Coleraine F.C. is a
Northern IrishNorthern Ireland is a part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and it is situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. It shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
football club playing in the IFA Premiership (IPL). The club, founded in 1927, hails from
ColeraineColeraine is a large town in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland near to the mouth of the River Bann. It is northwest of Belfast and east of Derry, both of which are linked by major roads and railway connections...
and plays its home matches at
The ShowgroundsThe Showgrounds is a football stadium in Coleraine, Northern Ireland. It is the home ground of Coleraine F.C.. The stadium holds 6,500 and was built in 1927.Between September 1971 and October 1972, Derry City F.C...
. Club colours are blue and white. Davy Platt is the manager.
Coleraine is one of the most successful clubs, and the best-supported club, outside of the "Belfast Big Two" of
LinfieldLinfield F.C. Linfield F.C. Linfield F.C. (full name Linfield Football & Athletic Club, is a Northern Irish professional football club playing in the IFA Premiership. Founded in March 1886 in south Belfast, Linfield play at Windsor Park, which is also the home of the Northern Ireland international...
and
GlentoranGlentoran F.C. is a Northern Irish football club and current IFA Premiership champions. The club was founded in 1882 and plays its home games at the Oval in east Belfast. Club colours are green, red, and black.Glentoran's biggest rivals are Linfield...
, having won the Irish League title once (in
1973-74-League standings:-References:*...
) and the
Irish CupThe Irish Cup is the national cup knock-out competition in Northern Irish football. Inaugurated in 1881, it is the fourth oldest national cup competition in the world. Prior to the break-away from the Irish Football Association by clubs from what would become the Irish Free State in 1921, the Irish...
on five occasions, most recently in 2002-03. It is also the only Irish League club to have won two successive all-Ireland competitions, lifting the
Blaxnit CupThe Blaxnit Cup, is a defunct club football competition which featured teams from both football associations on the island of Ireland, in a similar format to the current Setanta Cup...
in 1969 and 1970.
History
Coleraine Football Club was founded in June 1927 at a meeting in the local
OrangeThe Orange Institution, more commonly known as the Orange Order or the Orange Lodge, is a Protestant fraternal organisation based predominantly in Ireland and Scotland with lodges throughout the Commonwealth and the United States...
hall. The club was formed out of a merger between two local sides,
Coleraine Olympic and
Coleraine Alexandra. The original club colours were all white, hence the club's original nickname - "The Lilywhites". The new club secured its first trophy in the 1931-32 season, defeating
Ballymena UnitedBallymena United is a Northern Irish football club playing in the IFA Premiership. Ballymena United hail from the town of Ballymena and play their home matches at Ballymena Showgrounds. Club colours are sky blue and white...
3-0 at
SolitudeSolitude is a football stadium in Belfast, Northern Ireland. It is the home ground of Cliftonville The stadium currently holds 5,182 and was built in 1890.The stadium has undergone several renovations...
to win the
Gold CupThe Gold Cup is a now-defunct cup competition which involved competitors from Ireland and from 1921 onwards, just for Northern Ireland. It was initially run by the New Irish Football Association but later, and mainly, by the Irish Football Association....
.
In 1948, Coleraine reached its first
Irish CupThe Irish Cup is the national cup knock-out competition in Northern Irish football. Inaugurated in 1881, it is the fourth oldest national cup competition in the world. Prior to the break-away from the Irish Football Association by clubs from what would become the Irish Free State in 1921, the Irish...
final, going down 3-0 to
LinfieldLinfield F.C. Linfield F.C. Linfield F.C. (full name Linfield Football & Athletic Club, is a Northern Irish professional football club playing in the IFA Premiership. Founded in March 1886 in south Belfast, Linfield play at Windsor Park, which is also the home of the Northern Ireland international...
. 1953 brought another appearance in the final and another defeat, again to Linfield, this time by five goals to nil. The 1950s saw the
City CupThe City Cup is a now-defunct cup competition which involved competitors from Northern Ireland. It was run by the Irish Football Association. It had previously been known as the Dunville Cup and ceased to exist in 1976...
won for the first time (1953-54) and a second triumph in the
Gold CupThe Gold Cup is a now-defunct cup competition which involved competitors from Ireland and from 1921 onwards, just for Northern Ireland. It was initially run by the New Irish Football Association but later, and mainly, by the Irish Football Association....
(1958).
In 1961, chairman Jack Doherty persuaded
Bertie PeacockJohn Robert "Bertie" Peacock, MBE was a football player and manager from Coleraine, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland....
to sign for Coleraine after he left
CelticThe Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. Since the club's formation in 1888, Celtic have won the Scottish championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the 2007/08 season, and the Scottish...
