Welcome to the latest installment of the Gloucester Groundhopper blog.
For this installment, we remained in Dublin and headed to another League Of Ireland Premier Division game as Bohemians took on St Patrick's Athletic at Dalymount Park.
It's All In The Name
The Gypsies is the nickname for Bohemian FC. The Gypsies moniker refers to both the club's early wanderings (before settling in Dalymount Park, neé Pisser Dignam's field in Phibsboro in 1901) and the fact that Bohemia is the European origin of the Romany/Gypsy people, as well as the general idea of the original club members being of a bohemian/artistic disposition.
Some Notable Former Players:
Paddy Madden
Stephen Ward
Liam Neeson (trial)
Matt Doherty (youth)
Evan Ferguson
Some Notable People From Dublin:
Bono- U2 Singer
John and Edward Grimes (Jedward)- Singers
Aidan Turner- Actor
Michael Gambon- Actor
Bob Geldof- Singer/Songwriter
A History Lesson From AFC Finners
Bohemian FC was founded in 1890, and they competed in the Irish Football League from 1902 to 1911, then again from 1912 to 1920, winning the Irish Cup in 1920.
They were a founding member of the League of Ireland in 1921, and they are one of only two clubs to have been members of the League of Ireland since its inception (the other being Shelbourne), and they are the only club to have been ever-present in the league's top division. Three years later, they won their first top flight title. They won the league again in 1928, as well as their first FAI Cup, to complete the double. Glory would follow them as they won three more league titles and another cup before World War II.
However, they would face many years of insecurity and a 34-year drought without any recognition after this. The club's amateur status expired in 1969, and Tony O'Connell became the first player to sign professional terms on 11th March, 1969.
They resurrected themselves in the 1970s, winning two league titles, two FAI Cups, and two league cups. They also made their debut in Europe, but after winning the League Cup in 1979, they went on to suffer another trophy drought. This ended when they won the FAI Cup in 1992, and they won the league again in 2001. The previous year, they knocked Aberdeen out of the UEFA Cup, becoming the first Irish team to defeat a British team away in Europe. They won the league again in 2003, and Pat Fenlon led them to another title in 2008. The following year, they won another league cup while also retaining the league title. This is their final major honour, but after a promising start to the season, they are optimistic about breaking their drought.
And here's a fun fact: Bob Marley played his final outdoor show and only Irish gig at Bohemian's ground, which he chose because he wanted tickets to be cheaper and thus more affordable for fans. He ended his set with "Redemption Song" to express solidarity with the Irish people.
Honours
🏆 League of Ireland Premier Division (Champions: 1923–24, 1927–28, 1929–30, 1933–34, 1935–36, 1974–75, 1977–78, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2008-09, 2009-10)
🏆 FAI Cup (Winners: 1927–28, 1934–35, 1969–70, 1975–76, 1991–92, 2000–01, 2008)
🏆 Irish Cup (Winners: 1907–08)
🏆 League of Ireland Cup (Winners: 1974–75, 1978–79, 2009)
🏆 League of Ireland Shield (Winners: 1923–24, 1927–28, 1928–29, 1933–34, 1938–39, 1939–40)
🏆 Setanta Sports Cup (Winners: 2010)
🏆 LFA President's Cup (Winners: 1965–66, 1967–68, 1974–75, 1975–76, 1976–77, 1977–78, 1978–79, 1982–83, 1992–93, 1994–95, 1997–98, 2000–01, 2001–02)
🏆 Dublin City Cup (Winners: 1935–36)
🏆 Dublin and Belfast Intercity Cup (Winners: 1944–45)
🏆 Top Four Cup (Winners: 1971–72)
🏆 Aciéries d'Angleur Trophy (Winners: 1929)
🏆 Leinster Senior League (Winners: 1899–1900, 1900–01, 1901–02, 1904–05, 1912–13, 1913–14, 1917–18, 1931–32)
🏆 Leinster Senior Cup (Winners: 1893–94, 1894–95, 1895–96, 1896–97, 1897–98, 1898–99, 1901–02, 1902–03, 1904–05, 1906–07, 1909–10, 1910–11, 1911–12, 1914–15, 1915–16, 1925–26, 1927–28, 1939–40, 1946–47, 1965–66, 1966–67, 1972–73, 1974–75, 1975–76, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1983–84, 1985–86, 1988–89, 1992–93, 1997–98, 2015–16)
🏆 FAI Intermediate Cup (Winners: 1931–32)
🏆 FAI Youth Cup (Winners: 1969–70, 2001–02, 2014–15)
An Interview with Bohemian supporter, Killian Molloy:
GG: Could you please tell us a little bit about Bohemian?
