Bohemian FC is the oldest football team in Ireland. It started in September 1890 and was one of the instigators of what is now known as the Eircomloi League of Ireland.
It has the unique attribute of being the only team that never left the top division of the League. Only one other team, Shelbourne, has been in the League since its inception.
Throughout its history the club has experienced both good and bad times. Perhaps his lowest point was a 34-season run that saw no trophy in the trophy case.
Many fans point to the club’s long fan status as the explanation for these dark times. During this period, Bohemian FC successfully brought many new players into the game, but when the opportunity for a professional caretaker presented itself, many of these aspiring footballers left to pursue more lucrative professional careers with Bohemian FC’s competitors.
1969 finally saw the end of this brain drain as the club turned professional and signed their first professional player, a landmark moment in the club’s history.
The following decade would mark a turnaround in Bohemian’s fortunes as they secured league and cup titles and established themselves as a major force in the Irish game.
To date, the Bohemians, as they are affectionately known, have achieved 10 League of Ireland titles and 7 Irish Cup titles, an unprecedented achievement. They have managed to do the “double” on three occasions, the last of which was in 2008.
It has also gone through Europe and has competed in the UEFA Cup and the European Cup Winners’ Cup, although so far with moderate success. However, this should be tempered by the state of the game in Ireland and the resources the club have at their disposal.
In Ireland, football is more often referred to as soccer to avoid confusion with the indigenous sport of Gaelic football, which is an entirely different game and achieves a higher national status.
Bohemian FC’s colors are red and black and have been since 1893. Tradition has been and remains an important part of Bohemian FC’s special history.
Supporters of Dublin’s main club tend to be from North Dublin and attendance ranges from 2,000 to 4,000 fans per game. Fans refer to Bohemian FC as the “Gypsies” or the “Bohs”.
The club is based at Dalymount Park, their home since 1901, however steps have been taken to sell the land to redevelop it and build a new stadium in Harristown. Legal and financial complications are currently delaying this process.
Despite these setbacks, the club’s future looks positive and with success on the pitch continuing to reach ever higher levels, Bohemian FC look poised to dominate Irish football for years to come.
