Bohemian F.C.

Football club infobox
clubname = Bohemian |nat=Ireland


fullname = Bohemian Football Club
nickname = Bohs
The Gypsies
founded = 1890
ground = Dalymount Park,
Phibsborough,
Dublin 7
capacity = 12,200
chairman = Gerry Cuffe (President)
manager = Pat Fenlon
league = FAI League of Ireland Premier Division
season = 2007
position = 3rd
website = http://www.bohemians.ie
pattern_la1=|pattern_b1=_blackstripes|pattern_ra1=
leftarm1=000000|body1=FF0000|rightarm1=000000|shorts1=000000|socks1=000000
pattern_la2=|pattern_b2=_black_nzfc_shoulders|pattern_ra2=
leftarm2=FFFFFF|body2=FFFFFF|rightarm2=FFFFFF|shorts2=FFFFFF|socks2=FFFFFF

Bohemian F.C. ( _ga. An Cumann Peile Bóithéimeach), more commonly referred to as Bohemians, is an Irish football (soccer) club playing in the FAI League of Ireland. The club, founded on September 6 1890 is a founding member of the league, plays its home matches at Dalymount Park stadium in the Dublin neighbourhood of Phibsborough. Its nicknames are 'Bohs' and 'The Gypsies'. Its club colours are red and black, which it adopted at the 4th AGM in October 1893. It is owned 100% by the members of the club.The club is currently managed by Pat Fenlon, who was appointed on December 22nd 2007.

History

Bohemian F.C. was founded on September 6 1890. It was a member of the Irish Football League from 1902 to 1911 and 1912 to 1920. During this time the club's greatest success was winning the Irish Cup in 1908.

It was a founding member of the League of Ireland in 1921. It is one of only two clubs to have been members of the League of Ireland since its inception (the other being Shelbourne F.C.), and it is the only club to have been ever present in the top division of the league. In their first season they finished 2nd in the league, just two points behind St James Gate F.C.. The club won their first league title in 1924. In 1928 the club won their second league title and completed a double that season by winning their first FAI Cup also. The club were one of the major forces in the early years of the league by going on to win another three league titles and another FAI Cup in the next 8 seasons.

After this success the club began to struggle, often finishing at the foot of the league and rarely mounting a title challenge, largely because of an inability to attract top players, due to their strict amateur status, which had been a fundamental part of the club since its formation. The club went 34 seasons without winning a major trophy. In 1969 the club ended their amateur status, and the first player to sign professional terms was Tony O'Connell who signed on the dotted line on 11 March 1969.

The club then went on to win 2 league titles, 2 FAI Cups and 2 league cups in the 1970s, more trophies than any other club that decade. In 1970 the club entered European competition for the first time where they were beaten in the first qualifying round of the European Cup Winners' Cup (see below). The club went through another trophyless spell after their 1979 league cup victory, which was not broken until the club won their fifth FAI Cup in 1992. It was not until 2001 that they regained the league title. They also won the FAI Cup that season. In 2008 Bohemians won the league for a 10th time, which is their latest to date.

tadium

Bohemians' first permanent home ground was on the Polo Ground in Phoenix Park. Goal posts and other equipment were kept at Gate Lodge on North Circular Road (Dublin) They remained there until the 1893/94 season when they obtained a private ground on Jones Road now known as Croke Park, the headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The space then took in the ground now occupied by the Belvedere Rugby Football Club, and for the first time it was possible for the club to build up some sort of finances, since a charge for admission was made at all important home matches.

They moved to a new home at Whitehall Farm, Glasnevin, in time for the start of the 1895/96 season but in those days, the area was out of the way and without public transport so the Bohemian committee continued to look for a new home ground. Their search came to an end when they moved to Dalymount Park which was officially opened on September 7 1901.

In 2006 the club's members decided to sell Dalymount Park to developer Liam Carrol in a €65,000,000 deal which will instantly put the club in unprecedented financial wealth in Irish sporting terms. The deal includes the development of a new 10,000-seater stadium in Harristown, complete with restaurants, bars and a gym, near Dublin Airport [http://www.independent.ie/national-news/bohemians-say-yes-to-the-sale-of-dalymount-park-in-65m-deal-76942.html] . The deal is currently on hold pending the outcome of a court case regarding the ownership of a section of dalymount park. This delay has resulted in uncertainty surrounding the club's future and has prompted resignations from the board of the club and dismay from concerned supporters.

European record

Although they did not make their first appearance in European competition until 1970, Bohs have now played more and won more games in Europe than any other League of Ireland club [http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/ier-ec.html] . Like all Irish clubs, they have generally found the going tough in Europe, but they have had some famous successes too. Their finest hour came when they eliminated Scottish Premier League club (and former Cup Winners' Cup and European Super Cup champions) Aberdeen F.C. from the UEFA Cup in August 2000. That triumph was set up by a dramatic 2-1 victory away from home, in which Bohs scored 2 late goals to overturn a 1-0 deficit. That was the first time an Irish club defeated British opposition away from home in European competition. Other notable results include wins against Rangers F.C. and 1 FC Kaiserslautern (away) and draws against Rangers F.C, Newcastle United F.C., Sporting Lisbon, Dundee United (away) and Aberdeen F.C.. In all, they have beaten a total of 10 different teams, from 9 countries (Denmark, Cyprus, Scotland, Germany, Estonia, Belarus, Belgium, Wales and Latvia). Bohs bowed out of the 2008 Intertoto Cup on away goals to Latvian side FK Riga despite winning the second leg 2-1. Earlier in that campaign they recorded their biggest single leg (5-1) and aggregate (9-3) wins in Europe (against Welsh Premier League club Rhyl F.C.).

