The League of Ireland: An Historical and Contemporary Assessment

The League of Ireland was formed in 1921 and this new collection explores its early growth, the impact of Irish players and administrators, and the league's role in providing players for the Irish Olympic team. It also examines the migration of Irish-born players to Britain and the work of SARI to eradicate racism from Irish sport.

Format: Hardback
Length: 138 pages
Publication date: 30 December 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The League of Ireland, the Republic of Ireland's premier professional association football league, celebrated its centenary in 2021. This new collection draws on the expertise of several prominent historians of Irish soccer and aims to explore previously under-researched aspects of the league. The book delves into the early growth of clubs in Dublin and the Free State Leagues, as well as their turbulent history. It also assesses the impact of Irish players and administrators on the development of soccer clubs both domestically and internationally.

Following the partition of Ireland in 1921, players continued to move from Dublin clubs to those in Northern Ireland, particularly in the context of the Troubles of 1968–1998. Despite the migration of many Irish-born players to Britain, the League of Ireland has also attracted international-based players, and the impact of this is examined. The league's role in providing players for the Irish Olympic team is explored, as is the work of SARI in eradicating racism from Irish sport.

This publication serves as a commemoration of those who have worked tirelessly to maintain the League of Ireland's presence amidst the backdrop of what has become the world's most attractive football league, located in Ireland's neighboring country, England. It will be of interest to researchers, advanced students, and scholars in the fields of Sports, History, Sociology, and Politics.

Originally published as a special issue of the journal Soccer & Society, this book offers valuable insights into the history and development of Irish soccer.

Weight: 400g
Dimension: 180 x 253 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032413624