Alan Mathews
Encyclopedia
Alan Mathews is a former Irish
footballer
and the current manager of League of Ireland First Division
side Shelbourne
.
, Shamrock Rovers
, Shelbourne
, Galway United Bray Wanderers
, Kilkenny City
and Longford Town
.
Capped for Ireland
at Under-15 and Under-18 levels, he made his League of Ireland
debut for St. Patrick's Athletic in August 1984 against Dundalk
.
He made his Rovers debut against Bray Wanderers at Milltown
on the 9th of November 1986 and scored his first goal for the Hoops at Home Farm on the 14th of April 1987. Made a total of 5 appearances for the Hoops.
While playing for Galway he saved a penalty deputising in goal against Rovers on the 24th of October 1990.
He played for Longford Town under Dermot Keely
in the early 1990s, and cites Dermot Keely
and Pat Byrne
as his main influences. (Mathews was also Assistant Manager to Dermot Keely at Shelbourne from 1998 to 2002.)
win over Waterford United. He is the most successful manager in Longford Town's history and was named Soccer Writers' Association of Ireland "Personality of the Year" in 2003.
Mathews left Longford Town in 2007, and replaced Damien Richardson
as Cork City manager on January 10, 2008. In his only season, the club won the Setanta Sports Cup
for the first time, despite entering examinership
through the courts and losing several key players. Nevertheless, on December 9, 2008, the club announced that Mathews would no longer remain as manager, citing financial constraints as the primary reason for his leaving. After surviving examinership themselves, Drogheda United unveiled Mathews as their new manager for the 2009 Premier Division season. He guided Drogheda United to Premier Division safety in his first season but following a poor start to Drogheda's 2010 season Mathews resigned as their manager on 17 May 2010. Mathews made a swift return to the game on 12 July 2010 when he was announced as the new manager of his former club Shelbourne.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
and the current manager of League of Ireland First Division
League of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
side Shelbourne
Shelbourne F.C.
Shelbourne Football Club is an Irish professional football club based in the Drumcondra area of Dublin, currently playing in the League of Ireland Premier Division....
.
Player
As a player, Mathews played for St. Patrick's Athletic, Drogheda UnitedDrogheda United
Drogheda United Football Club is an Irish football club currently playing in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. The club hails from Drogheda, Ireland and, since 1979, plays its home matches at Hunky Dorys Park....
, Shamrock Rovers
Shamrock Rovers F.C.
Shamrock Rovers Football Club are a professional football club from Dublin, Ireland. They compete in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland and are the most successful club in Irish football history. The club have won the League of Ireland title a record 17 times and the FAI Cup a record 24...
, Shelbourne
Shelbourne F.C.
Shelbourne Football Club is an Irish professional football club based in the Drumcondra area of Dublin, currently playing in the League of Ireland Premier Division....
, Galway United Bray Wanderers
Bray Wanderers A.F.C.
Bray Wanderers A.F.C. are an Irish football club playing in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. The club, founded in 1942 and elected to the League in 1985, hails from Bray and play their home matches at the Carlisle Grounds. Club colours are Green and White, and it goes by the nickname...
, Kilkenny City
Kilkenny City A.F.C.
Kilkenny City A.F.C. was an Irish football club. The club played in the First Division of the League of Ireland until 18 January 2008 when they announced that they resigned their position in the league citing “lack of finance, poor results and paltry attendances”.The club hails from Kilkenny and...
and Longford Town
Longford Town F.C.
Longford Town F.C. is an Irish football club playing in the League of Ireland First Division. The club, founded in 1924 and elected to the league in 1984, hails from Longford, County Longford and play their home matches at Flancare Park...
.
Capped for Ireland
Republic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
at Under-15 and Under-18 levels, he made his League of Ireland
League of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
debut for St. Patrick's Athletic in August 1984 against Dundalk
Dundalk F.C.
Dundalk Football Club is a professional Irish football club based in Dundalk, County Louth. The club currently play in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. Founded in 1903, they are the second most successful team, in terms of trophies won, in the history of the League of Ireland. The...
.
He made his Rovers debut against Bray Wanderers at Milltown
Glenmalure Park
Glenmalure Park, often simply known as "Milltown", was a football stadium on the Southside of Dublin city in Ireland. Located in the suburb of Milltown, it was home to Shamrock Rovers from 1926 to 1987, when it was sold to property developers by the club's directors...
on the 9th of November 1986 and scored his first goal for the Hoops at Home Farm on the 14th of April 1987. Made a total of 5 appearances for the Hoops.
