Robbie Gaffney
{{Short description|Irish footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=March 2017}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Robbie Gaffney
| fullname =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1957|12|17|df=y}}
| birth_place = Dublin, Ireland
| position = Winger
| youthyears1 = –1976
| youthclubs1 = Rosemount Boys
| years1 = 1976–1983
| years2 = 1983–1986
| years3 = 1986–1988
| years4 = 1988–1991
| years5 = 1991–1992
| clubs1 = Shamrock Rovers
| clubs2 = University College Dublin
| clubs3 = Shelbourne
| clubs4 = St Patrick's Athletic
| clubs5 = Kilkenny City
| caps1 = 149
| caps2 = 55
| caps3 = 47
| caps4 = ?
| caps5 = 5
| goals1 = 12
| goals2 = 6
| goals3 = 7
| goals4 = ?
| goals5 = 0
| nationalyears1 = 1979
| nationalteam1 = Republic of Ireland U21
| nationalcaps1 = 1
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 1979
| nationalteam2 = League of Ireland XI
| nationalcaps2 = 1
| nationalgoals2 = 0
}}
Robbie Gaffney (born 17 December 1957) is an Irish former footballer.
Career
He signed for Shamrock Rovers under Seán Thomas at the tail end of the 1975/76 season. He made his debut on the 5th of September in a FAI League Cup tie against Home Farm and his first goal came in the next game at Oriel Park. He made his League of Ireland debut for Shamrock Rovers at Flower Lodge against Albert Rovers on 5 October 1976. He won the League of Ireland Cup and made 4 appearances in European competition while at Glenmalure Park. He was an unused substitute in the 1978 FAI Cup Final.
In April 1979 Gaffney played for the League of Ireland XI against Italian League B [http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1979/0416/Pg004.html#Ar00406:4857834C97964C07BE4E77D047CB2E4B0B3C47276C4AA77F42A78346A7964D67B15027C44777BE49F7D042C91245992042CB2F449B3D44CB2F45BB3D].
On 12 September 1979, he played for Republic of Ireland U21 against Poland.
That season he was the first recipient of the Shamrock Rovers Player of the Year award Shamrock Rovers F.C.#Player of the Year
In May 1980 Gaffney guested for Waterford United on a tour of the US http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1980/0509/Pg003.html#Ar00311:42660044E61244E60045161245760045D6123DB600404612 .
He signed for University College Dublin in August 1983 {{cite news |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1983/0825/Pg004.html#Ar00405:203A5A22AA6D152A67181A7A |date=1983-08-25 |issn=0791-5144 |location=Dublin |language=en-ie |title=Register |access-date=27 August 2023 |url-access=subscription |via=The Irish Times}}
He won the FAI Cup in a shock win over his previous club in May 1984 and played in the UEFA Cup Winners Cup against Everton. After a spell at Shelbourne he joined Pats in August 1988 http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1988/0813/Pg013.html#Ar01305 . He played in both legs of Pats' 1988-89 UEFA Cup ties against Hearts. Under Brian Kerr he won the League Championship in 1990 as well as playing in the following season's European Cup.
At the 2006 Shamrock Rovers Player of the Year award Robbie was inducted into the Rovers Hall of Fame [https://web.archive.org/web/20080530042434/http://www.shamrockrovers.ie/newsarchive.php]
A lifelong fan and club member of Shamrock Rovers F.C., he has maintained his ties with the club attending games on a weekly basis.
Sources
{{reflist}}
- {{cite book|title=The Hoops|author1=Paul Doolan|author2=Robert Goggins|ISBN=0-7171-2121-6}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gaffney, Robbie}}
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Shamrock Rovers F.C. players
Category:University College Dublin A.F.C. players
Category:Shelbourne F.C. players
Category:St Patrick's Athletic F.C. players
Category:Kilkenny City A.F.C. players
Category:League of Ireland players
Category:League of Ireland XI players
Category:Republic of Ireland men's under-21 international footballers
Category:Republic of Ireland men's association footballers