The
League of Ireland
The League of Ireland ( ga, Sraith na hÉireann), together with the Football Association of Ireland, is one of the two main governing bodies responsible for organising association football in the Republic of Ireland. The term was originally use ...
B Division is a former league within the
Republic of Ireland football league system The Republic of Ireland football league system currently consists of 12 levels. Traditionally association football leagues in the Republic of Ireland have been classified as either senior, intermediate or junior. These leagues are effectively nation ...
. Its debut season was 1964–65. It was originally a second level league. However following the emergence of the
League of Ireland First Division
The League of Ireland First Division ( ga, Céad Roinn Sraith na hÉireann), also known as the SSE Airtricity League First Division, is the second level division in both the League of Ireland and the Republic of Ireland football league system. Th ...
in
1985–86 it became a third level league. Like the later
A Championship
The A Championship, also known as the Newstalk A Championship, was an association football league featuring League of Ireland reserve teams and emerging senior teams. It was a third level league in the Republic of Ireland football league system. ...
, the League of Ireland B included a mixture of
League of Ireland
The League of Ireland ( ga, Sraith na hÉireann), together with the Football Association of Ireland, is one of the two main governing bodies responsible for organising association football in the Republic of Ireland. The term was originally use ...
reserve team
In sports, a reserve team is a team composed of players under contract to a club but who do not normally play in matches for the first team. Reserve teams often include back-up players from the first team, young players who need playing time to i ...
s and the first teams of emerging clubs. There was no
relegation and promotion to and from the senior League of Ireland division. However a number of B Division teams, including
Home Farm,
Athlone Town,
UCD,
Longford Town
Longford () is the county town of County Longford in Ireland. It has a population of 10,008 according to the 2016 census. It is the biggest town in the county and about one third of the county's population lives there. Longford lies at the meet ...
and
Monaghan United
Monaghan United F.C. ( ga, Cumann Peile Mhuineacháin Aontaithe) is an Irish association football club based in Monaghan currently playing in the Ulster Senior League. The club joined the League of Ireland in 1983 and subsequently went on to pl ...
, were subsequently elected to the senior division. In later seasons the league was usually referred to as the Reserve Division. In 2000 it was replaced by the
League of Ireland U21 Division.
History
Early Seasons
The ten founding members in 1964–65 included
Home Farm,
Bray Wanderers,
Athlone Town,
Shamrock Rovers B plus the reserve teams of
Shelbourne,
Bohemians,
St Patrick's Athletic,
Dundalk
Dundalk ( ; ga, Dún Dealgan ), meaning "the fort of Dealgan", is the county town (the administrative centre) of County Louth, Ireland. The town is on the Castletown River, which flows into Dundalk Bay on the east coast of Ireland. It is h ...
,
Drumcondra and
Drogheda. The 1965–66 season saw the league expanded to include twelve teams.
Bray Wanderers dropped out, while Dalkey United, Ormeau and
Tullamore Town all joined. Early sponsors of the league included
Blackthorn Cider
Blackthorn Cider is a cider produced by Gaymer Cider Company, a subsidiary of C&C Group. Previously it was known as Blackthorn Dry or Dry Blackthorn. It is sold in a variety of forms, commonly being served draught in pubs or being sold in cans or ...
and
Castrol
Castrol is a British oil company that markets industrial and automotive lubricants, offering a wide range of oil, greases and similar products for most lubrication applications. The name ''Castrol'' was originally just the brand name for co ...
. During the early seasons teams competed for two trophies. The Blackthorn Trophy was initially awarded to the overall winners of the league. The Castrol Trophy was awarded to the winners of a single round league. The 1967–68 season saw Belgrove replace Ormeau, Athlone Town win the Castrol Trophy and Shamrock Rovers B win the Blackthorn Trophy. In 1968–69 Athlone Town won both the Castrol Trophy and Blackthorn Trophy, finishing six points clear of St Patrick's Athletic. The following season,
1969–70, saw Athlone Town take up a place in the League of Ireland senior division.
In 1970
UCD were elected to the League of Ireland B Division. Their senior team would continue to play in the B Division until
1979–80 when they were elected to join the Senior Division. Among the players who played for UCD during this time were
Kevin Moran and
Hugo MacNeill. A popular myth also alleges that
Sócrates
Sócrates Brasileiro Sampaio de Souza Vieira de Oliveira (19 February 1954 – 4 December 2011), simply known as Sócrates, was a Brazilian footballer who played as a midfielder. His medical degree and his political awareness, combined with sty ...
may have played for UCD during time. In 1975
Dublin University
The University of Dublin ( ga, Ollscoil Átha Cliath), corporately designated the Chancellor, Doctors and Masters of the University of Dublin, is a university located in Dublin, Ireland. It is the degree-awarding body for Trinity College Dubl ...
also joined and they were coached by
Liam Tuohy. Hugo MacNeill would also play for Dublin University
Dalkey United controversy
During the mid-1970s Dalkey United enjoyed moderate success while playing in the B Division. In 1973–74 they won the
FAI Intermediate Cup
The FAI Intermediate Cup ( ga, Corn Comortais Peile na hÉireann), also known as the FAI Umbro Intermediate Cup and the Pat O'Brien Intermediate Challenge Cup, is a cup competition organized by the Football Association of Ireland for intermediate ...
and between 1975 and 1976 and 1977–78 they won the Blackthorn Trophy three times in a row. However their time in the league would end in controversial circumstances. Frank Mullen described the B Division as the "most incompetent" league Dalkey United had ever been involved with. Clubs without a senior team in the
League of Ireland
The League of Ireland ( ga, Sraith na hÉireann), together with the Football Association of Ireland, is one of the two main governing bodies responsible for organising association football in the Republic of Ireland. The term was originally use ...
