Kilkenny City A.F.C.

20th century

In 1966, a group of Leaving Certificate students made the most of having a free class at the local Christian Brothers school, CBS Kilkenny. The group, including future manager Jim Rhatigan, debated the pros and cons, devised a plan and, finally, resolved to start a football club. The club was originally known as Emfa, an amalgam of Emmett Street (Em) and Fatima Place (fa) where Jim Rhatigan, Gerry Moran (who was credited with the amalgam) and the other founders grew up. Rhatigan was appointed as the club's secretary, a position he held for 50 years, and since then he has become closely associated with football in Kilkenny. Initially, EMFA competed in the U18 Kilkenny and District Youth League under the management of Donie Butler. Donie Butler served as Commercial Manager of the FAI during the Jack Charlton years. The club was unable to afford a new set of jerseys and so agreed to play in an all white strip. The logic being that all the players had at least one white T-shirt or shirt they could wear. The club's colours changed to claret and blue before changing again to black and amber, coinciding with the renaming of the club. In the 1971–72 season, the group progressed to playing junior football in the second division of the reformed Kilkenny & District League (K&DL). In their first season, Emfa won promotion from Division Two to Division One of the K&DL. Jim Rhatigan became their manager, and the club remained in junior football until 1984. During this…

Jim Rhatigan: 1985–1989 Eamonn Gregg: 1989–1990 Joe McGrath : 1990–1991, 2000–2001 Noel Synnott: 1991–1992 Kieron Maher : (Caretaker) John Clery: 1992–1993 John Cleary: 1993–1994 Paddy Gallacher: 1994–1995 Jimmy Donnelly : (Caretaker) Alfie Hale: 1995–1999 Pat Byrne: 1999–2000 Paul Power : (Caretaker) Billy Walsh: 2001–2003 Tommy Lynch: 2003 Ger Bickerstaffe: 2004 Pat Scully: 2005 Adrian Fitzpatrick: 2006 Gary Coad (Caretaker) Brendan Rea: Jan–July 2007 Tommy Gaynor: July–Sept 2007 Noel Byrne: (Caretaker)

League

Played 603 Won 146 Draw 150 Lost 281 Goals For 636 Goals Against 899 Points 539 All final positions are in Division 1 unless otherwise stated.

As EMFA (1985–1990) 1985–86: 10th 1986–87: 9th 1987–88: 10th 1988–89: 9th As Kilkenny City 1989–90: 4th 1990–91: 7th 1991–92: 8th 1992–93: 9th 1993–94: 8th 1994–95: 10th 1995–96: 7th 1996–97: 1st 1997–98: 11th (Premier Div) 1998–99: 5th 1999–00: 3rd 2000–01: 12th (Premier Div) 2001–02: 5th 2002–03: 12th 2004: 10th 2005: 4th 2006: 10th 2007: 10th FAI Cup 1990–91: Semi Final (lost to Shamrock Rovers 1–0, losing finalist that year). 1996–97: Round 1 (lost to Bohemians 1–2 in replay at Dalymount Park) 1997–98: Round 1 (lost to UCD 0–4) 1998–99: Quarter Finals (Kilkenny City were forced to forfeit the replay to Finn Harps, the losing finalists that year, after drawing the first game 2–2 as they had only eleven fit players, that include's two goalkeepers) 1999–00: Quarter Finals (lost to Bray Wanderers 0–2) 2000–01: Quarter Finals (lost to Bohemian 2–7, winners that year) 2001–02: Round 3 (lost to Dundalk 2–3, the eventual winners) 2002–03: Quarter Finals (lost to Shamrock Rovers 0–1, the losing finalists that year) 2003: Round 2 (lost to Limerick 1–2) 2004: Round 3 (lost to Waterford United 2–7, the losing finalists that year) 2005: Round 2 (lost to Finn Harps 0–1) 2006: Round 2 (lost to UCD 0–2) 2007: Round 3 {Lost to Cork City 5–1, the eventual winners}

League of Ireland First Division: 1 1996–97 League of Ireland First Division Shield: 1 1986–87