. It would prove to be one of the most important transfers in the club's history. In 1965, Coleraine won the
Irish CupThe Irish Cup is the national cup knock-out competition in Northern Irish football. Inaugurated in 1881, it is the fourth oldest national cup competition in the world. Prior to the break-away from the Irish Football Association by clubs from what would become the Irish Free State in 1921, the Irish...
for the first time, defeating
GlenavonGlenavon F.C. is a Northern Irish football club playing in the IFA Premiership. The club, founded in 1889, hails from Lurgan and plays its home matches at Mourneview Park...
2-1 at
Windsor ParkWindsor Park, in Belfast, is the home ground of the Northern Irish football club, Linfield. It is also the home of the Northern Ireland national football team and Irish Cup and Irish League Cup finals....
, with goals from Shaun Dunlop and Derek Irwin. Coleraine thus gained its first experience of European football, against
SovietThe Union of Soviet Socialist Republics was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. The name is a translation of the , tr. Soyuz Sovetskikh Sotsialisticheskikh Respublik, abbreviated СССР, SSSR. The common short name is Soviet Union, from , Sovetskiy Soyuz...
outfit Dynamo Kiev. Coleraine also won the first two
Blaxnit all-Ireland cupThe Blaxnit Cup, is a defunct club football competition which featured teams from both football associations on the island of Ireland, in a similar format to the current Setanta Cup...
s in 1969 and 1970. Coleraine faced
KilmarnockKilmarnock Football Club are a Scottish football team based in the town of Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. Founded in 1869, "Killie" are the oldest club currently in the Scottish Premier League. Home matches are played at Rugby Park. They are currently members of the Scottish Premier League and are managed...
in the 1970 Fairs Cup, and after a 1-1 draw in the first leg, the Bannsiders pulled off an historic 3-2 victory thanks to a Des Dickson hat-trick.
In 1972, the
Irish CupThe Irish Cup is the national cup knock-out competition in Northern Irish football. Inaugurated in 1881, it is the fourth oldest national cup competition in the world. Prior to the break-away from the Irish Football Association by clubs from what would become the Irish Free State in 1921, the Irish...
was won again, this time by beating
PortadownPortadown is a Northern Irish football club which plays in the IFA Premiership.The club, founded in 1924, hails from Portadown in County Armagh and plays its home games at Shamrock Park. Club colours are red and white....
2-1, with goals from Des Dickson and Ivan Murray. The
Holy GrailAccording to Christian mythology, the Holy Grail was the dish, plate, or cup used by Jesus at the Last Supper, said to possess miraculous powers...
of the Gibson Cup was finally captured in 1974. Under the management of Bertie Peacock, the squad consisting of the likes of Des Dickson, Johnny McCurdy, Ivan Murray, Michael Guy and Vince Magee clinched the title ahead of
PortadownPortadown is a Northern Irish football club which plays in the IFA Premiership.The club, founded in 1924, hails from Portadown in County Armagh and plays its home games at Shamrock Park. Club colours are red and white....
. Bertie Peacock resigned in 1974 and Ivan Murray and Johnny McCurdy took over the reins. Murray continued as manager until 1978 and during his spell in charge the
Irish CupThe Irish Cup is the national cup knock-out competition in Northern Irish football. Inaugurated in 1881, it is the fourth oldest national cup competition in the world. Prior to the break-away from the Irish Football Association by clubs from what would become the Irish Free State in 1921, the Irish...
was won twice more - both times against
LinfieldLinfield F.C. Linfield F.C. Linfield F.C. (full name Linfield Football & Athletic Club, is a Northern Irish professional football club playing in the IFA Premiership. Founded in March 1886 in south Belfast, Linfield play at Windsor Park, which is also the home of the Northern Ireland international...
. In 1975, it took three games before a goal from Jim "Chang" Smith in the second replay proved decisive. The 1977 victory was more emphatic with
Liam BeckettLiam Beckett is a football manager, most recently managing Institute FC in the Irish Premier League.-Managerial career:Beckett has previously managed Ballymoney United, Moyola Park and Cliftonville,...
, Des Dickson, Frankie Moffatt and
Michael GuyMichael Guy is an American musician who is best known as the lead guitarist of the band House of Lords.-Musical education:...
scoring to give Coleraine a 4-1 victory. It was to be the club's last major trophy for 26 years.