"were treated very unfairly". It was not uncommon for Dalkey United to travel to away games against
Waterford United
Waterford Football Club ( ga, Cumann Peile Phort Láirge) formerly Waterford United Football Club is an Irish association football club based in Waterford who play in the League of Ireland First Division. The club was founded and elected to the ...
or
Dundalk
Dundalk ( ; ga, Dún Dealgan ), meaning "the fort of Dealgan", is the county town (the administrative centre) of County Louth, Ireland. The town is on the Castletown River, which flows into Dundalk Bay on the east coast of Ireland. It is h ...
only to find the game postponed. No compensation for travel expenses would be offered either. In the 1977–78 season Dalkey United were due to travel to Dundalk to play in the quarter-final of the Blackthorn Trophy. However a few days before the game was due to be played the Dundalk manager,
Jim McLaughlin, phoned the Dalkey United chairman to request the game be postponed due to heavy snow. Dalkey United agreed and Dundalk subsequently informed the league the match was cancelled. However a few weeks later the semi-final draw was made and Dalkey United found themselves excluded. The club informed the league that the quarter-final against Dundalk had not been played, only to be told that the semi-finals were going ahead regardless. Dundalk were ordered to play the semi-final or face expulsion from the competition. Dalkey United opted to take legal action and the case was heading for the
High Court when the league decided to declare semi-final results null and void. After winning the rescheduled quarter-final against Dundalk, Dalkey United then won the semi-final and went on to defeat
Bohemians in the final at
Dalymount Park
Dalymount Park (Irish: ''Páirc Cnocán Uí Dhálaigh'') is a football stadium in Phibsborough on the Northside of Dublin, Ireland.
It is the home of Bohemian F.C., who have played there since the early 20th century. Affectionately known ...
. Having won the Blackthorn Trophy for a third time in a row, Dalkey United resigned from the league immediately afterwards and never applied to rejoin. They subsequently joined the
Leinster Senior League.
Athlone title
In 1983–84
Athlone Town Reserves won the B Division title, now known as the Egan C&C Trophy. Other teams in the B Division this season included
Dublin University
The University of Dublin ( ga, Ollscoil Átha Cliath), corporately designated the Chancellor, Doctors and Masters of the University of Dublin, is a university located in Dublin, Ireland. It is the degree-awarding body for Trinity College Dubl ...
,
Monaghan United
Monaghan United F.C. ( ga, Cumann Peile Mhuineacháin Aontaithe) is an Irish association football club based in Monaghan currently playing in the Ulster Senior League. The club joined the League of Ireland in 1983 and subsequently went on to pl ...
,
Longford Town
Longford () is the county town of County Longford in Ireland. It has a population of 10,008 according to the 2016 census. It is the biggest town in the county and about one third of the county's population lives there. Longford lies at the meet ...
,
St Brendan's, Belgrove,
Shamrock Rovers B and the reserve teams of
Waterford United
Waterford Football Club ( ga, Cumann Peile Phort Láirge) formerly Waterford United Football Club is an Irish association football club based in Waterford who play in the League of Ireland First Division. The club was founded and elected to the ...
,
Dundalk
Dundalk ( ; ga, Dún Dealgan ), meaning "the fort of Dealgan", is the county town (the administrative centre) of County Louth, Ireland. The town is on the Castletown River, which flows into Dundalk Bay on the east coast of Ireland. It is h ...
,
Shelbourne,
Drogheda,
St Patrick's Athletic,
Bohemians and
UCD. The Athlone Town team included
Fran Hitchcock
Fran Hitchcock (born 2 December 1960 in Dublin) is an Irish former footballer who played as a forward during the 1980s and 1990s.
Hitchcock made his League of Ireland debut for Shelbourne F.C. on 7 September 1980.
He can count Home Farm F.C. ...
,
John Caulfield and
Turlough O'Connor
Toirdhealbhach Mór Ua Conchobhair (old spelling: Tairrdelbach Mór Ua Conchobair; 1088 – 1156) anglicised Turlough Mór O'Conor, was King of Connacht (1106–1156) and High King of Ireland (ca. 1120–1156).
Family background and early life ...
, who was their highest goalscorer. O'Connor had earlier played for Town in the same division back in its debut season of 1964–65.
UCD title
In 1997–98, after 28 years of membership,
UCD won its first ever B Division title. Their B team finished their 24-match campaign unbeaten.
www.ucd.ie
/ref>
Notes
* The Blackthorn Trophy seems to have changed formats. According to Frank Lynch, it was initially awarded to the overall winners of the league and it used the traditional league format of two rounds of games played home and away. However Frank Mullen describes it as a knockout competition or league cup of the B Division. During the 1980s, according to Lynch, winners of the league were awarded the Egan C&C Trophy
References
B Division B Division, Division B, or variant may refer to:
* ''B Division'' (New York City Subway)
* ''B Division'' (Irish League), association football
* ''Division B'' (Scottish Football League)
* ''Divizia B'' (Romanian Football League)
* Moldovan "B ...
1964 establishments in Ireland
2
Ire
Sports leagues established in 1964
Ire
Ire
{{UEFA third level leagues