Larne F.C.

Larne Football Club is a professional Northern Irish football club based in Larne, County Antrim that play in the NIFL Premiership.

Larne
Full nameLarne Football Club
Founded1889
GroundInver Park, Larne
County Antrim
Capacity2,500
OwnerKenny Bruce
ChairmanGareth Clements
ManagerTiernan Lynch
LeagueNIFL Premiership
2019–206th
WebsiteClub website

History

The club was founded in 1889 and plays its home matches at Inver Park. The club's colours are red and white, and the club's greatest rivals are Ballyclare Comrades and Carrick Rangers; their matches are known as "The East Antrim Derby". From 1972 until 2008, the club had senior status, but reverted to intermediate status when it failed to gain a place in the new IFA Premiership. The club regained senior status in 2016, when the NIFL Championship became the second tier of senior football for the 2016–17 season.

They have notably been runners-up of the Irish Cup on five occasions (1928, 1935, 1987, 1989 and 2005) without winning - a record in the competition for the most final appearances without ever winning the Cup. They have also been runners-up of the League Cup twice (1991–92 and 2003–04) without winning - a joint-record in the competition for the most final appearances without ever winning the Cup.[1][2]

After being taken over by Purplebricks co-founder Kenny Bruce in October 2018,[3] the club lifted the 2018–19 NIFL Championship title. This was the club's first ever senior tier league title, their first league title since an intermediate title win in 1972, and the first senior honour since lifting the Ulster Cup in 1988. This secured a return to the top flight for the first time since suffering relegation to the second tier in the 2007–08 season after failing to meet the criteria for the new IFA Premiership.

They also field a women's team, whose colours are red & white (home) and purple & black (away). Formed by a small committee of parents and friends of the Larne Colts in November 2004, they made history by being the first ladies' team to play at Windsor Park as part of the half-time entertainment during the Irish Cup final in May 2005. The ladies also have a junior team for ages 8–14. The Senior Ladies' team has recently been reincorporated back into the club. In their inaugural season (2018), they finished the season as the unbeaten North 2 League Champions, and also as beaten finalists in the North 2 League Cup.

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
1 GK  NIR Conor Devlin
3 DF  IRL Graham Kelly
4 MF  NIR Albert Watson (vice-captain)
6 MF  SCO John Herron
7 MF  NGA Fuad Sule
8 MF  ENG Mark Randall
10 FW  IRL Ronan Hale
10 FW  IRL David McDaid
11 FW  NIR Martin Donnelly
15 DF  ENG Ben Tilney
No. Pos. Nation Player
16 MF  IRL Lee Lynch
17 MF  NIR Andrew Mitchell
19 MF  NIR Conor McKendry
21 GK  NIR Conor Mitchell
23 DF  NIR Tomás Cosgrove
24 MF  NIR Jeff Hughes (captain)
25 DF  NIR Dean Jarvis
27 FW  NIR Johnny McMurray
TBA DF  NIR Joshua Robinson

Non-playing staff
Position Staff
ManagerTiernan Lynch
Assistant ManagerSeamus Lynch
First Team CoachTim McCann
Goalkeeping CoachAlan Blayney
Fitness Coach/PhysiotherapistMichael O'Boyle
PhysiotherapistJoe Crawford
Kit ManagerMartin Bird
Club DoctorNiall Perry
Entertainment ManagerLewis Perry McAdam
Performance AnalystAndrew Whiteside
General ManagerNiall Curneen
Marketing ManagerChristopher Liddle

Honours

Senior honours

Intermediate honours

† Won by Larne Olympic (reserve team)

Junior honours
  • Irish Junior Cup: 1
    • 1900–01
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References
  1. "Northern Ireland - List of League Cup Finals". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. rsssf.com. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
  2. "Northern Ireland Cup Finals". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. rsssf.com. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
  3. Purplebricks co-founder wants to bring 'Champions League music' to Larne BBC Sport. 23 October 2018. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
  4. Brodie, Malcolm. Belfast Telegraph Northern Ireland Soccer Yearbook 1999/2000. p. 11
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