In the 1980s there were two more cup finals, in 1982 and 1986, ending in defeats to
LinfieldLinfield F.C. Linfield F.C. Linfield F.C. (full name Linfield Football & Athletic Club, is a Northern Irish professional football club playing in the IFA Premiership. Founded in March 1886 in south Belfast, Linfield play at Windsor Park, which is also the home of the Northern Ireland international...
and
GlentoranGlentoran F.C. is a Northern Irish football club and current IFA Premiership champions. The club was founded in 1882 and plays its home games at the Oval in east Belfast. Club colours are green, red, and black.Glentoran's biggest rivals are Linfield...
respectively. For three seasons in a row in the mid-1980s the club finished second in the league behind Linfield, but in the first part of the 1990s Coleraine struggled. In 1995 they dropped into the First Division. Under Kenny Shiels, Coleraine won the inaugural First Division title and in its first season back in the top flight, won the
Ulster CupThe Ulster Cup was an annual football competition held by the Irish Football League for senior clubs. It was held on fifty-one occasions until being suspended after the 1998/99 season and discontinued after a one-off re-appearance in 2002/03. The last three editions were only open to Irish First...
and came agonisingly close to the title, being pipped late on by
CrusadersCrusaders Football Club is a Northern Irish football club playing in the IFA Premiership. The club, founded in 1898, hails from Belfast and plays its home matches at Seaview. Club colours are red and black. The current manager is Stephen Baxter, appointed in 2005 following the sacking of Alan...
.
After a poor start to the 1999-2000 season, Shiels resigned and was replaced by Marty Quinn, who rallied the team to finish second in the league behind Linfield and reach the Irish Cup semi-finals and the Coca-Cola Cup final. The next 2 seasons saw Coleraine finish fourth both times - potential title challenges being ruined by inconsistency. In 2002-03, Coleraine ended the season in third place and reached their first Irish Cup Final since 1986. In the final, they faced
GlentoranGlentoran F.C. is a Northern Irish football club and current IFA Premiership champions. The club was founded in 1882 and plays its home games at the Oval in east Belfast. Club colours are green, red, and black.Glentoran's biggest rivals are Linfield...
as massive underdogs as the east Belfast side were looking to complete a clean sweep of trophies. After an early strike from
Gareth McAuleyGareth McAuley is a Northern Irish footballer currently playing for Ipswich Town.-Career:Coming from Glenoe outside of Larne and nicknamed "Big G", Gareth began his career at Linfield and spent some time in early 2000 on loan at Ballyclare Comrades. After four years at Linfield, he moved to...
was harshly ruled out, Coleraine kept going and scored through Jody Tolan. Despite increasing Glentoran pressure, Coleraine held on and the trophy famine was over. The following season saw the club reach the Irish Cup final again, but this time it was Glentoran who emerged triumphant.
The club's well-publicised financial problems had already overshadowed much of the 2003-04 season (despite a substantial donation from
Cold Feet actor and Coleraine fan
James NesbittJames Nesbitt is an actor from Northern Ireland. Born in Ballymena, County Antrim, Nesbitt grew up in Broughshane and Coleraine, County Londonderry. He wanted to become a teacher, like his father, so began a degree in French at the University of Ulster...
) and at its end the club was forced to operate on a reduced budget, with several top players leaving. Despite this a top six finish was still achieved. The summer of 2005 saw more budget cuts and several big names leaving the Showgrounds, but this time the main concern for fans was the very future of the club. In August, the
Inland RevenueThe Inland Revenue was, until April 2005, a department of the British Government responsible for the collection of direct taxation, including income tax, national insurance contributions, capital gains tax, inheritance tax, corporation tax, petroleum revenue tax and stamp duty...
filed for a winding-up order against Coleraine due to debts of £1.3 million. The Friends of Coleraine, worked tirelessly to persuade the High Court to postpone the hearing to allow them to put together a business plan to show that the club could be viably run. Eventually the court ruled in the club’s favour and they were allowed to enter administration and a steering committee was set up to run the club.
The club went on to defeat
InstsituteInstitute F.C. is a Northern Irish football club who play in the IFA Premiership. The club, founded in 1905, are based in the Drumahoe area of Derry and play their home matches at the Riverside Stadium . Club colours are sky blue and white....
to win the
North West Senior CupThe North West Senior Cup, or North West Cup, is a senior football competition in Northern Ireland run by the North West of Ireland Football Association. Senior and intermediate teams from the North West FA's jurisdiction The North West Senior Cup, or North West Cup, is a senior football...
for the 17th time. Premier League survival was ensured on the pitch and in June 2006, the Friends of Coleraine formally took control of the club and appointed a new board. In 2008 the club reached the Irish Cup final, but lost 2-1 to Linfield.
