Ligoniel F.C.
| Full name | Ligoniel Football Club | |
|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | The Ligs,[1] The Mountaineers,[2] The Reds[3] | |
| Founded | 1881 | |
| Dissolved | 1899 | |
| Ground | Hill Street | |
| League | Irish League | |
|
| ||
Ligoniel Football Club was an Irish football club based in the then village of Ligoniel on the outskirts of Belfast.
History
It was founded in 1881 and was a founding member of the Irish Junior League in 1890, before joining the Irish Football League for the 1891–92 season.[4] The club was excluded for the 1892–93 season as the League was reduced to six members.[5]
It was admitted again for the 1893–94 season, and the club reached the last 6 of the Irish Cup - helped by being exempted from the first three rounds - for the only time. At home to Cliftonville, Ligoniel took a 2–0 lead at half-time on a frosty pitch, but the visitors, with the wind and slope in their favour, recovered to win 4–2.[6]
For the 1894–95 season, the Irish League members decided to reduce membership further from 6 to 4, and, with Ulster abandoning association for rugby, Ligoniel was "harshly" thrown out, so rejoined the Junior League.[7] It remained a member of the Junior League until it folded in 1899, having lost its ground and been unable to procure a new one.[8]
Colours
The club played in red.[9][10]
Ground
The club's ground was situated at the end of Hill Street, off Legoniel Street.[11]
References
- ^ Belfast Evening Telegraph, 19 January 1892
- ^ Belfast News-Letter, 10 October 1893
- ^ "Ligoniel v Hidden". Lisburn Herald, and Antrim and Down Advertiser: 8. 28 September 1895.
- ^ Northern Ireland - Final League Tables 1890-1998
- ^ Belfast News-Letter, 21 June 1892
- ^ "Sport and play". Belfast News-Letter: 3. 5 December 1893.
- ^ "Sport and play". Belfast News-Letter: 3. 24 July 1894.
- ^ Belfast Evening Telegraph, 17 May 1899; Ireland's Saturday Night, 12 August 1899
- ^ "Ligoniel v Hidden". Lisburn Herald, and Antrim and Down Advertiser: 8. 28 September 1895.
- ^ "Intermediate Cup - 2nd round". Lurgan Mail: 6. 24 December 1898.
- ^ Ordnance Survey. "Antrim - Sheet 60". National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 3 June 2025.