Shamrock Rovers are the most successful club in the history of Irish football. The League of Ireland Premier Division side have a rich history in the game that stretches back well over a century.
Backed by a passionate fanbase, Shamrock Rovers are thriving behind the scenes and on the pitch, having become a familiar name in recent UEFA competitions.
The club’s current standing is stronger than ever, built on their wonderful, silverware-laden history. As principal shirt sponsors, 888 are delighted to lend support to Rovers, their fans and their great community.
888 Supports The Hoops
A leader in football betting odds, 888 became the official sponsor of Shamrock Rovers in 2021. As the Principal Sponsor of the club, the famous 888 logo can be seen on team shirts and in advertising around the Tallaght Stadium in Dublin.
888 is one of the world’s foremost online betting companies with fantastic live betting services. For spread betting in Ireland, football fans will find exciting wagering opportunities.
The support of Shamrock Rovers by 888 is a big commitment to the local Dublin market and the local community.
Kieran Spellman, VP – Head of 888sport stated at the time of the deal: “we are very much looking forward to playing our part in supporting our local team.”
The History Of Shamrock Rovers
The actual origin date of Shamrock Rovers has gone back and forth between 1899 and 1901.
For a long time, the date 1899 was emblazoned on the gates at the club’s former home Glenmalure Park. But many believed that it should be 1901 and the latter date stuck in some circles.
But new evidence led the club to go back to 1899 and to name a suite at the new Tallaght Stadium after that year.
The club started in the southside suburb of Ringsend, and that initial location lends itself to the club’s name. The old Rovers HQ was situated on Shamrock Avenue.
Part owners of Shamrock Rovers FC are the Shamrock Rovers Members Club, which boasts more than 400 members.
Membership is available to anyone, and it is the modern incarnation of the 400 Club consortium, which back in 2005 helped secure the future of the club.
After fluttering around the lower league scene in Ireland, sometimes withdrawing from action and even disbanding, Shamrock Rovers kept bouncing back.
In 1921, at the time a Leinster Senior League team, Rovers reached the final of the first-ever FAI Cup, losing there to St James’s Gate.
From there it was a move up to the League of Ireland for the Dublin club.
The Big Breakthrough
There was a remarkable introduction for Shamrock Rovers in the League of Ireland.
They made their debut in the 1922/23 season as part of an expansion of the top flight. Six new clubs were invited to join the existing six that formed the League of Ireland.
Stunningly, newcomers Shamrock Rovers won the league title at the very first attempt. They claimed the title by a five-point margin over Shelbourne, another club who were making their debut that season.
Shamrock Rovers lost only one of their 22-matches in the campaign, averaging more than three goals per fixture.
Of their 77 goals tallied for the season, 27 of them were scored by one of their great influential characters from history, Bob Fullam. The former Leeds player enjoyed tremendous success during his time with Rovers, which spanned four years.
That early success laid the foundations for Shamrock Rovers, as they would go on to break records.
Ten Titles Up For Rovers
When Shamrock Rovers claimed the 1963-64 League of Ireland title, it quickly brought up their tenth success in the top flight. Back-to-back titles in 2020 and 2021 saw them edge closer to doubling their tally of domestic league titles.
But along the way, there was also tremendous success for Shamrock Rovers in the FAI Cup. Throughout the 1960s they won a remarkable six cups on the spin.
Because of all the silverware that has flooded the Dublin club’s trophy cabinets, Shamrock Rovers have firmly established themselves as the most successful club in the country.
Notable Shamrock Rovers Players
-
Paddy Coad
-
Paddy Ambrose
-
Bob Fullam
-
Derek Treacy
-
Gary Twigg
Reaching Tallaght Stadium
There have been periods of history in which Shamrock Rovers were without a permanent home.
After the sale of Glenmalure Park, which fans had protested the sale of, Rovers bounced around at venues including Tolka Park to the RDS in Ballsbridge and the Morton Stadium.
In 2000 the ground was broken on a new site in Dublin, promising to usher in an exciting new era for the club.
But it took a long time before Shamrock Rovers would be able to call the new Tallaght Stadium home. By 2005 progress had not been made. It looked as if the realisation of their new home wouldn’t happen at all.
A long period of legal wrangling rattled on. Exhausting judicial battles were fought out before a ruling came about in 2008 that the continuation of the Tallaght Stadium build could happen.
In March 2009 and after more than two decades without a home of their own, Shamrock Rovers kicked off at the Tallaght Stadium. It was a huge sense of relief.
The following season after moving in, Shamrock Rovers would win their 17th league title. It was their first such success since 1994. Things were now settled behind the scenes and the Hoops could kick back into gear.
The main stand at the Tallaght Stadium was the first structure to be built and houses the home support.
On the opposite side of the pitch there’s a place for the visiting fans and in 2019 further development of the Stadium pushed the capacity up to 8000.
Tallaght Stadium is already the biggest ground in Irish football. A scheduled North Stand to complete the four sides of the arena is set to push the capacity up to 10,000.
The Glenmalure Suite at the stadium is a nod towards their history and the years that they spent at their former venue.
It was their home between 1926 and 1987 and one that Shamrock Rovers fans at the time desperately didn’t want to see go. But now their fans can cheer Rovers on in their wonderful new modern home.