Current squad
Notable former players
Jimmy KellyJimmy Kelly was an Irish footballer who played for, among others, Derry City, Shamrock Rovers and Dundalk. Kelly was one of the most prolific goalscorers ever to play in the Irish League, scoring 218 goals in the league between 1928 and 1952...
Clancy McDermottJ. Clarence McDermott is a former footballer from Northern Ireland who played in the Irish League with Glentoran and Coleraine from 1939-1963. With the Glens, he won the Gold Cup in 1941/42, and with Coleraine he also won the Gold Cup as well as the City Cup in 1954/55. He was capped once by the...
Willie McFaul"Willie" Iam McFaul is a former Northern Irish football player and now coach.McFaul joined Newcastle United from Linfield F.C. in his native Northern Ireland in 1966 after impressing in a friendly match....
Bertie PeacockJohn Robert "Bertie" Peacock, MBE was a football player and manager from Coleraine, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland....
Harry GreggHarry Gregg, MBE is a Northern Irish former football player and manager.Harry started his career with Windsor Park Swifts, the reserve team of Linfield, before signing for his local club Coleraine. At the age of 18 he earned a move across the Irish Sea to Doncaster Rovers, before transferring to...
Felix HealyFelix Healy is a former Northern Irish football player and manager.-Club career:Healy was an accomplished midfielder or striker who possessed an impressive passing ability...
Allan HunterAllan Hunter is a former international footballer.As a central defender, Hunter spent the majority of his professional career at Ipswich Town, making over 350 appearances in his eleven years at the club, which included playing in the victorious 1978 FA Cup Final.He also played for Coleraine F.C.,...
Steve LomasStephen "Steve" Lomas is a former Northern Ireland international professional football player, currently the Player/Manager of United Counties Football League Premier Division side St Neots Town....
Gareth McAuleyGareth McAuley is a Northern Irish footballer currently playing for Ipswich Town.-Career:Coming from Glenoe outside of Larne and nicknamed "Big G", Gareth began his career at Linfield and spent some time in early 2000 on loan at Ballyclare Comrades. After four years at Linfield, he moved to...
William FernieWilliam "Willie" Fernie was a Scottish golfer from the "Home of Golf", St Andrews. He won the 1883 Open Championship at Musselburgh Links. The tournament was scheduled to last four rounds of the nine hole course on a Friday in November. Fernie tied with defending champion Bob Ferguson, with both...
Michael O'NeillMichael O'Neill may refer to:* Michael O'Neill , British academic and poet* Michael O'Neill , American actor* Michael O'Neill , American academic...
Jim PlattJames Archibald 'Jim' Platt is a former goalkeeper who played for Northern Ireland. During his career, 'Jim' won 23 caps for Northern Ireland, an amount largely restricted due to the presence of Pat Jennings in the side...
Fay CoyleFrancis Coyle , more commonly known as Fay Coyle, was a Northern Irish footballer. He was born in Derry, Northern Ireland.-Club career:...
Bryce MoonBryce Moon is a South African football defender and midfielder who plays for Greek Super League club PAOK FC on loan from Panathinaikos and the South African national football team....
Mark McWalterMark McWalter is a Scottish former football striker.McWalter began his career with his local club Arbroath where as a teenager he became a first team regular. His form attracted the attentions of top-flight St. Mirren, who signed him in June 1987...
Staff
- President: Andy Magowan
- Chief Executive: John Mairs
- Chairman: Hugh Wade
Hugh Wade was Lieutenant Governor of Alaska from 1959 to 1966....
- Treasurer: Sam Turtle
- Secretary: Dessie Brown
- Chaplain: Rev Robert McMullan
- Committee Members: Raymond Kennedy, Raymond Pollock, Jim Boyce, William Huey, Stevie Lennon, Hunter McClelland, Nevin Oliver, Basil Killough, Ivan Kyle, Fred Crawford
- PA Announcer: Alan Simpson
Alan Simpson may refer to:*Alan Simpson , British politician*Alan K. Simpson , American politician*Alan Simpson , of Galton and Simpson, scriptwriters...
- PA Assistant: Chris White
Chris White may refer to:*Chris White , British jazz/rock saxophonist*Chris White , bassist and songwriter with The Zombies*Chris White , New Zealand rower...
- Manager: Davy Platt
- Assistant Manager: Geoff Ferris
Geoff Ferris is a Northern Ireland football manager. He is the current Assistant Manager of Coleraine FC.Through Geoff's successful career in Irish League football, he had spells with Carrick Rangers, Coleraine but he is known best for his contribution to Glenavon FC, at his spell there he scored...
