Westport United Football Club History
WESTPORT United Football Club was officially formed in 1911, making it the oldest club in Mayo. Football was played in the town in the years prior to the formation of the club but the establishment of Westport United put the game on a solid footing in the town.
Undoubtedly, Westport United’s finest hour arrived in Buckley Park, Kilkenny on June 19, 2005 when the club was crowned FAI Junior Cup champions by defeating Waterford Crystal 2-0. It was a remarkable triumph for everyone connected with the club and the scenes of sheer joy among the 2,500 Westport people who crammed into Buckley Park and the 5,000 who thronged the Octagon for the homecoming later that night will never be forgotten by those privileged enough to have witnessed them.
But while the Junior Cup win provided the club with its most momentous achievement, Westport United has, through the years, provided some memorable moments for its legion of loyal supporters in various competitions. While the Junior Cup has always been the Holy Grail, the Connacht Cup is not too far behind as the trophy that means most to United fans and the cup has wound its way back to the town on a number of occasions, the most recent being in 1986/87 when West United was defeated by 2-0 in the final at Terryland Park, Galway.
United have won numerous Mayo League titles with three Super League titles coming its way in the present decade. Indeed, it’s fair to say that this decade is proving to be the most consistently successful in the club’s history with trophies being won every season since 2001.
Of course, the very mention of the name Westport United is normally followed by reference to the Sports Park. Originally developed by a group of immensely dedicated sports loving Westport men over fifty years ago, the Sports Park was re-developed in the early eighties and it is now home to an impressive sports complex and an athletics track that is home to Westport AC. It has been home to Westport United for over half a century now and it has an atmosphere on a big match day that cannot be matched at any junior ground in the country.
But the success of Westport United cannot be measured in trophies alone. The club has consistently provided a sporting outlet for the young people of the area. Currently there are Under 10,11,13,15,17 and U18 teams representing Westport United. There are also two U12 , three U14 and two U16 teams. Along with our Super League and premier league teams we also field a senior and U 16 ladies teams. This amounts to 309 registered under age boys , 52 senior players and 32 under age ladies and 36 senior ladies playing regularly with Westport United.While every era may not have been as successful as the current one, the game was always kept alive by dedicated people who selflessly gave so much of themselves to help others enjoy the game.
That is the legacy of those who have gone before us; that love of the famous red and black jersey. If we manage nothing else in our time with this wonderful club, other than to pass on that legacy, then we’ll have done a massive service to those that have gone before us.
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