Wayside Celtic F.C. is an Irish association football club based in Kilternan, Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown. They have 3 senior men's teams competing in the Leinster Senior League. They also have over 20 School Boy teams competing in the Dublin and District Schoolboys/Girls League. Since the club's formation in 1948 it has prided itself on being fully amateur.
Wayside's first team play at the highest level of amateur football in Leinster, the Senior Division, and have won the division on five occasions. The club has qualified for the FAI Cup on several occasions, reaching the quarterfinals in the 1995–96 and 2008 seasons.
History Wayside Celtic Football Club was formed in 1948 by a group of men from the Kilternan area of County Dublin. The club initially played in Stepaside before moving to Golden Ball, Kilternan. They entered the Athletic Union League (AUL), winning Division 3 South in 1953, before entering a team in the Wicklow League, which they won in 1959. After decades in Golden Ball, the club moved to their new home at Jackson Park.
The club first qualified for the FAI Cup in 1990–91, losing 0–1 to St. James's Gate in the first round. By this time, they were playing in the Senior Division, the top division of the Leinster Senior League, and finished third in the 1991–92 season. During the same season, Wayside qualified for the FAI Cup a second time and won their first match in the 1991–92 competition, beating Waterford United 1–0 away. Wayside held Monaghan United to a draw in the second round before losing the replay. The club entered the FAI Cup for the third year running in 1992–93, holding Cobh Ramblers to a scoreless draw at home before losing the away match. They also reached the final of the FAI Intermediate Cup that same season, finishing as runners‐up to Bluebell United. The 1995–96 season saw Wayside reach the quarterfinals of the FAI Cup for the first time as they overcame Cherry Orchard and Waterford United. Wayside also won their first trophy at national level when they secured the 1995–96 FAI Intermediate Cup with victory over Fanad United. Wayside won their first Senior Division title in the Leinster Senior League in 1997–98.
Wayside won the FAI Intermediate Cup for the second time in 2000–01, beating Ashtown Villa in the final. They qualified for the FAI Cup again in 2005. Wayside beat Monaghan United 1–0 in the fourth round of the 2008 FAI Cup to secure their place in the quarterfinals for the first time since 1996. Drawn at home, Wayside opted to play their quarterfinal tie at the Carlisle Grounds in Bray. They lost to eventual winners Bohemians.
After qualifying for the 2010 FAI Cup, Wayside became the first side to claim the Noel Ryan Cup in May 2010, when they beat fellow Leinster Senior League side Crumlin United 1–0 at Richmond Park. They retained the cup in 2011 and won their fifth Leinster Senior League title the same year.
Club identity The club's crest, originally designed by Billy Kelly, features a tower imagined from the remains of the Ballycorus lead mines, a landmark that can be seen from the grounds of Wayside Celtic.
Senior teams Wayside Celtic has three senior teams competing in the Leinster Senior League:
+2024–2025TeamLeague PositionManagerSenior Sunday9thRoss ZambraSaturday Major7thDan O'ConnorPremier 1 Sunday4thAdam Byrne Brendan Mitchell
+2023–2024TeamLeague PositionManager(s)Senior Sunday9thRoss ZambraSaturday Major8thDan O'ConnorDivision 3 Sunday1st - PromotionAdam Byrne Brendan Mitchell
Honours FAI Intermediate Cup: 3 1995–96, 2000–01, 2004–05 Leinster Senior League: 5 Premier Division: 1997–98, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2005–06, 2010–11 Sunday Div 3: 2023-24 Leinster Senior Cup: 1 1998–99 LSL Metropolitan Cup: 2 2008, 2012 Leinster Junior Cup: 1 1989 Wicklow & District Football League: 1 1959 Sources:
Notable Fixtures Wayside Celtic have come up against professional opposition on a number of occasions. Most often in the FAI Cup and Leinster Senior Cup. +YearCompetitionStageOppositionScore1992FAI CupWaterford FC1 - 01996FAI CupSt Patrick's Athletic 0 - 31997FAI CupFinn Harps2 - 12001FAI CupSt Patrick's Athletic1 - 42005FAI CupCobh Ramblers2 - 12005FAI CupBohemian2 - 22005FAI CupReplayBohemian1 - 22008FAI CupMonaghan United1 - 02012Leinster Senior CupBray Wanderers FC1 - 02013Leinster Senior CupSemi FinalShamrock Rovers FC0 - 32024FAI Cup2nd RoundWexford FC1 - 32025FAI Cup2nd RoundBray Wanderers FC0 - 3
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