The History of Maynooth Town F.C.

Soccer has a long tradition in Maynooth. It was played in the Harbour Field and in 1969 there were two clubs in the area, Maynooth St. Mary's and Ballygoran United. These amalgamated in 1972 when the present club was born. The 1970's were a particularly successful era. The club contested the Sheeran Cup Final and were very successful in the Leinster Junior League. In 1976 they won the Cruise Cup. Many of the players on that team also played for the Maynooth GAA team that won the Jack Higgins Cup.  

Another high point in the club's history was when they played Sligo Rovers shortly after they won the FAI Cup. Many fine players have turned out for the club including David Cowhey who played for UCD and Bohemians and his brother Pat who played for UCD. Liam Devine played for Shelbourne and Dundalk whilst Mark Shaw starred both in League of Ireland and county football teams. Colm Boyce, a tough midfield player also deserves a mention.

In 1995 the first Maynooth side was entered into the underage 7-a-side game and the game began to grow in tandem with the town. In the 2002/3 season the club supports 16 teams 13 of which are competing at schoolboy level. The 1999/00 season was the most successful ever for Maynooth, winning trophies at all levels. The ladies started the ball rolling winning Premier B in the Dublin Women's League. Star player Emma Kilduff also got the call-up the Irish squad having made her mark at under-18 level. Emma also earned a 4-year soccer scholarship to Troy State University in Alabama USA. 

Not to be outdone by the ladies the men's senior team took the honours in the Major Division of the Leinster Football League and also lifted the Leinster Champion's Cup. Following those successes Shamrock Rovers snapped up first team keeper Paul Flood. The schoolboy sides also had their share of success in the 1999/00 season with the under 12A side completing a league and cup double and under 12C also being crowned league champions.

The year 2001 was a major milestone in the club's history having secured a long-term lease on a 10-acre site that will become the home of soccer in the town of Maynooth. Work began in July 2002 on the new site to install drainage and car parking. A plan was drawn up to develop the ground to the best possible standards. A €127,000 grant from the National Lottery and a grant of €20,000 from Kildare County Council assisted with this development. The Club also raise €50,000 locally to realize this first phase of a three-phase development. The first phase of the development completed in September 2003 provided the club with 3 full size playing pitches, a 7-side pitch for the small sided game and includes drainage and car parking. A good foundation to build into the future.
Early 2004 seen the completion of Phase I and the start of the planning stage of Phase II of the development. The Phase II plan consists of changing rooms, storage room, showers & toilets, referee's changing rooms & a community room. The completion of Phase II would be highly dependent on the availability of funding both nationally and locally. 

The 2004/5 season seen the club join the ranks of the Leinster Senior League with 2 senior teams entered. The Sunday side competed in the Premier Division while the Saturday side competed in division 2. The schoolboy continued to build on their previous success on the field with Under 9's winning their league & Shield and Under 12's winning the Kevin Moran Cup and finishing runners up in the league & David Costello Cup. There was also league runners up spots for Under 8's & Under 10's 

In July 2005 the club applied for planning permission to build a new clubhouse on our ground in the Rathcoffey with an estimated cost of €500,000. Planning permission was granted in November 2005 and a project team put in place to plan for the project. 

The 2005/6 season seen the club's continued growth on the field with a record 20 teams (2 Senior & 18 Schoolboy/girl) entered to compete.

The season 2005/6 was the clubs most sucessful season ever. 10 of the 20 teams competing gained honours in various competitions through the age ranges. Off the field the club were granted 250,000 euro from the 'Lotto' to assist the clubhouse development project.

The club seen further growth in 2006/7 with 25 teams (a 25% increase) entered at all age groups with teams entered in the under 7's training league for the first time and 3 teams entered at senior level in the Leinster Senior League.

The 2007/8 season seen the first all girls team at Under 12 and building started on the new clubhouse in July.