TD 1
After about 22 minutes, Irish right-back Joe Kinn
ear picks up the ball just inside the opposition half and swings a cross into the box. The ball sails over the opposing centre-back and is met by striker Don Givens who expertly finds the bottom right-hand corner of the goal with his header. The Irish fans erupt with joy. The year is 1974 and Ireland have just gone one-nil up against former World Cup semi-finalists, USSR in a 1976 European Championships qualifying match. The match finishes three-nil to Ireland after Givens scores a hat-trick and a debuting Liam Brady gains fan adoration. It is estimated that more than 35,000 fans swarmed to watch the Irish beat the once dominant USSR on that cold October afternoon in Dalymount Park, the historical home of Irish football. Since its opening in 1901, Dalymount has been the home of Bohemian FC, one of the oldest running clubs in the country having been established in September 1890. One of the founding members of the League of Ireland in 1921, Bohemian FC, or ‘Bohs’, have won the Premier Division 11 times, FAI Cup seven times and are one of only two teams that have not been relegated from the top-tier of Irish football – feats all accomplished on the hallowed turf of Dalymount Park. Only about a mile away from Dalymount and across the Royal Canal, Tolka Park and Shelbourne FC lie in wait. Shelbourne, like Bohs, have a storied past of hoisting league and cup trophies ever since their inception in 1895. Unlike Bohemians, however, the Drumcondra-based club currently play their football in League of Ireland’s First Division, having been relegated after the 2013 season. Soon Shelbourne and Bohemians will share a stadium. This move would have seemed like sacrilege only a few years ago but as both stadiums fall into disrepair and both clubs fight financial uncertainty, the decision has been made to have one ground host both teams. After the 2020 season, Dalymount will be demolished and the two arch rivals will share Tolka Park until the new Dalymount is primed and ready. Then, both clubs will reside in Dalymount, leaving the land which Tolka lies on to be turned into social housing. Players and executives will be heard from most about the move: the positives and the negatives, the logistics and the dynamics. The people in the background, however, the people that help make these clubs tick, are the people that will arguably, be most affected by the move. So, this is their experience, these are their words on what makes their club special and what’s in store for two of Ireland’s biggest football clubs. 23