Ballina Town F.C.

Ballina Town F.C. was founded on 8 December 1961 in Geraghty's public house in Ballina. Originally the club was named St Patrick's F.C. but six months later it adopted the name of its hometown.{{cite web|url=http://www.ballinatownfc.com/contentPage/54316/c_l_u_b_h_i_s_t_o_r_y |title=Ballina Town F.C. – Club History |publisher=www.ballinatownfc.com |access-date=3 April 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160322182103/http://ballinatownfc.com/contentPage/54316/c_l_u_b_h_i_s_t_o_r_y |archive-date=22 March 2016 }} The club subsequently joined the Mayo Association Football League and finished as runners-up in 1966–67. They were runners up again in 1973–74, 1974–75, 1985–86 and 1987–88. In 1976–77 they also won the Connacht Junior Cup.{{cite web|url=http://inform.fai.ie/League/Clubs/portals/MAFL/Media/File/Mayo%20Roll%20Of%20Honour%20League.pdf|title=Mayo Football League Roll Of Honour|publisher=inform.fai.ie|access-date=31 March 2016|date=|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160225104405/http://inform.fai.ie/League/Clubs/portals/MAFL/Media/File/Mayo%20Roll%20Of%20Honour%20League.pdf|archive-date=25 February 2016|url-status=dead}}

Between 1989–90 and 1999–2000 Ballina Town's senior team played in the Connacht Senior League. In 1989–90, while playing in the CSL, Ballina Town became the first club from County Mayo to play in the first round of the FAI Cup. However they were defeated 4–0 by Shelbourne. Ballina Town were also runners-up to Mervue United in the 1992–93 Connacht Senior Cup.{{cite web|url=http://www.ballinatownfc.com/contentPage/54316/c_l_u_b_h_i_s_t_o_r_y |title=Ballina Town F.C. – Club History |publisher=www.ballinatownfc.com |access-date=3 April 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160322182103/http://ballinatownfc.com/contentPage/54316/c_l_u_b_h_i_s_t_o_r_y |archive-date=22 March 2016 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.connacht-sl.netne.net/#eighties/|title=Connacht Senior League 1980s|publisher=www.connacht-sl.netne.net|access-date=22 March 2015|date=}}{{cite web|url=http://www.connacht-sl.netne.net/#nineties/|title=Connacht Senior League 1990s|publisher=www.connacht-sl.netne.net|access-date=22 March 2015|date=}}{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iercuphistfull.html |title=Ireland - FA of Ireland Cup 1921/22-1993/94 |access-date=25 March 2015 |url-status=live |website=RSSSF |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150525004214/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/iercuphistfull.html |archive-date=25 May 2015 }}

After finishing as runners-up in the Mayo Association Football League on five previous occasions, Ballina Town became Mayo champions for the first time in 1988–89. They then had to wait for twenty years before winning a second title in 2009. They retained the title in 2010 and won a fourth title in 2013.{{cite web|url=http://inform.fai.ie/League/Clubs/portals/MAFL/Media/File/Mayo%20Roll%20Of%20Honour%20League.pdf|title=Mayo Football League Roll Of Honour|publisher=inform.fai.ie|access-date=31 March 2016|date=|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160225104405/http://inform.fai.ie/League/Clubs/portals/MAFL/Media/File/Mayo%20Roll%20Of%20Honour%20League.pdf|archive-date=25 February 2016|url-status=dead}}

Ballina Town also field a women's team in the Mayo Women's Football League.{{cite web|url=http://www.con-telegraph.ie/sport/roundup/articles/2015/03/22/4036535-mayo-womens-league-season-gets-ready-for-kickoff/|title=Mayo {{as written|wom|ens [sic]}} league season gets ready for kickoff|publisher=www.con-telegraph.ie|access-date=14 March 2016|date=22 March 2015}} They have also previously played in the FAI Women's Cup.{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/ier-wom08.html|title=Ireland (Women) 2008|publisher=Rsssf|access-date=5 May 2016|date=}}