While playing for Galway he saved a penalty deputising in goal against Rovers on the 24th of October 1990.
He played for Longford Town under Dermot Keely
Dermot Keely
Dermot Keely, is the former manager of Irish football team Shelbourne.-Family:Keely's family have played League of Ireland football at various levels. His late father Peter Keely played for Shelbourne, his brother Joe played on the same Home Farm FAI Cup winning side of 1775 as Dermot Keely himself...
in the early 1990s, and cites Dermot Keely
Dermot Keely
Dermot Keely, is the former manager of Irish football team Shelbourne.-Family:Keely's family have played League of Ireland football at various levels. His late father Peter Keely played for Shelbourne, his brother Joe played on the same Home Farm FAI Cup winning side of 1775 as Dermot Keely himself...
and Pat Byrne
Pat Byrne
Pat Byrne is a former Irish football player and manager.-Playing career:A central midfielder, Byrne's playing career started with Bohemians, his debut coming against St Patricks Athletic on 25 August 1974...
as his main influences. (Mathews was also Assistant Manager to Dermot Keely at Shelbourne from 1998 to 2002.)
Manager
Appointed club manager for Longford Town in July 2002, Mathews became the first manager to win a senior trophy with the club in 2003, winning the FAI Cup. He was again successful in 2004 when he guided Longford to League of Ireland Cup success and capped a memorable year for the club when he completed the double with the FAI CupFAI Cup
The Football Association of Ireland Challenge Cup, known as the FAI Ford Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland...
win over Waterford United. He is the most successful manager in Longford Town's history and was named Soccer Writers' Association of Ireland "Personality of the Year" in 2003.
Mathews left Longford Town in 2007, and replaced Damien Richardson
Damien Richardson
Damien John Richardson is an Irish football manager and former player. He currently has no club attachments, having left Cork City at the end of the 2007 season. Richardson formerly managed Gillingham in England and Cobh Ramblers, Shelbourne and Shamrock Rovers in Ireland.Richardson's father...
as Cork City manager on January 10, 2008. In his only season, the club won the Setanta Sports Cup
Setanta Sports Cup
The Setanta Sports Cup, commonly known as just the Setanta Cup, is a club football competition featuring teams from both football associations on the island of Ireland...
for the first time, despite entering examinership
Examinership
Examinership is a process in Irish law whereby the protection of the Court is obtained to assist the survival of a company. It allows a company to restructure with the approval of the High Court....
through the courts and losing several key players. Nevertheless, on December 9, 2008, the club announced that Mathews would no longer remain as manager, citing financial constraints as the primary reason for his leaving. After surviving examinership themselves, Drogheda United unveiled Mathews as their new manager for the 2009 Premier Division season. He guided Drogheda United to Premier Division safety in his first season but following a poor start to Drogheda's 2010 season Mathews resigned as their manager on 17 May 2010. Mathews made a swift return to the game on 12 July 2010 when he was announced as the new manager of his former club Shelbourne.
Manager
- FAI CupFAI CupThe Football Association of Ireland Challenge Cup, known as the FAI Ford Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland...
: 2- Longford Town - 2003, 2004
- League of Ireland Cup: 1
- Longford Town - 2004
- Setanta Sports CupSetanta Sports CupThe Setanta Sports Cup, commonly known as just the Setanta Cup, is a club football competition featuring teams from both football associations on the island of Ireland...
: 1- Cork City - 2008
- Munster Senior Cup: 1
- Cork City - 2007−08
- Leinster Senior CupLeinster Senior CupThis is a disambiguation page. Leinster Senior Cup may refer to:* Leinster Club Senior Cup: rugby union* Leinster Schools Senior Cup: rugby union* Leinster Senior Cup...
: 1- Shelbourne - 20102010 Leinster Senior CupThe 2010 Leinster Football Association Senior Cup, also known as the 2010 Leinster Senior Cup, was the 109th staging of the Leinster Senior Cup association football competition. The 2010 Leinster Senior Cup marked the return of the competition following a ten year absence.20 teams competed in the...
- Shelbourne - 2010
- SWAI Personality of the Year
- Longford Town - 2003