Record by competition

European Cup/UEFA Champions League:

Intertoto Cup:

upporters

Bohs fan base is mainly drawn from the north side of Dublin. However the club has many fans from other parts of the city, across Ireland and worldwide. The club attracts regular attendances of anything between 1,000 to 4,000.

During 2007 a number of fans got together to create more of a colourful atmosphere at home games. Named The Notorious Boo Boys (or NBB, a term used by football journalists to disparage the apparent impatience of Bohs fans), the group bought new flags and organised displays during games to lift the atmosphere of the history filled Dalymount Park. [ [http://www.bohemians.ie/index.php/supporters/boo-boys-site.htm Notorious Boo-Boys launch site] , "Bohemian F.C. Official Website", 2008. Retrieved on 2 January 2008]

A Team

The Bohemians A-team competes in the Eircom League of Ireland A Championship, which acts as a third tier of the Eircom League. [http://www.eircomloi.ie/the-divisions/a-championship/2008-season/] The team also doubles as a reserve team, which injured first team players can use to regain fitness. If the A - team win the Championship they cannot gain entry into the 1st division. [http://www.eircomloi.ie/the-divisions/a-championship/2008-season/]

[http://www.eircomloi.ie/the-divisions/a-championship/2008-season/] [http://www.bohemians.ie/index.php/a-team-news/]

Bohemians Youth

Bohemians youth section has about 250 players from the ages of 8 to 17. The club runs 15 teams who play in the DDSL. The youth director is Robert Loughlin who, along with the support of Bohemians, announced a 5 year partnership with DCU to national media coverage. This partnership will see Bohemians' youth teams training in and using DCU facilities, "learning the game like the first team do". The partnership also included a scholarship system which will see Bohs players being offered scholarships to DCU. The main aim of the youth section is to produce players who are good enough to play for the first team. [http://www.bohemians.ie/index.php/bohemian-fc-youth-section/]

Current squad

"The first team squad is established according to the official website: [http://www.bohemians.ie www.bohemians.ie] ".

On Loan

Fs player | no=17| nat=England | pos=MF | name= Michael McGinlay "(on loan to Ballymena United)"

Noted players

:"See also:"

Honours

*League titles: 10
**1923/24, 1927/28, 1929/30, 1933/34, 1935/36, 1974/75, 1977/78, 2000/01, 2002/03, 2008
*FAI Cups: 6
**1928, 1935, 1970, 1976, 1992, 2001
*IFA Cups: 1
**1908
*FAI League Cups: 2
**1975, 1979
*League of Ireland Shields: 6
**1924, 1928, 1929, 1934, 1939, 1940
*Dublin City Cups: 1
**1936
*Inter-City Cups: 1
**1945
*Top Four Cups: 1
**1972
*Leinster Senior Cups: 31
**
*LFA President's Cups: 12
**
*Acieries D'Angeleur: 1
**1929

Records

* League victory: 8-0 v Olympia F.C., 18 November 1922 and v Home Farm, 5 February 1978
* Victory: 11-0 v Grangegorman, Leinster Senior Cup Final, 27 November 1946
* League defeat: 0-7 v Shamrock Rovers, 5 February 1955
* Most points in a season: 72 in 1981-82
* Most league goals in a season (player): 25, Glen Crowe in 2000-01
* Most league goals (player): 127, Glen Crowe
* Most appearances (player): 575, Tommy Kelly
* Most goals (player): 192, Turlough O'Connor
* Oldest player: 40, Gary Matthews
* First goalscorer: Joseph Whelan v Britannia F.C., November 1 1890

Referencesreflist

External links

* [http://www.bohemians.ie Bohemian FC official site]
* [http://www.bohs.ie Bohs.ie... The Big Club]
* [http://www.bohscommunity.com Bohemians Community Scheme (Multi-Language Websites)]
* [http://www.kevinhunttestimonial.com Kevin Hunt Testimonial official site]
* [http://bohsnews.wordpress.com Bohsnews: independent site logging club and other relevant news]
* [http://www.bohssoc.com DCU Bohs supporters club]
* [http://www.thebohs.com TheBohs.com: independent comment site, with supporter forum]
* [http://www.fai.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=102&Itemid=105 Past League Tables on FAI.ie]
* [http://www.eircomloi.ie:82/the-divisions/premier-division/club-profiles/bohemians/index.xml# Bohs on eircomloi.ie]
* [http://obsessed.ie/ Blog of a Bohemians FC fan]
* [http://www.bohemians.ie/index.php/bohemian-fc-youth-section/]
* [http://www.ddsl.ie/]