Welcome to Volume Two of my blog which covers all clubs and stadiums outside the English League System along with the wonderful people responsible for keeping them going and their maintenance.

Since I was a little lad I've been fascinated in football and more so where games are played. With my love of travel and curiosity of the game I wanted to visit as many grounds and see games wherever possible.

I was fortunate that my Dad also loved the game and spent so much of his spare time taking me to matches. As I got older the boundaries widened owing to my location and increased wages to Europe and indeed the world. The sight of a stand or a floodlight pylon in the distance immediately heightens my senses and eagerness for a closer look.

I hope this site gives you the chance to share in my pleasure and experiences and maybe one day set you on the road to adventure. If you get half as much out of the hobby as I've done, I can guarantee some great memories, good friends and stories to pass on to future generations.

Give your local club a try today. They'll be delighted to see you!

Everlasting thanks primarily to my late and very much missed and dearly loved parents; my Dad Bob Bernard and my Mum; Ann, who put up with endless years of football chat and my brothers Nick and Paul who gave me the chance and encouragement to do what I have. Thanks to all my friends who offer encouragement and Sally and Stan who inspire and give me great pride. Stan is showing a keen interest in my hobby as he grows into a young man!

Please feel free to post any comments (please use sensible language - I want everyone to be able to enjoy reading) or ask any questions relating to visiting grounds or events. If you want to see any ground reviewed please let me know. It will take quite some time for everywhere to appear, but make sure you keep having a look as the site is continually updated.

If you click on a lot of the pictures you will get a larger version on your screen.

I have also added links to video clips on YouTube where appropriate for those of you who are bored of reading or are filling in time at work. I haven't always gone for the most obvious choices, but items that will be in some cases unusual but always historically interesting.

Click here to see volume one of HAOTW for everything in the English League System.

Rob Bernard

London

May 2020

Thursday 17 February 2011

Drumcondra (Ireland)


The story of Drumcondra FC from Dublin's Northside is an interesting tale of the determination of a local community for a great name to live on.

 The original club were formed in 1924 and as a non league club they lifted the FAI Cup in 1926-27 when Brideville were defeated after a replay before the team lost the final the following year to Bohemians. 

The club joined the League of Ireland the following year. 'Drums' were based at Tolka Park and had a great rivalry with Shamrock Rovers which drew great crowds. Kit Lawlor scored the goals as Drumcondra secured their first league title in 1947-48. 

 They were denied the double when Shamrock Rovers defeated them 2-1 in the Cup final in front of over 33,000 fans at Dalymount Park. The league crown was retained in 1948-49 before Drums finished as runners-up in 1949-50 with Dessie Glynn leading the scoring.

 Further second places came in 1952-53, 1956-57 and 1957-58 prior to a third title being claimed in 1960-61 with Dan McCaffrey ending as the league leading scorer. The FAI Cup also gave joy to Drums supporters with a 1-0 win in 1953-54 against St Patrick's Athletic and a 2-0 victory against Shamrock Rovers in 1956-57.

 The 1960-61 final deprived the club of collecting the double when St Patrick's proved too strong. However, the league title introduced the club to European football. Drums became the first Irish club to record an aggregate win when they defeated the Danes of B 1909 Odense in the Inter Cities Fairs Cup, later the UEFA Cup and Europa League. 

 Drums also played against Atletico Madrid, Nuremburg, Eintracht Frankfurt, Vorwarts Berlin and Bayern Munich who they beat in the home leg during their European adventures.

The Programme from the Santos match

In 1972 a combined selected team of Drumcondra and Bohemian players took on a Santos team including Pele in a friendly at Dalymount Park.

At the end of that season the clubs shares were bought by near neighbours Home Farm FC to amalgamate the two clubs as Drums were £6,000 in debt. They were to retain the amateur status of Home Farm and they moved into Tolka Park to be known as Home Farm-Drumcondra FC. Within a season they dropped the Drums name to become Home Farm FC. 

 The Drumcondra name lived on as Drumcondra AFC and Drumcondra Athletic FC were both formed, with both clubs claiming the historical identity of the old club. In 2008 an amalgamation created unity and Drumcondra FC who fielded many junior teams for boys and girls including teams in the Leinster Senior League.
The 1946 IFA Cup Final Programme

 The team competed in the Major 1A Division in 2015-16 and then Major 1 the following campaign in which they came tenth in 2017-18 which led to relegation to Major 1A where the team ended the 2018-19 campaign in ninth place.

Drumcondra FC fielded first teams in the Leinster Saturday Major 1D and the Sunday Senior 1A Divisions in the 2013-14 season.


My visit

Friday 15th October 2010

I was in Dublin for a few days of sightseeing and expanding my knowledge of football in the city with different visits. As ever I had tried to do as much homework before hand so as to make the actual days as stress free as possible.


The name Drumcondra first became known to me as a young lad playing Subbuteo. The team were featured with their prominent colours of yellow shirts with blue sleeves and shorts. I guess when the teams were designated by Subbuteo that Drums were one of Ireland's bigger clubs.

There was no sign of the club in the League of Ireland tables so google came to my rescue when I learned all about the reformed club and its location. As luck would have it Drumcondra was the nearest railway station to my first port of call that morning, Tolka Park the home of Shelbourne. The clubs home ground was immediately over the road from the stadium.

After I'd had a quick sneak inside Tolka Park I walked across the road to take the basic photos of Clonturk Park. It consisted of an open pitch and a clubhouse and changing rooms.

I wandered off for a mile walk to Home Farm full of admiration for the supporters and community who refused to let the famous Drumcondra name die.


The pictures featured on this page from Drums history have been taken from clubs' website.





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  1. Cape Cod Womble19 June 2012 at 21:00

    Drumcondra is where my mother was born and lived until she moved to Australia in 1953. My aunt still lives there in the family home in Ferguson Road just by the Tolka River. It is a short walk from Home Farm's ground. My mother used to tell me about the Drummers fans who used to walk up Drumcondra Road to the matches.

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