KM: Bohemian were founded in Dublin's Phoenix Park in 1890. They played their home games in the park and other locations throughout Dublin until 1901, when they relocated to Dalymount Park, their current home. They have always played in the top division of Irish football and have never been relegated. Bohemian are Ireland's fourth most successful club, having won eleven league titles and seven domestic cups.
GG: How long have you been a fan of Bohemian, and do you remember your first game?
KM: My parents are both Bohs fans and brought me to games from a very young age, so I don't remember my first game.
GG: Can you tell us something interesting about Bohemian?
KM: Bohemians became the first Irish club to defeat a team from one of Europe's top five leagues in a European match. In 2001, Kaiserslautern were defeated by Bohemian 1-0.
GG: What are your thoughts on Irish football in general, and where it stands in relation to the rest of the world?
KM: Irish football is gradually but steadily improving. It is becoming more professional as more people attend games and standards rise. There is still much work to be done, but as we emerge from the pandemic, Irish domestic football appears to be in good shape.
GG: What is the club's significance in the community?
KM: Bohemian have placed a strong emphasis on the club's community involvement. They are one of the most visible clubs in the country's community. Walking football, prison workshops, amputee football, and other social initiatives keep the club connected to its surrounding communities.
GG: What are the clubs' long-term goals?
KM: Following a period of financial difficulty in the early 2010s, the goal was to remain in the division. After a couple of successful years in Europe, the goal now is to consistently qualify for Europe while also challenging for league titles in the long run.
GG: What do you believe is the most famous event to have occurred on the ground?
There are far too many to list, but here are a few:
The night Pele played at Dalymount for Santos
Don Givens scored a hatrick as Ireland defeated the Soviet Union 3-0.
When Zidane was playing for Bordeaux against Bohs.
Bob Marley's final outdoor concert in the stadium.
Thin Lizzy performing at the stadium
In the 1950s, Bobby Charlton played there with England in front of 50,000 people.
More recently, during a 2012 rebuild, we defeated rivals Shamrock Rovers 4-0 with a team of young amateurs.
GG: Who would you sign if you could only sign one player to play for Bohemian for one game?
KM: Our 2023 squad appears to be quite strong, but one player I've always admired is Patrick Hoban of Dundalk, who has been a prolific goal scorer in the league for a long time.
GG: What is your favourite aspect of being a football fan?
KM: Going to games with friends, connecting with players and the squad, travelling to away days with friends, and going on European trips.
GG: Who, in your opinion, is the best footballer you've seen play at Bohemian Ground, and why?
KM: The answer to this question will vary depending on who you ask and their age. Brian Murphy, the goalkeeper, is the best player I've seen at Dalymount Park. He was my favourite player as a kid, and he was a fantastic goalkeeper, one of the best in the league during his prime.
GG: Finally, please tell us why people should visit Bohemian.
KM: It's a one-of-a-kind football experience.
Nothing beats going to a Bohs game on a Friday night, with its unique stands, condemned terraces, new stands, and amazing local history.
Matchday: Bohemian 2-3 St Patrick's Athletic
Well, we can't start talking about Bohemians without taking about how welcoming everybody was. We actually went to look around Dalymount Park the day before the game, and we were met by a man called Jimmy O'Connor who kindly let us in to have a look. He then gave us a tour of the inside of the ground, giving us a history of the club, and talking about valued members of the Bohemian team, including a gentleman named 'Mono' who sadly passed away a few months prior. The tour was greatly appreciated and gave us memories that we will talk about for years to come, so thank you Jimmy!
