Wexford Youths F.C.

Football club infobox
clubname = Wexford Youths


fullname = Wexford Youths Football Club
nickname = Youths, Warriors
founded = 2007
ground = Ferrycarrig Park
capacity = 2500 (600 temp seats)
chairman = Joseph Wallace
manager = Mick Wallace
league = FAI First Division
season =
position =
pattern_la1=_trim|pattern_b1=_whiteshoulders|pattern_ra1=_trim
leftarm1=000000|body1=000000|rightarm1=000000|shorts1=000000|socks1=000000
pattern_la2=|pattern_b2=|pattern_ra2=
leftarm2=EEBBBB|body2=EEBBBB|rightarm2=EEBBBB|shorts2=FFFFFF|socks2=FFFFFF

Wexford Youths Football Club are an Irish football club from Wexford who compete in the First Division of the FAI League of Ireland. The club joined the league after being awarded an FAI First Division licence for the 2007 season. [" [http://www.rte.ie/sport/2007/0206/eircomleague.html Wexford Youths to play in First Division] ", "RTÉ.ie" (06 February, 2007).] The opportunity to join the Eircom League arose as Dublin City F.C. became bankrupt before the end of the 2006 season, leaving an uneven number of clubs. [" [http://archives.tcm.ie/businesspost/2006/08/13/story16384.asp Dublin City goes bust with €1.5m debt] ", "thepost.ie" (12 October, 2007).] The 2007 season coincided with the takeover of the running of the league by the FAI and all existing clubs had to apply for entry into what was effectively a new league. [" [http://www.rte.ie/sport/2006/0930/eircomleague1.html FAI assumes control of eircom League] ", "RTÉ.ie" (12 October, 2007).] Limerick FC was the only existing club refused a licence and so Wexford Youths and Limerick 37 F.C. were admitted to the new league. [" [http://www.rte.ie/sport/2007/0209/limerick37.html Limerick 37 granted league licence] ", "RTÉ.ie" (12 October, 2007).]

History

Wexford Youths were founded by construction magnate Mick Wallace, who has funded the construction of a state-of-the-art complex for the new team's home. Wallace manages the senior side as well as the under 21s, under 18s and under 16s. He is assisted in coaching the first team and under 21s by former Limerick FC manager Noel O'Connor. Pat Dolan, acts as an advisor to Mick Wallace and is filling the role while remaining on as Setanta Sports' anchorman for their live TV coverage of Irish domestic soccer. [" [http://www.wexfordecho.ie/news/story.asp?j=25273&cat=sport All systems go for Wexford FC] ", "Wexford Echo" (15 February, 2007).]

Wexford Youths FC applied for a first division league licence in December 2006 [" [http://www.newrossstandard.ie/sport/other-sports/wallace-confident-of-being--in-eircom-league-next-season-536042.html Wallace confident of being in Eircom league next season] ", "New Ross Standard" (12 October, 2007).] The club was officially granted an Eircom League first division licence on the 6th of February 2007. [" [http://www.rte.ie/sport/2007/0206/eircomleague.html Wexford Youths to play in First Division] ", "RTÉ.ie" (06 February, 2007).] The club has stated an intention to be a unique institution in Irish football in prioritising local players, and has only taken on players from the Wexford area. [" [http://www.rte.ie/sport/2007/0206/eircomleague.html Wexford Youths to play in First Division] ", "RTÉ.ie" (06 February, 2007).]

Wexford Youths' first game was away to Monaghan United, on the 9th of March 2007, and ended in a 2-2 draw. The club's first scorer was Conor Sinnott. [" [http://www.monaghanunited.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=563&Itemid=1 Mons Miserable Draw With Wexford] ", "monaghanunited.ie" (13 April, 2007).] The first home match was on the 18th March 2007, a 1-0 victory over Cobh Ramblers. [" [http://www.rte.ie/sport/2007/0318/wexfordyouths.html Wexford Youths Record First League Win] ", "rte.ie" (13 April, 2007).] Tom Elmes was the goal scorer. Wexford Youths first ever League Cup fixture saw them play Waterford United at the RSC, Waterford. This game was the first competitive derby game for Wexford Youths against one of their local rivals, and saw Wexford beaten 3-0. [" [http://www.rte.ie/sport/2007/0402/waterford.html Waterford United 3-0 Wexford Youths] ", "rte.ie" (13 April, 2007).] The club's FAI Cup début arrived on the 15th of June 2007 with a trip to Jackman Park to face fellow league newcomers Limerick 37. The game produced a 1-1 draw and sent the tie to a replay, [" [http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2007/0615/limerick371.html Limerick 37 1-1 Wexford Youths] ", "rte.ie" (19 June, 2007).] with Limerick 37 winning the replay 1-0. [" [http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2007/0619/limerick37.html Wexford Youths 0-1 Limerick 37] ", "rte.ie" (04 July, 2007).]

Wexford Youths finished their first season in ninth place in the league, finishing five points clear of bottom club Kilkenny City AFC. [" [http://walkthechalk.com/standings.php?comp=28 Eircom League First Division 2007 League Table] ", "walkthechalk.com" (12 November, 2007).]

On the 25th of August 2008, the youths achieved a famous victory in the eircom League Cup semi final, beating Cork City 1-0 at Turners Cross. However they lost out 6-1 to Derry City FC in the final at Ferycarrig park.

Colours and Badge

The club wears a black and white home strip in honour of Juventus.

The badge features the club motto 'Play the beautiful game' and the words 'Life's short, work hard, play hard', a motto used by Wallace Construction for many years, having previously been placed on the kits of Cork City while Wallace sponsored that club. The three stars above the crest represent the three under 18 FAI inter-league titles won by Wexford teams managed by Wallace.

The away jersey for the current season is pink.

Stadium

Wexford Youths play at Ferrycarrig Park. It has a current seated capacity of just over 600 but plans are in place to extend this to over 2000.

Records

*Most appearances - Conor Sinnott, 37 [" [http://walkthechalk.com/team.php?id=90&comp=s51 Wexford Youths Squad Stats] ", "walkthechalk.com" (12 November, 2007).]
*Most goals in a season - Conor Sinnott, 8 [" [http://walkthechalk.com/team.php?id=90&comp=s51 Wexford Youths Squad Stats] ", "walkthechalk.com" (12 November, 2007).]
*Biggest victory - 3-0 vs. Kilkenny City AFC (h) - August 25 2007 [" [http://www.wexfordyouthsfc.ie/results.html Wexford Youths FC Results 2007] ", "wexfordyouthsfc.ie" (12 November, 2007).]
*Biggest defeat - 0-5 vs. Limerick 37 (a) - October 5 2007. [" [http://www.wexfordyouthsfc.ie/results.html Wexford Youths FC Results 2007] ", "wexfordyouthsfc.ie" (12 November, 2007).]
*Attendance - 2,100 vs. Cobh Ramblers. [" [http://www.rte.ie/sport/2007/0318/wexfordyouths.html Wexford Youths Record First League Win] ", "rte.ie" (12 November, 2007).]

Current squad

External links

* [http://www.wexfordyouthsfc.ie Wexford Youths FC] Wexford Youths FC Official Website
* [http://foot.ie/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&daysprune=30&f=93 Foot.ie] Wexford Youths discussion forum
* [http://www.eleven-a-side.com/wexfordyouths/ Eleven-A-Side] Wexford Youths FC news
* [http://www.eircomloi.ie Eircom LOI] Eircom League of Ireland Official Website
* [http://www.freewebs.com/wysfc/ Supporters Club] Wexford Youths Supporters Club

References