St James's Gate F.C.

Did You Know?

• Katie Taylor, an Irish, European, World and Olympic boxing champion, played for St James's Gate as a women's international.
• The club originally played at Bellevue Lodge by the Grand Canal near Inchicore, a venue also used by Olympia.
• In July 2022 the club narrowly survived folding due to a public appeal.

History

St. James's Gate Football Club was founded in 1902 for the workers of the Guinness brewery at St. James's Gate, with medical officer John Lumsden as the prime mover. Nicknamed "the Gate", the club's first major trophies came in 1909–10, when they won both the Leinster Senior League title and the Irish Intermediate Cup. In 1919–20, a team including Charlie Dowdall, Paddy Duncan and Ernie MacKay won four trophies: the Leinster Senior League, the Irish Intermediate Cup, the Leinster Senior Cup and the LFA Metropolitan Cup.

In 1921–22, St James's Gate became a founder member of the League of Ireland alongside seven other clubs that had played in the Leinster Senior League the previous season. In their debut season they won a treble of the inaugural league title, the 1921–22 FAI Cup and the 1921–22 Leinster Senior Cup. After winning a second league title in 1939–40, they finished last in 1943–44 and failed to gain re-election. Reasons suggested included the club's intention to revert to amateur status and other clubs' dissatisfaction that Guinness Athletic Union members did not pay into home matches.

In 1990–91 Gate joined the League of Ireland First Division, replacing Newcastlewest. A consortium took over the club in 1995, but before the 1996–97 season they pulled out of the league due to financial difficulties and were replaced by St. Francis. In July 2012 the club hosted a tournament to celebrate their 110th anniversary.

Notable former players

On 28 May 1924, Ireland made their Olympic debut against Bulgaria, and three St James's Gate players—Paddy Duncan, Michael Farrell, and Ernie MacKay—were in the squad. Paddy O'Reilly, who later joined the club, also featured. Duncan netted the Republic of Ireland's first international goal. Joe O'Reilly earned 20 caps, the most for Ireland before World War II. At least five Gate players also turned out for Irish Football Association–selected sides, including Johnny Carey at senior level. Seven times a Gate player led the League of Ireland in goals. Willie Byrne scored six in a 7–1 win over Sligo Rovers on 30 March 1930. Paddy Bradshaw remains the club's all-time top league scorer with 68 goals.