LOI100: New Football Association of Ireland kicks off first league season (September 19 1921)
Shamrock Rovers secured the services of J Murphy, the old Bradford City player, and two ‘Fs’, Bob Fullam and John Joe Flood, from Shelbourne, ahead of the inaugural League of Ireland campaign in 1921/22 Credit: Extratime Team (ETPhotos)
Dateline: Dublin 19 September 1921
The new Football League of Ireland kicked off at the weekend with three games in Dublin. The league is under the auspices of the new Football Association of Ireland that was formed earlier in the month following some ongoing disputes between some clubs in Leinster and the Belfast-based Irish Football Association and Irish Football League.
The dispute crystalised around an argument over Shelbourne being ordered to travel to Belfast to play a cup semi-final replay having drawn the first game with Glenavon at Windsor Park one-all and the LFA council was mandated to form the new association at a meeting in June.
Meeting in Dublin the night before the league commenced the new FAI council decided to organise a cup competition. Qualifying rounds will precede the competition proper with the exact details of who will play in these will be decided at a later date. The FAI will keep 5% of all gate receipts from every round until the semi-final when 30% will be retained by the association. The final will be held on St Patrick’s Day and the FAI will keep 75% of the gate after costs.
Although there are eight clubs in the new League of Ireland, all Dublin-based, only three games took place as Olympia vs Jacobs was postponed. Current Leinster Senior League champions and Metropolitan Cup holders Shelbourne kicked off their campaign at Richmond Road, as the away side (obviously).
The Reds are not reckoned to be as strong this year as they have lost several players. However, Val Harris was his usual methodical self on Saturday and O’Kelly impressed in goal as Frankfort were disposed of 4-0. 1920 Leinster Senior League champions, St James Gate, scored three late goals against Dublin United to avenge last season’s defeat in the Leinster Senior Cup final with a 5-1 scoreline.
Over at Pisser Dignam’s field, it was a good day for the Phibsborough village people as Bohemians cantered to a 5-0 victory over YMCA. It has to be said that since the scions of the old establishment, YMCA, beat Olympia in a friendly last week one has to fear for the latter side when they do eventually play a match.
Leinster Senior League teams continued their preparations for next week’s big kick off. Much-fancied Shamrock Rovers, who have secured the services of J Murphy, the old Bradford City player, and two ‘Fs’, Bob Fullam and John Joe Flood, from Shelbourne, are expected to be strong this year.
The application of the Stripes to take the vacant positions in the provincial league was welcome. Little had been heard from the Ringsend men since they were knocked out of the Leinster Junior Cup by Athlone Town on the day before ‘Bloody Sunday’ last November. Rovers will be playing out of Serpentine Avenue this season and were convincing 5-1 winners against neighbours Pembroke Comrades on Saturday.