- Physio: Alan Millar
Alan Millar is the former Head of Philosophy at the University of Stirling, Scotland. Millar received his PhD at Cambridge. He researches philosophy of mind and the theory of knowledge.-External links:*...
- Reserve/Colts: Victor Hunter, Stephen Quinn
Stephen Quinn is a professional footballer from the Republic of Ireland. He currently plays as a midfielder for Sheffield United in the English Football League Championship....
, Trevor Hogg, Aaron Forgrave
- Team Attendant: Damien Cooper
- Chief Steward: Derek Stewart
- Groundsman: John McLaughlin
- Merchandising Team: Dessie Monahan, Nigel Johnston, Raymond Smyth, Carol Smyth, Scott Smyth
- Media Officer: Steven Crawford
- Website Team: Aaron Mullan, Andrew Gillan, Stevie Lennon, Stephen Morrow, Nigel Johnston, Chris White
- Programme Team: Garvagh, Kilrea & District CSC - Hunter McClelland, Frank Sloane, Steven Morrow, Andrew Gillan, John Mairs, Steven Crawford, Damian Mullan, Robert McMullan, Tommy McCallion, Nichola Forgrave, Trevor Hogg, Derek Simpson
Senior honours
- Irish League: 1
- Irish Cup
The Irish Cup is the national cup knock-out competition in Northern Irish football. Inaugurated in 1881, it is the fourth oldest national cup competition in the world. Prior to the break-away from the Irish Football Association by clubs from what would become the Irish Free State in 1921, the Irish...
: 5
- 1964/65, 1971/72, 1974/75, 1976/77, 2002/03
- Irish League Cup: 1
- City Cup
The City Cup is a now-defunct cup competition which involved competitors from Northern Ireland. It was run by the Irish Football Association. It had previously been known as the Dunville Cup and ceased to exist in 1976...
: 2
- Gold Cup
The Gold Cup is a now-defunct cup competition which involved competitors from Ireland and from 1921 onwards, just for Northern Ireland. It was initially run by the New Irish Football Association but later, and mainly, by the Irish Football Association....
: 4
- Ulster Cup
The Ulster Cup was an annual football competition held by the Irish Football League for senior clubs. It was held on fifty-one occasions until being suspended after the 1998/99 season and discontinued after a one-off re-appearance in 2002/03. The last three editions were only open to Irish First...
: 7
- 1965/66, 1968/69, 1969/70, 1972/73, 1975/76, 1985/86, 1996/1997
- Top Four Cup
Top Four Cup was a football competition played between the top four clubs in the League of Ireland from 1956 to 1974.-See also:*League of Ireland*FAI Cup*League of Ireland Cup*League of Ireland Shield...
- Irish League First Division: 1
- Blaxnit Cup
The Blaxnit Cup, is a defunct club football competition which featured teams from both football associations on the island of Ireland, in a similar format to the current Setanta Cup...
: 2
- Irish News Cup
The Irish News Cup was a "north-south" football competition in Ireland involving teams from the Irish League and League of Ireland mostly located in the north-west of the island. It was sponsored by the Irish News and also referred to as the Irish News North West Cup...
: 1
- North West Senior Cup
The North West Senior Cup, or North West Cup, is a senior football competition in Northern Ireland run by the North West of Ireland Football Association. Senior and intermediate teams from the North West FA's jurisdiction The North West Senior Cup, or North West Cup, is a senior football...
: 18
- 1952/53†, 1954/55, 1955/56, 1957/58, 1958/59, 1960/61, 1964/65, 1967/68, 1980/81, 1981/82, 1982/83, 1987/88, 1988/89, 1991/92, 1994/95, 2001/02, 2004/05, 2007/08
† Won by Coleraine Reserves
Intermediate honours
- Irish Intermediate Cup: 2
- George Wilson Cup
The George Wilson Memorial Cup is a competition open to reserve football teams affiliated to member clubs of the Irish League. Initially it was open to all members of the B Division, both "attached and unattached" The George Wilson Memorial Cup is a competition open to reserve football teams...
: 4
- 1954/55†, 1985/86†, 1991/92†, 1995/96†
- Craig Memorial Cup
The Craig Memorial Cup is an intermediate football competition in Northern Ireland run by the North West of Ireland Football Association. The competition culminates in the final which has traditionally been played on Boxing Day.-List of winners:...
: 2
† Won by Coleraine Reserves
External links