Club History

Arranmore United was formed in August 1987. The original founders were Hugh Rodgers, Patsy McGlanaghey, Tony Boyle (Sailor), Jerry Early, Conal Kavanagh and Anthon Gallagher (R.I.P.). Under the leadership of Hugh, Arranmore soon became one of he most feared teams in Donegal. Young players, such as: Seamus Boyle, Shaun and Michael Kavanagh and Peter Dillon, added to more experienced players like: Patsy, Tony, Jerry, Danny Bonner and Brian Proctor. Arranmore United feared no one.

In their first year, they strolled to the Division 2 Title. On Easter Sunday 1988, they beat Convoy to clinch the league with two games remaining. They also very unluckily lost the Top Four Competition in the final to then leaders of the pack, Ardara. The fact that they were made to play the final 16 hours after, beating a strong Killybegs side in Killybegs did not make it easier. The following season Arranmore went from strength to strength and duly captured the Division 1 Title when they beat Whitestrand after a replay in an epic play-off. The pride this team brought the island was mirrored in the fact that as many as three busloads frequently travelled to away games, and as many as four hundred would attend home games.

With the downturn in fishing and the start of the Channel Tunnel project, the team was decimated with the loss of Brian Proctor, Tony Sailor, Owen and Shaun Kavanagh, Kieran Sweeney, Jerry Early and Danny Bonner. Manager Hugh Rodgers had to draft players in from the mainland. This, however, did not stop the island men from winning the F.A.I. Cup after memorably beating Ardara on penalties in the final. This progressed the club to the National Stages of the competition and in January 1990, Rannagh Park witnessed the biggest crowd ever to attend a match on the island with 1,000 people watching as Arranmore were defeated on penalties against eventual finalists Donaghmede Celtic from Dublin. In the same year, Arranmore finished as runners-up in the Premier Division.

These were heady days, but with the constant drain of young players, the club then went through a downside, and in the late ninetyÕs the club found itself back in Division 2. Despite young talent coming though i.e. Edward McGowan, Peadar Rodgers, Noel Early and Shaun OÕHara, the team struggled to cope with the loss of so many players. This year the club has again been stabilised and with players like Kevin Gallagher, Laurence Gallagher and Edward Gallagher, added to young lads like Francis McCauley and Patrick Rodgers, the future is looking bright again. The biggest problem now is keeping the club going financially, so the club appeals to all island men and women out there, home or abroad to help keep the club alive. You can help by sending donations to:

Secretary or Treasurer,
Arranmore F.C.,
Arranmore Island,
Co. Donegal.
Ireland