European Adventures
There have been many great European adventures that Shamrock Rovers have had down the years. Their first foray into UEFA competition came in 1957 when the Irish champions made their way into the European Cup for the first time.
It was a historic, trailblazing season by Shamrock Rovers in that regard. It was the first time in the competition that teams from the Republic of Ireland had been given entry by UEFA.
The Hoops made their debut in the Preliminary Round of the European Cup and received an amazing tie against Manchester United.
The first leg was hosted at Dalymount Park in Dublin and the visiting Red Devils proved too strong for Shamrock Rovers, running out 6-0 winners.
The second leg back at Old Trafford was a much closer affair. After falling 2-0 behind in the match, Shamrock Rovers admirably clawed their way back into the game, ending up losing 3-2.
After five more seasons in Europe split between the European Cup, Inter-Cities Fairs Cup and the European Cup Winners’ Cup, Shamrock Rovers would get their first taste of success in European action.
In the First Round of the 1966-67 European Cup Winners’ Cup, they hammered Spora Luxembourg 8-2 on aggregate.
The reward for Shamrock Rovers was a Second Round tie against German powerhouses Bayern Munich.
The tie was a lot tighter than it looked like it was going to be on paper. Bayern Munich narrowly won the tie 4-3 on aggregate, after being held to a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Dublin.
Snapshot of Shamrock Rovers
-
Ireland’s most successful club
-
Shamrock Rovers were the first Irish team to play in Europe
-
In 2011 Rovers became the first Irish team to make the Europa League Group Stages
-
More Republic of Ireland players have come from Shamrock Rovers than any other club
-
The Hoops are the all-time leading record holder for League of Ireland titles
-
Shamrock Rovers hold the record for the most FAI Cup victories
The Hoops Go Toe To Toe With Europe’s Biggest
There have been some wonderful European ties that Shamrock Rovers have played.
They have gone up against some of the biggest teams on the continent, like the aforementioned Manchester United and Bayern Munich. It’s been a wonderful experience for their dedicated fans.
Shamrock Rovers have been in duels with the likes of Valencia, Schalke, Celtic, Juventus, Tottenham Hotspur and AC Milan.
The 2011/12 season was particularly special for the Hoops. Long-standing head coach Stephen Bradley led them into new territory in modern European football.
Following a qualification Play-Off victory over Partizan Belgrade, Shamrock Rovers landed in the Group Stage of the UEFA Europa League.
It was the deepest that they had ever been in a UEFA Competition. It gave the fans a taste of something new, something special.
Furthermore, it was also a massive boost to the ambition of the club, despite them going as underdogs in football betting to make qualification to the knockout stages.
The Hoops would lose all six matches in the group stage against Rubin Kazan, Tottenham Hotspur and PAOK, but it was a valuable experience nonetheless. It gave a glimpse of what more was needed to kick on.
Consistent European Bids
Given their high status in Ireland, Shamrock Rovers have been a familiar face in the qualification rounds of the Europa League, Champions League and the newer UEFA Europa Conference League.
That consistency, which in turn comes from their strong, successful domestic form, will only create further chances for the club down the line. It’s a great bedrock for further progress on the European front.
Shamrock Rovers have done brilliantly to bring top European football to their fans, packing out the Tallaght Stadium with extra fixtures on top of their domestic league and cup campaigns.
The Fantastic Fan Base Of Shamrock Rovers
Fans play a part in the growth of any club. The backing of passionate supporters willing to flood through the turnstiles is crucial to the existence of all clubs.
Shamrock Rovers have a tremendous fan base, largely from the southside of Dublin because of the origins of the club.
But naturally, given the big appeal of the club, members come from further afield from that.
Many make the journey from locations across the country to attend matches. Some supporter clubs are even dedicated to following Shamrock Rovers when they play away from home.
Shamrock Rovers are proudly Irish, from the name of the club, the club’s green colours and the shamrock on their club crest.
Fans not only at the Tallaght Stadium but following the club on away days, proudly fly flags and banners that show their proud Irish identity.
As for rivalries, the biggest that Shamrock Rovers have is against St Patrick’s Athletic with it being a local derby. The other long-standing derby duel that Shamrock Rovers have is against their old rivals Shelbourne.
Shamrock Rovers Youth
The future of Shamrock Rovers doesn’t just rest in the hands of the men’s first team and transfer business there.
There is a thriving youth scene at the club as well. It is a massive set-up boasting far-reaching arms, pulling together some of the brightest young talents around.
There are more than 200 youth players at Shamrock Rovers including an Under 17 women’s team. It is such a great community resource, giving opportunities to youngsters. It is the first professional youth academy in the country.
The range of youth teams at Shamrock Rovers goes from the Under-8 right through to the Shamrock Rovers II side, their reserves. With scholarships available to help with education, the club gives so much back to the local community.
888, who have offices not too far from Tallaght Stadium, are now part of that local investment through the backing of Shamrock Rovers. It’s a great club to be on board with.
There’s the mouth-watering prospect of more domestic titles to extend their records in the League of Ireland Premier Division and FAI Cup, plus plenty more big European nights to come. Good times lie ahead in Dublin.
*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*
FIRST PUBLISHED: 25th October 2022
