Belvedere FC from Fairview to Clontarf
Belvedere FC combine a 1971 football club story, Belvedere Youth Club roots, Clontarf and Fairview facilities, the Little Eagles Academy and one of Ireland’s strongest player development pathways.
Belvedere FC identity
Belvedere FC is one of Dublin schoolboy football’s landmark clubs, formed in 1971 from the Belvedere Youth Club football section. The wider youth club connection dates back to 1918, giving the football club a deep north inner city story before its later growth across greater Dublin.
The club badge uses a golden eagle over a football with the Belvedere F.C. name. The current football identity is blue and white, with white also used as the away colour. The club motto, more than just a football club, reflects the way Belvedere joins player development, community, values and high performance football.
Belvedere’s early founding figures were Vincent Butler and Fergus McCabe. The club entered the Dublin and District Schoolboys League in 1971 to 1972 with four teams, then grew quickly as local football clubs and youth club sections joined the Belvedere structure.
| Founded | 1971 |
|---|---|
| Youth club roots | Belvedere Youth Club, active since 1918 |
| Identity | Golden eagle, football and Belvedere F.C. crest |
| Colours | Blue and white |
| Away colour | White |
Clontarf Astro home base
Belvedere’s primary football base is Clontarf All Weather Pitches on Clontarf Road, Dublin 3. The facility is also known as Clontarf Astro and Clontarf Cage, and it is the main match and training centre for the club.
The Clontarf facility includes a full size 11 a side 4G pitch, a 7 a side 4G pitch, a clubhouse and changing point. It is the practical centre of the modern Belvedere setup and the venue name used in the current football record is Belvedere, Clontarf Astro.
There is a 40 plus space car park at Clontarf Astro, with additional parking to the front of the facility on Clontarf Road. Families should allow extra time on busy training nights and weekend match mornings.
| Main venue | Clontarf All Weather Pitches |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Clontarf Astro and Clontarf Cage |
| Location | Clontarf Road, Dublin 3 |
| Facilities | Full size 11 a side 4G pitch and 7 a side 4G pitch |
| Parking | 40 plus spaces plus further front parking |
Fairview and training network
Fairview Park remains Belvedere’s original and spiritual football home. It is around ten minutes on foot from the Clontarf facility and gives the club a direct link back to the north Dublin park football culture that shaped its early years.
The wider venue network also includes Belvedere College Rugby Ground on Distillery Road, just off Clonliffe Road, where the club trains on Monday nights. The mix of Clontarf, Fairview and Distillery Road gives Belvedere a practical north Dublin training and match footprint.
Clontarf and Fairview are served by bus routes and by DART, with Clontarf station close by. Bicycle rack stations are available across the club venue set.
| Original home | Fairview Park |
|---|---|
| Distance from Clontarf | Around ten minutes on foot |
| Monday training | Belvedere College Rugby Ground, Distillery Road |
| Rail access | Clontarf DART station nearby |
| Bike access | Bicycle rack stations at club facilities |
Little Eagles and early pathway
The Little Eagles Academy is the starting point for young players. It is designed as a fun and safe environment for boys and girls from age 4 to 7, giving children their first Belvedere football experience before team age groups become more structured.
Belvedere’s development aim is to let every member reach individual sporting goals while still enjoying the game and the club environment. The pathway is broad enough for children who simply want a strong football education and demanding enough for players who aspire to play or coach at a professional level.
The club’s current team activity is boys focused from U8 to U18, with the academy providing the younger entry point for both boys and girls.
| Academy name | Little Eagles Academy |
|---|---|
| Academy ages | 4 to 7 |
| Academy entry | Boys and girls |
| Current team range | Boys U8 to U18 |
| Pathway aim | Enjoyment, development and individual potential |
Current boys team depth
Belvedere’s current DDSL team set has 15 boys teams across U8, U9, U10, U11, U12, U13, U14, U16, U17 and U18. The strongest age band labels include Premier and Major football, reflecting the club’s long standing place near the top of Dublin schoolboy football.
The team set includes U18 Premier Boys Sunday football and an U18 FAI Youth Cup route, along with U16 Premier, U17 Premier, U14 Premier, U13 Major and U12 Premier activity. Younger players are represented from U8 upward, giving a clear ladder from early small sided football to youth competition.
That depth means Belvedere can support early player discovery, technical development, competitive ambition and a high level football environment across multiple age bands.
| Association | DDSL |
|---|---|
| Season | 2026 to 2027 |
| Current teams | 15 boys teams |
| Age range | U8 to U18 |
| Senior youth route | U18 Premier and FAI Youth Cup |
The Belvo Way
Belvedere’s football philosophy is widely described through the Belvo Way. It centres on expressive players, learning from mistakes, coach guidance and a distinctive style built around stylish, attractive, attack focused passing football.
The coaching message is demanding but player centred. Belvedere want players to be brave in pursuit of excellence, proud of the colours and badge, passionate, driven, humble, honest and respectful.
