Dundalk W.F.C.

The first Dundalk ladies team were the only team outside of England to be involved with the establishment of the Women's Football Association (WFA) as a founding member. It is unclear exactly how the Dundalk ladies team came to be involved with the WFA; Patricia Gregory, a WFA founder member, surmised they may have become involved through an advertisement in the paper for a challenge match.{{Cite web|last=Fennessy|first=Paul|title=The Irish team who were part of a women's football revolution in England|url=https://www.the42.ie/dundalk-wfa-helena-byrne-4875972-Nov2019/|access-date=2020-10-23|website=The42|language=en}}

The first Dundalk ladies team represented Ireland against England (Corinthian Nomads) in an international on 10 May 1970, which took place at the Prestatyn Raceway, in North Wales.{{Cite web|last=Byrne|first=Helena|date=2020-05-08|title=The Manchester team that broke boundaries for women's football|url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/manchester-team-broke-boundaries-womens-18216561|access-date=2020-10-23|website=Manchester Evening News|language=en}} The game was won by the Corinthians 7–1, they played on the Raceway as women's football was still banned from association-affiliated grounds in Wales.{{Cite news|last=Wrack|first=Suzanne|date=2020-05-12|title='We were shocked, stunned': 50 years since Dundalk v Corinthians Nomads|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/may/12/we-were-shocked-stunned-50-years-since-dundalk-v-corinthians-nomads|access-date=2020-10-23|issn=0261-3077}} 4,000 people attended the game, the Welsh officials were so impressed by the Dundalk side they were invited back to play Wales at Prestatyn in June the same year.{{Cite journal|date=15 May 1970|title=Ladies beaten but they impressed|journal=Drogheda Argus and Leinster Journal|pages=14|via=The British Newspaper Archive}} In 1973 when the FAI/WFAI first organised a women's national league known as the Ladies League of Ireland, Dundalk were among its twelve founder members. Like Dundalk, other founder members included several teams associated with clubs in the men's League of Ireland. These included Finn Harps, Cork Celtic, Limerick and Sligo Rovers.{{cite news|title=League of Ireland for Kilkenny|newspaper=Kilkenny People|date=16 February 1973|page=15}}

In December 2005 Dundalk City L.F.C. won the FAI Women's Cup{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/irish/2005/1204/198916-women/|title=Dundalk take women's trophy|publisher=www.rte.ie|access-date=14 February 2016|date=14 June 2007}}{{cite web|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/hoey-pounces-to-seal-victory-1.1172470|title=Hoey pounces to seal victory|publisher=www.irishtimes.com|access-date=14 February 2016|date=5 December 2005}} and as a result qualified for the 2006–07 UEFA Women's Cup. However, in 2006 a split developed within Dundalk City over a plan for the club to fully merge with Dundalk F.C. This effectively saw the emergence of two separate women's teams. Dundalk City L.F.C. was re-established as an independent club while Dundalk W.F.C. became affiliated with the League of Ireland club. Following complications that resulted from the split, it was Dundalk W.F.C. that went on to represent the Republic of Ireland in the UEFA Women's Cup.{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.ie/regionals/argus/sport/soccer/serious-split-sees-cup-winners-go-it-alone-26904693.html|title=Serious split sees cup winners go it alone|publisher=www.independent.ie|access-date=15 February 2016|date=8 March 2006}}{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.ie/regionals/argus/sport/soccer/no-merger-of-teams-for-big-european-quest-26905906.html|title=No merger of teams for big European quest|publisher=www.independent.ie|access-date=15 February 2016|date=12 July 2006}}{{cite web|url=http://www.orielweb.com/dundalktalk/viewtopic.php?t=3521|title=Who Should Get the Women's UEFA Cup Place?|publisher=www.orielweb.com|access-date=14 February 2016|date=12 April 2006}} The two rival clubs both subsequently entered teams in the FAI Women's Cup {{cite web|url=http://www.fai.ie/domestic/news/fixtures-and-results-2008-1|title=2008 FAI Women's Cup|publisher=www.fai.ie|access-date=14 February 2016|date=2008}} and the Dublin Women's Soccer League.{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/ier-wom08.html|title=Ireland (Women) 2008|website=RSSSF|access-date=16 February 2016}}

Dundalk W.F.C. competed in Group 1 of the 2006–07 UEFA Women's Cup.

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{{fs player| no= 1 | nat=IRL | pos=GK | name= Janine Pepper}}

{{fs player| no= | nat=IRL | pos= | name= Aoife Kelly}}

{{fs player| no= | nat=IRL | pos= | name= Sharon Drumcoole}}

{{fs player| no= | nat=IRL | pos= | name= Mairead Nixon}}

{{fs player| no= | nat=IRL | pos= | name= Claire Mulholland }}

{{fs player| no= | nat=IRL | pos= | name= Laura English }}

{{fs mid}}

{{fs player| no= | nat=IRL | pos= | name= Sonia Hoey }}

{{fs player| no= | nat=IRL | pos= | name= Claire Brennan }}

{{fs player| no= | nat=IRL | pos= | name= Cadimhe Hearty }}

{{fs player| no= | nat=IRL | pos= | name= Celine Slyie }}

{{fs player| no= | nat=IRL | pos= | name= Keely Clayden }}

{{fs end}}

{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/nationalassociations/teams/92375--dundalk/|title=Dundalk WFC (Women)|publisher=UEFA|access-date=16 February 2016}}

{{:2006–07 UEFA Women's Cup|transcludesection=Group 1|showteam=DUN}}

{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/womenschampionsleague/history/season=2006/round=2346/group=2665/index.html|title=Group A1|publisher=UEFA|access-date=17 February 2016}}{{dead link|date=March 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

• {{flagicon|Ireland}} Gillian McDonnell
• {{flagicon|Ireland}} Paula Brennan (née Gorham) played eleven times for Ireland.{{Cite web|title=Paula's surprise event 'caps it all'|url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/argus/news/paulas-surprise-event-caps-it-all-35338265.html|access-date=2020-10-23|website=independent|language=en}}

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{{Dundalk F.C.}}

Category:Association football clubs in County Louth

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

Category:Dublin Women's Soccer League teams

Category:Dundalk F.C.