Knockbreda F.C.

Knockbreda
Full nameKnockbreda Football Club
Nickname(s)Breda
Founded1947
GroundBreda Park
ChairmanDavid Cain
ManagerNeil McCrum
LeagueNIFL Premier Intermediate League
2023–24NIFL Championship, 12th of 12 (relegated)
Current season

Knockbreda Football Club (formerly Knockbreda Parish) is an intermediate-level, Northern Irish football club who are due to play in the NIFL Premier Intermediate League in the 2024–25 season, following relegation from the NIFL Championship.[1] They hail from Belfast and play their home matches at Breda Park, on the Upper Braniel Road located in the east of the city. The club was formed after the Second World War, c. 1947.[2] and played in the Irish Churches' League before joining the Northern Amateur Football League in 1989.[2] Intermediate status was achieved on promotion to Division 1B in 1997.[2] In 2009, the club was admitted to the IFA Championship

History

Knockbreda Football Club was formed in 1947. Originally Knockbreda Parish, they played their football for 42 years in the Irish Churches' League, before joining the Northern Amateur Football League in 1989. Starting in Division 2C, ‘Breda won promotion of 2A in the first three seasons.

Off the field, the committee realised they would have to make some major changes in order to become an Intermediate Club. In 1996, they acquired the current facilities at Upper Braniel, and after winning 2A, were promoted to 1B that same season. Promotion to 1A soon followed, and the club enjoyed a three-year stint at that level, before joining the Premier Division in 2000. After relegation in 2007, the club spent a year in 1A before promotion to the re-vamped IFA Championship 2 in 2009. During the spell in the NIAL, the club won the Clarence Cup twice, the Border Cup once, but by far the greatest success was the WKD Irish Intermediate Cup in 2009. The early driving force behind the club was one of its founders, Fred Duke who died in 2010. For the last two decades the club's main driving force, beginning in the Churches' League right up the IFA Championship, has been one of the current directors and Secretary, Colin Russell.

After four years in Championship 2, in 2012–13 the club won promotion to Championship 1 for the first time.

The club for a while was well known for "Beau" a Labrador dog who would act as "Balldog" at home games.[3]

In the 2022–23 season, despite finishing bottom of the NIFL Championship, the club would be spared automatic relegation due to Warrenpoint Towns enforced relegation. The club would defeat Ballymacash Rangers 4–2 over two legs in the promotion/relegation play off to retain their Championship status.[4]

The following season, the club would be relegated in April 2024 following a defeat to Ballyclare Comrades, ending Bredas 11-year stay in the second tier, having spent much of the season rooted to the foot of the table.[1]

Current squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
— GK Northern Ireland NIR Ryan Dalzell
— FW Northern Ireland NIR Francis Nolan
— MF Northern Ireland NIR Peter McDermott
— MF Northern Ireland NIR Callum McVeigh
— DF Northern Ireland NIR Kyle Anderson
— MF Northern Ireland NIR Ashton McDermott (Captain)
— DF Northern Ireland NIR Elliott McKim
— MF Northern Ireland NIR Lucas Morrison
— FW Northern Ireland NIR Jay Patterson
— FW Benin BEN Élie Akobeto
No. Pos. Nation Player
— MF Northern Ireland NIR Johnny Newell
— DF Northern Ireland NIR Nathan Clarke
— DF Northern Ireland NIR Cormac Lawlor
— MF Northern Ireland NIR Daniel Smith
— FW Northern Ireland NIR Jay Thompson
— MF Northern Ireland NIR Darren Smyth
— FW Northern Ireland NIR Louis Blackstock
— DF Northern Ireland NIR Conor Quinn
— DF Northern Ireland NIR Ross Murphy
— MF Northern Ireland NIR Bobby Higgins

Honours

Intermediate honours

54°34′01″N 5°51′13″W / 54.566858°N 5.853529°W / 54.566858; -5.853529

References

  1. ^ a b "Ballyclare Comrades 4-0 Knockbreda". NIFL Website. 19 April 2024. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
  2. ^ a b c H. Johnstone & G. Hamilton (n.d.) A Memorable Milestone: 75 Years of the Northern Amateur Football League, p. 205
  3. ^ "Meet Beau the balldog Knockbreda FC". Irish FA. 4 May 2021. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  4. ^ "Knockbreda retain Championship status". NIFL Website. 3 June 2023. Retrieved 28 July 2023.