Those values matter because Belvedere’s ambition is both developmental and competitive. The club is built to produce strong footballers, but it also places dignity, inclusion, family and doing things the right way at the centre of the football culture.
| Playing identity | Attack focused passing football |
|---|---|
| Player habit | Express yourself and learn from mistakes |
| Club values | Brave, humble, honest, respectful and inclusive |
| Culture phrase | We are Belvo |
| Club motto | More than just a football club |
Conduct, welfare and respect
Belvedere’s code of conduct sets a positive and supportive football environment as the standard for players, coaches, managers, parents and guardians. Fair play, discipline and respect are central expectations.
Players are expected to act within the rules and spirit of the game, respect coaches, team mates, opponents, match officials and club property, and represent the club in a positive manner. Coaches and managers are expected to create a safe, inclusive and positive training and match day environment.
The club also names child welfare as a dedicated contact area. That matters for a large youth club because player safety, adult behaviour and clear escalation routes are as important as technical coaching.
| Player standard | Rules, spirit of the game and respect |
|---|---|
| Coach standard | Safe, inclusive and positive sessions |
| Parent standard | Ambassadors for the club |
| Welfare route | childwelfare@belvederefc.ie |
| Legal context | Children First Act 2015 responsibility |
Major football record
Belvedere won its first major trophy, the under 15 Cannon Cup, in 1975. The club then built one of the strongest youth football trophy and player development records in Ireland, with more than 200 major trophies across its history.
The club also produced Jesse Travers as its first Republic of Ireland international at under 15 level. Since then, around 240 Belvedere players have won Ireland caps from U15 to senior level, including 16 full senior internationals.
Belvedere’s pathway record reaches far beyond underage trophies. More than 350 players have played professional football, 32 alumni were identified as under contract with senior UK and Scottish clubs, more than 80 players have been registered with League of Ireland clubs and over 100 alumni have secured United States soccer scholarships.
| First major trophy | Under 15 Cannon Cup, 1975 |
|---|---|
| Major trophies | More than 200 |
| Ireland caps | Around 240 players from U15 to senior level |
| Full internationals | 16 |
| Professional pathway | More than 350 players |
Notable player and coach pathway
Belvedere alumni include senior internationals and professional players who moved into Ireland, Britain, Scotland, Europe and the wider game. Names connected with the pathway include Troy Parrott, Matt Doherty, Wes Hoolahan, Cillian Sheridan and Thomas Butler.
The club’s story also includes Mark Kennedy, Curtis Fleming and Stephen Kenny among its full international and elite football connections. Coaching pathways are part of the same tradition, with figures such as Noel OReilly, Stephen Kenny and Kwame Ampadu connected to high level coaching careers.
That player and coach history gives Belvedere a rare football identity: a community youth club with a consistent track record of preparing young people for elite football opportunities.
| Player examples | Troy Parrott, Matt Doherty and Wes Hoolahan |
|---|---|
| Further alumni | Cillian Sheridan and Thomas Butler |
| Senior football names | Mark Kennedy, Curtis Fleming and Stephen Kenny |
| Coaching pathway | Noel OReilly, Stephen Kenny and Kwame Ampadu |
| Scholarship route | Over 100 United States soccer scholarships |
Committee and contact routes
Belvedere list clear contact routes across club administration, coaching, social media and welfare. The general email is info@belvederefc.ie and the secretary route is secretary@belvederefc.ie.
The chairperson route is chairperson@belvederefc.ie, the treasurer route is treasurer@belvederefc.ie, the social media route is social@belvederefc.ie, the lead coach route is leadcoach@belvederefc.ie and the coaching director route is coachingdirector@belvederefc.ie.
Families should use the most relevant role rather than sending every query to a single inbox. Academy and team pathway questions can start with the general or secretary route; welfare concerns should use the welfare route.
| General | info@belvederefc.ie |
|---|---|
| Secretary | secretary@belvederefc.ie |
| Chairperson | chairperson@belvederefc.ie |
| Child welfare | childwelfare@belvederefc.ie |
| Coaching | leadcoach@belvederefc.ie and coachingdirector@belvederefc.ie |
First visit guidance
A first Belvedere visit should start with the exact venue. Clontarf Astro is the main base, Fairview Park is the original grass pitch home, and Distillery Road is a Monday night training venue. Families should confirm which one applies before travelling.
For academy players, check the Little Eagles age route and arrive ready for a fun first football setting. For team age groups, confirm the squad, pitch, surface, footwear, arrival time and colour guidance with the team contact.
Visiting teams should plan around busy Clontarf parking, nearby DART access and the possibility of match day activity across both Clontarf and Fairview.
| Main base | Clontarf Astro, Clontarf Road, Dublin 3 |
|---|---|
| Original home | Fairview Park |
| Training venue | Distillery Road, Monday nights |
| Academy check | Little Eagles, ages 4 to 7 |
| Travel check | Parking, DART and exact pitch |
