Ards F.C.

Origins and development

Ards F.C. was founded in 1900. Originally operating as a factory team, the club entered the Irish League in 1923. Based at Castlereagh Park, the club won its first Irish Cup in 1927. After playing at intermediate level during World War II, Ards rejoined the league in 1947. Ards won its second Irish Cup in 1952. After winning the 1957–58 Irish League, the club qualified for a 1958–59 European Cup tie against Stade de Reims. The club won its third Irish Cup in 1969. While the club won several titles in the 1973–74 season and had further cup successes in the 1990s, mounting financial problems culminated in relegation and the proposed sale of Castlereagh Park in 1998.

Castlereagh Park

Ards were forced to sell their Castlereagh Park home in 1998 to try to reduce their debts. The stadium remained tended for another three years while plans for a new ground further down the road were developed. In 2002, Castlereagh Park was demolished as planned. Ards hoped to play at a new community-owned site, a short distance from Castlereagh Park that was due to be developed in 2010 by the local council. This plan was later shelved, and the club are still the "nomads" of Northern Irish football. During the time since Ards left Castlereagh Park, they have shared football grounds at Cliftonville's Solitude and Carrick Rangers' Taylors Avenue, their rivals Bangor's ground, Clandeboye Park and Ballyclare Comrades' ground, Dixon Park.

First top-flight…

Senior honours

Irish League (tier 1): 1 1957–58 Irish League First Division/Championship (tier 2): 3 2000–01, 2012–13, 2015–16 Irish Cup: 4 1926–27, 1951–52, 1968–69, 1973–74 Irish League Cup: 1 1994–95 County Antrim Shield: 3 1955–56, 1971–72, 1993–94 Gold Cup: 2 1953–54, 1973–74 Ulster Cup: 1 1973–74 Blaxnit Cup: 1 1973–74

Intermediate honours

Irish League B Division 1957–58† Irish Intermediate Cup: 1 1970–71† Steel & Sons Cup: 1 2008–09 George Wilson Cup: 2 1957–58†, 1982–83† McElroy Cup: 1 1940–41†† Clements Lyttle Cup

1941-42, 1942-43†† † Won by Ards II †† Won by Ards playing as Ards II during war years