We arrived at the ground quite late by our standards, but we had a pre match pint of Guinness in the Bohemian Bar. One thing I will say is that the Guinness in that bar was a lot nicer than the stuff they gave us at the storehouse a few days prior, so bonus points there. It was here where we met up with fellow football fanatics Dale and Jase.
We headed into the ground at about 7:15. The ticketing system was relatively simple. We literally bought the tickets online then had to print them off ourselves. It appears that many struggled to get tickets for this game, so we are very grateful for this opportunity.
We were hoping to get something to eat at the game, and unfortunately we were a bit dissappointed. One thing that we like is to have a menu to look at, so that we can make the decision while we are queueing. This would have sped up the queue, which is my second complaint, the service was incredibly slow. Thirdly, and somewhat harshly I will admit, why does the food van have pictures of waffles on it when it doesn't serve waffles?
The atmosphere was incredible. Both sets of fans were loud and pumped for the game. They kept it up for the entirety of the game and every single one of them was amazing. For a ground that was only half full, the atmosphere was amazing.
The stadium is the hardest bit to rate, mainly because I really liked it. I really loved all the art and the character that the ground has. I have to admit, after our visit to Sh****** R****** on Monday, I left their ground feeling disappointed because their ground had no character, and it felt a bit soulless. Bohemian was the exact opposite, you can tell that it's had a lot of history take place within it. This is why it is so difficult, because half the ground is currently condemned. I am aware that the plan is to build a new stand or two, which has already started. However, I have to judge it on what I currently see, and half of it just isn't fit for purpose, which is why I've marked it down.
Teamsheet
Bohemian
Manager: Declan Devine
James Talbot
Jay Benn
Grant Horton
Kacper Radkowski
Paddy Kirk
Keith Buckley (c)
Jordan Flores 🔴
Adam McDonnell ⚽️
Declan McDaid
Dylan Connolly
Jonny Afolabi
Substitutes
Luke Dennison
Krystian Nowak
James McManus
James Clarke
John O'Sullivan
Drew Baker
Dean Williams ⚽️
Kris Twardek
St Patrick's Athletic
Manager: Tim Clancy
Dean Lyness
Sam Curtis
Anthony Breslin (c)
Noah Lewis
Jay McGrath
Jamie Lennon
Chris Forrester
Adam Murphy
Jason McLelland ⚽️
Mark Doyle ⚽️
Eoin Doyle ⚽️
Substitutes
David Odumosu
Axel Sjoberg
Thijs Timmermans
Vladislav Kreida
Ben McCormack
Serge Atakayi
Tommy Lonergan 🔴
Conor Carty
Mason Melia
It was a strong start by Bohemians on a spring Friday night. After a pair of Dean Lyness saves from Flores and Dylan Connolly, Bohs early pressure paid off in the 14th minute when McDonnell volleyed into the bottom corner from beyond the box after plucking Jonathan Afolabi's blocked effort from the sky.
Chris Forrester thought to have equalised after his near post corner eluded James Talbot, but Eoin Doyle got a touch on the ball on its way in.
Breslin blasted in a wicked ball on a sixpence for McClelland's second goal in four starts.On the half-hour mark, Mark Doyle scored off a rebound after Talbot had made a fantastic save from Eoin Doyle.
A frantic game that could have ended with any score.Doyle missed a sitter, but Bohs wasted their reprieve, and Flores was issued a red card before the break.
After a lung-busting run, James Clarke found Williams, who finished beautifully for his second goal in as many outings.
Seconds later, Lyness stood firm to deny Connolly an unexpected equaliser, before Eoin Doyle nearly ruined the beautiful conclusion by flashing a shot narrowly wide with twenty seconds remaining.
St Patrick's Athletic were in command and held off a late burst of Bohs pressure to continue their comeback.
Scores On The Doors
Atmosphere: 8/10
Food and Drink: 6.5/10
Stadium: 6/10
Welcome: 10/10
Overall Experience: 9/10
GG
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