Reds United F.C.

{{EngvarB|date=June 2018}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}} {{Infobox football club | clubname = Reds United | image = | fullname = Reds United Football Club | nickname = ''Reds'' | founded = | ground = [[Glenmalure Park]]<br>[[Milltown, Dublin]] | capacity = | coordinates = | owner = | chairman = | manager = | league = [[League of Ireland]]<br>[[Leinster Senior League Senior Division|Leinster Senior League]] | season = | position = | website = | current = | pattern_la1 = _whiteborder | pattern_b1 = _vneckwhite | pattern_ra1 = _whiteborder | leftarm1 = EE0000 | body1 = EE0000 | rightarm1 = EE0000 | shorts1 = FFFFFF | socks1 = EE0000 |}}

'''Reds United Football Club''' was an [[List of association football clubs in the Republic of Ireland|Irish association football club]], originally formed in [[Ringsend]], Dublin. Reds United were active in the mid-1930s and played in the [[Leinster Senior League Senior Division|Leinster Senior League]], the [[League of Ireland]] and the [[FAI Cup]]. The club was formed by former members of [[Shelbourne F.C.|Shelbourne]] after the latter club was suspended from the League of Ireland at the end of the [[1933–34 League of Ireland|1933–34]] season.

Reds United played just one season, [[1935–36 League of Ireland|1935–36]], in the League of Ireland. Together with [[YMCA F.C. (Dublin)|YMCA]], [[Frankfort F.C.|Frankfort]] and [[Rathmines Athletic F.C.|Rathmines Athletic]], they are one of only four clubs to have played just one season in the top level of the [[League of Ireland]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://leagueofirelandhistory.wordpress.com/2015/02/06/the-abandoned-leinster-senior-cup-one-season-wonders-and-more/ |title=One Season Wonders|website=Leagueofirelandhistory.wordpress.com|access-date=3 July 2018}}</ref>

==History== ===Shelbourne / FAI dispute=== In early 1934, [[Shelbourne F.C.|Shelbourne]] were fined by the [[Football Association of Ireland]] for allegedly poaching players from nearby clubs. When Shelbourne refused to pay the fine they were threatened with suspension. In March 1934 Shelbourne informed the FAI by letter that they had applied for membership of the [[Irish Football Association]]. They also withdrew from the [[League of Ireland Shield]]. At the time the relationship between the two rival Irish national associations was at an all-time low. In June 1934 the FAI responded by suspending Shelbourne for one year. They also banned members of the club's management committee from managing any other club affiliated to the FAI. Shelbourne were banned from the [[League of Ireland]] and their place was awarded to [[Waterford F.C.|Waterford]].<ref name="auto">{{Cite book| title=Green Is The Colour: The Story of Irish Football | first=Peter | last=Byrne | year=2012 | publisher=Andre Deutsch }}</ref><ref name="Graham"/>

===Leinster Senior League=== With [[Shelbourne F.C.|Shelbourne]] now suspended from any footballing activity a number of former Shelbourne members and players based in [[Ringsend]] got together, formed a new club, Reds United and successfully applied to join the [[Leinster Senior League Senior Division|Leinster Senior League]]. In 1934–35, with a team that included [[John Joe Flood]], Reds United finished as Leinster Senior League champions and, together with [[Brideville F.C.|Brideville]], were subsequently elected to the [[1935–36 League of Ireland]]. Reds United also competed in the [[1934–35 FAI Cup]]. In the first round they drew 3–3 with [[Bohemian F.C.|Bohemians]] but lost the replay 4–3.<ref name="rsssf.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iercuphistfull.html|title=Ireland - FA of Ireland Cup 1921/22-1993/94|website=Rsssf.com|access-date=3 July 2018}}</ref>

===League of Ireland=== Reds United made their [[League of Ireland]] debut with a 2–0 win at [[Mardyke (UCC)|The Mardyke]] against [[Cork F.C.|Cork]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.corkpastandpresent.ie/cultureincork/sportincork/soccer/jimmyturnbull/|title=Jimmy Turnbull - Cork Past & Present|website=Corkpastandpresent.ie|access-date=3 July 2018}}</ref> With a team that included [[Willie Ouchterlonie]] and Tommy "Netler" Doyle, an ex-[[Shamrock Rovers F.C.|Shamrock Rovers]] player, they finished the [[1935–36 League of Ireland|1935–36]] season in a respectable fourth place, behind [[Bohemian F.C.|Bohemians]], [[Dolphin F.C. (Dublin)|Dolphin]] and [[Cork F.C.|Cork]]. Reds United were also quarter-finalists in the [[1935–36 FAI Cup]]. At the end of the 1935–36 season, however, they resigned their place in the league to make way for a returning [[Shelbourne F.C.|Shelbourne]]. Having completed their one-year ban Shelbourne, had spent the 1935–36 season playing in the [[Athletic Union League (Dublin)|Athletic Union League]]. With the support of Shamrock Rovers, they had also managed to successfully appeal their ban from the League of Ireland.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nifootball.blogspot.com/2013/12/the-shels-connection.html|title=The Shels Connection|date=26 December 2013|website=Nifootball.blogspot.com|access-date=3 July 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/ierhist.html|title=(Republic of) Ireland League Tables|website=Rsssf.com|access-date=3 July 2018}}</ref><ref name="rsssf.com"/><ref name="auto1">{{cite book|last=Paul Doolan|first=Robert Goggins|title=The Hoops|publisher=Gill & MacmillanLtd|year=1993|isbn=0-7171-2121-6}}</ref> <ref name="Graham">{{cite book|last=Graham|first=Alex|title=Football in the Republic of Ireland: A Statistical Record 1921-2005|date=26 March 2024 |publisher=Soccer Books Limited|isbn=978-1-86223-135-1}}</ref><ref name="auto"/>

===Junior club=== There is some evidence to suggest that after leaving the [[League of Ireland]], Reds United may have continued to function as a junior club in some capacity. Two [[Shamrock Rovers F.C.|Shamrock Rovers]] players active in the mid-1940s, [[Tommy Godwin (footballer)|Tommy Godwin]]<ref>{{cite book|last=McGarrigle|first=Stephen|title=The Complete Who's Who of Irish International Football, 1945–96 |publisher=Mainstream Publishing|year=1996}}</ref> and Ossie Nash played junior football with a Reds United.

==Home grounds== Reds United played their home [[League of Ireland]] games at [[Glenmalure Park]], the home of [[Shamrock Rovers F.C.|Shamrock Rovers]]. However they played their home games against Rovers at [[Dalymount Park]].<ref name="auto1"/>

==Honours== *'''[[Leinster Senior League Senior Division|Leinster Senior League]]: 1''' **1935-36

==Notable former players== ===Ireland internationals=== The following Reds United players represented [[Republic of Ireland national football team|Ireland]] at full international level. * {{Flagicon|Ireland}} [[John Joe Flood]] * {{Flagicon|Ireland}} [[Tommy Godwin (footballer)|Tommy Godwin]]

===Goalscorers=== * {{Flagicon|Scotland}} [[Willie Ouchterlonie]] (20) – the third highest scorer in the [[1935–36 League of Ireland]]

==References== {{Reflist}}

[[Category:Shelbourne F.C.]] [[Category:Association football clubs in Dublin (city)]] [[Category:Association football clubs established in 1934]] [[Category:Association football clubs disestablished in the 1940s]] [[Category:Defunct League of Ireland clubs]] [[Category:Former Leinster Senior League clubs]] [[Category:1934 establishments in Ireland]] [[Category:1940s disestablishments in Ireland]]