 29 March 2002. Retrieved 8 December 2016. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-irishexaminer2_9-0)** ["Keely's Kildare County host Bray in friendly"](http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/keelys-kildare-county-host-bray-in-friendly-54903.html). *Irish Examiner*. 12 June 2002. Retrieved 8 December 2016. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-breakingnews1_10-0)** ["Kildare County off to good start"](http://www.breakingnews.ie/sport/kildare-county-off-to-good-start-55545.html). *breakingnews.ie*. 16 June 2002. Retrieved 10 December 2016. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-irishexaminer5_11-0)** ["Kildare make impressive start to campaign"](http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/kildare-make-impressive-start-to-campaign-58682.html). *Irish Examiner*. 6 July 2002. Retrieved 10 December 2016. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-rsssf202003cups_12-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-rsssf202003cups_12-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-rsssf202003cups_12-2) ["Ireland Cups 2002/03"](https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iercup03.html). *[RSSSF](/source/RSSSF)*. Retrieved 10 December 2016. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-newbridgetown2_13-0)** ["Philly Gorman: 100 and counting – Kildare soccer legend hits the ton"](https://web.archive.org/web/20170305002207/http://www.newbridgetownfc.com/news/10010288/philly_gorman:100_and_counting.). *newbridgetownfc.com*. 10 August 2016. Archived from [the original](http://www.newbridgetownfc.com/news/10010288/philly_gorman:100_and_counting.) on 5 March 2017. Retrieved 10 December 2016. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-breakingnews2_14-0)** ["Kildare face Limerick on Saturday"](http://www.breakingnews.ie/sport/other/kildare-face-limerick-on-saturday-64386.html). *breakingnews.ie*. 18 August 2002. Retrieved 10 December 2016. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Graham_15-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Graham_15-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Graham_15-2) Graham, Alex. *Football in the Republic of Ireland a Statistical Record 1921–2005*. Soccer Books Limited. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1-86223-135-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-86223-135-4). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-irishexaminer3_16-0)** ["Keely unveiled as Candystripes boss"](http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/keely-unveiled-as-candystripes-boss-106885.html). *Irish Examiner*. 21 July 2003. Retrieved 8 December 2016. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-rsssfloe_17-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-rsssfloe_17-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-rsssfloe_17-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-rsssfloe_17-3) ["(Republic of) Ireland League Tables - Second Level"](https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/ier2hist.html). *[RSSSF](/source/RSSSF)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20090603033056/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/ier2hist.html) from the original on 3 June 2009. Retrieved 10 July 2016. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-ballsie_18-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-ballsie_18-1) ["What Happens (To) Teams That Enter The League Of Ireland First Division?"](http://www.balls.ie/football/happens-teams-enter-league-ireland-first-division/205914). *balls.ie*. 20 February 2015. Retrieved 26 March 2016. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-rsssf2003cups_19-0)** ["Ireland Cups 2003"](https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iercup03a.html). *[RSSSF](/source/RSSSF)*. Retrieved 10 December 2016. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-rsssf2004_20-0)** ["Ireland 2004"](https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/ier04.html). *[RSSSF](/source/RSSSF)*. Retrieved 16 July 2016. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** Wallace, Keith. ["Season Preview 2008: Kildare County"](https://www.extratime.com/articles/79/season-preview-2008-kildare-county/). *extratime.com*. Retrieved 17 December 2025. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-rsssf2007_22-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-rsssf2007_22-1) ["Ireland 2007"](https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/ier07.html). *[RSSSF](/source/RSSSF)*. Retrieved 21 July 2016. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-rsssf2008_23-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-rsssf2008_23-1) ["Ireland 2008"](https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/ier08.html). *[RSSSF](/source/RSSSF)*. Retrieved 25 July 2016. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-rsssf2009_24-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-rsssf2009_24-1) ["Ireland 2009"](https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/ier09.html). *[RSSSF](/source/RSSSF)*. Retrieved 27 July 2016. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-irishexaminer4_25-0)** ["More bad news for FAI as Kildare County fold"](http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/domestic/more-bad-news-for-fai-as-kildare-county-fold-105165.html). *Irish Examiner*. 9 November 2009. Retrieved 10 December 2016. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-breakingnews3_26-0)** ["Kildare U-21's record first ever victory of eircom"](http://www.breakingnews.ie/sport/other/kildare-u-21s-record-first-ever-victory-of-eircom-64387.html). *breakingnews.ie*. 18 August 2002. Retrieved 10 December 2016. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-footie_27-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-footie_27-1) ["List of Winners"](http://foot.ie/archive/index.php/t-128081.html). *foot.ie*. 17 November 2009. Retrieved 16 September 2016. ## External links - [Kildare County F.C. on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/Kildare-County-FC-104190839343/) v t e League of Ireland clubs Premier Division Bohemians Derry City Drogheda United Dundalk Galway United Shamrock Rovers Shelbourne Sligo Rovers St Patrick's Athletic Waterford First Division Athlone Town Bray Wanderers Cobh Ramblers Cork City Finn Harps Kerry Longford Town Treaty United UCD Wexford National League Bonagee United CK United Cockhill Celtic Home Farm Killarney Celtic Letterkenny Rovers Lucan United Mayo Mervue United Newbridge Town Salthill Devon St Francis TU Dublin UCC Villa Former clubs Drumcondra Frankfort Monaghan United Newcastle West Pioneers St. James's Gate Thurles Town Transport Defunct clubs Albert Rovers Bray Unknowns Brideville Brooklyn Cabinteely Cork Cork City (1938–1940) Cork Athletic Cork Bohemians Cork Celtic Cork Hibernians Cork United (1940–1948) Dolphin Dublin City Dublin United Fordsons Jacobs Kildare County Kilkenny City Limerick Midland Athletic Olympia Rathmines Athletic Reds United Shamrock Rovers II Shelbourne United Sporting Fingal YMCA --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Kildare County F.C.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kildare_County_F.C.) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kildare_County_F.C.?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.