In 2007 Ballina Town also represented Ireland in a tournament in Italy, playing against teams from the host country as well as Iceland and Ireland. They finished fourth in the six team tournament.{{cite web|title=Sligo girls help Ballina take fourth place in Italy|url=http://www.independent.ie/regionals/sligochampion/sport/soccer/sligo-girls-help-ballina-take-fourth-place-in-italy-27554626.html|publisher=The Sligo Champion|access-date=5 May 2016|date=4 July 2007}} In 2006 {{cite web|title=FAI Umbro Women's Cup – Roll of Honor|url=http://www.fai.ie/domestic/wfai/roll-of-honor|publisher=www.fai.ie|access-date=24 January 2016}} and 2014 Ballina Town won the WFAI Intermediate Cup. In the 2014 final they defeated Douglas Hall 3–1 in the final at Turners Cross.{{cite web|title=Ballina Town win FAI Umbro Women's Intermediate Cup|url=http://www.fai.ie/domestic/news/ballina-town-win-fai-umbro-womens-intermediate-cup|publisher=www.fai.ie|access-date=5 May 2016|date=20 September 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsfile.com/more-images/1409194/|title=Douglas Hall LFC v Ballina Town FC - FAI Women's Intermediate Cup Final Photos|publisher=www.sportsfile.com|access-date=6 May 2016|date=20 September 2014}}{{cite web|title=Brilliant Ballina make history|url=http://www.mayonews.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=20705:brilliant-ballina-make-history&catid=14&Itemid=100008|publisher=www.mayonews.ie|access-date=6 May 2016|date=23 September 2014}}

Ballina Town play their home matches at Belleek Park which consists of two playing pitches and a flood-lit all-weather pitch. The main pitch is known as the Pete Murray Pitch. Thanks mainly to Irish National Lottery funding, work commenced in 2004 on new changing rooms at Belleek Park. This development was used for the first time in February 2006. The clubhouse was officially opened by John Delaney on 21 July 2008. Work commenced on an all-weather facility in Belleek in December 2010 and it was first used in January 2011.{{cite web|url=http://www.ballinatownfc.com/contentPage/54316/c_l_u_b_h_i_s_t_o_r_y |title=Ballina Town F.C. – Club History |publisher=www.ballinatownfc.com |access-date=3 April 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160322182103/http://ballinatownfc.com/contentPage/54316/c_l_u_b_h_i_s_t_o_r_y |archive-date=22 March 2016 }}

;Republic of Ireland women's international

• {{flagicon|Ireland}} Sarah Rowe

;Republic of Ireland youth international

• {{flagicon|Ireland}} David Cawley

• Mayo Association Football League
• Winners: 1988–89, 2009, 2010, 2013: 4
• Runners Up: 1966–67, 1973–74, 1974–75, 1985–86, 1987–88, 2007, 2008: 7
• Connacht Senior Cup
• Runners Up: 1992–93, 2009–10: 2
• Connacht Junior Cup
• Winners: 1976–77: 1
• Runners Up: 1972–73: 1

• WFAI Intermediate Cup
• Winners: 2006, 2014: 2

{{small|Source:{{cite web|url=http://inform.fai.ie/League/Clubs/portals/MAFL/Media/File/Mayo%20Roll%20Of%20Honour%20League.pdf|title=Mayo Football League Roll Of Honour|publisher=inform.fai.ie|access-date=31 March 2016|date=|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160225104405/http://inform.fai.ie/League/Clubs/portals/MAFL/Media/File/Mayo%20Roll%20Of%20Honour%20League.pdf|archive-date=25 February 2016|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=FAI Umbro Women's Cup – Roll of Honor|url=http://www.fai.ie/domestic/wfai/roll-of-honor|publisher=www.fai.ie|access-date=24 January 2016}}{{cite web|title=Ballina Town win FAI Umbro Women's Intermediate Cup|url=http://www.fai.ie/domestic/news/ballina-town-win-fai-umbro-womens-intermediate-cup|publisher=www.fai.ie|access-date=5 May 2016|date=20 September 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://foot.ie/threads/57424-Connaught-Junior-Cup-Past-Finals|title=Connaught Junior Cup Past Finals|publisher=foot.ie|access-date=19 April 2016|date=5 April 2007}}Connacht Sentinel @ [http://www.irishnewsarchive.com Irish Newspaper Archives]Galway City Tribune @ [http://www.irishnewsarchive.com Irish Newspaper Archives]The Connaught Telegraph @ [http://www.irishnewsarchive.com Irish Newspaper Archives]Galway Advertiser [http://archive.advertiser.ie Archives]}}

{{Reflist|2}}

Category:1961 establishments in Ireland

Category:Association football clubs established in 1961

Category:Association football clubs in County Mayo

Town Football Club

Category:Connacht Senior League (association football) clubs

Category:Women's association football clubs in the Republic of Ireland