Baldonnel · Founded 1958
From the Liberties to John Hyland Park
St Francis FC is the Baldonnel club record, with academy, DDSL, senior women, Leinster Senior League and National League football connected to John Hyland Park.
Club identity
St Francis FC
St Francis FC began in the Liberties in 1958 through John Hyland and friends. The official club story records a schoolboy start, the first adult team in 1968 and a move to Baldonnel in the mid 1990s.
Today the club describes a programme with 32 teams and more than 450 players. The badge carries the St Francis name, green and white shield, rearing horse, 1958 year split and the Veni Vidi Vici motto.
The DDSL profile lists John Hyland Park as the club venue and records green and white hoops with yellow and blue change colours.
Home grounds
John Hyland Park and Corkagh Park
John Hyland Park is the main St Francis base in Baldonnel. The club facilities page lists a full size grass pitch, small sided 3G, a larger 3G surface, covered standing, gym, coffee shop, car park and bicycle stands.
Corkagh Park is also part of the club’s match day picture, with the club story identifying it as another full size grass pitch used by St Francis. Because teams can be assigned to either location, both maps are included.
Visitors should use the current fixture or team message for the exact pitch, surface, entrance and kickoff.
Pathway
Mini Saints to older youth football
The Mini Saints academy is for boys and girls aged four to seven and runs on the club astro. It gives first football a named starting point before players move into DDSL age groups.
The club’s DDSL team page shows three U8 sides, a broad sequence through schoolboy ages and girls teams at multiple ages. IYF linked records include U9 and U12 to U18 records across boys and girls football, though they do not cover the whole 32-team programme.
Parents should confirm the correct birth year, coach, training night and registration route with the club before attending.
| Area | Published detail |
|---|---|
| Academy | Mini Saints for boys and girls aged four to seven. |
| DDSL | Club list runs from U8 teams through older youth football. |
| Girls teams | Girls pathway entries appear on the club roster and IYF linked records. |
| Senior | Senior men and women are part of the modern club structure. |
Senior and national pathway
LSL, senior women and FAI National League
St Francis has a long adult football history. The club honours record includes FAI Junior Cup wins, Leinster Senior League titles and an FAI Cup final appearance in 1989-90.
The modern club also fields senior women and has accepted an invitation to the new FAI National League. The club describes this as a route that gives players a national competition pathway while local and senior teams continue.
Those strands make St Francis more than a single youth listing. It is an academy, schoolboy, schoolgirl, senior and national pathway club.
Honours
Junior cups and a famous FAI Cup run
The club honours page records two FAI Junior Cup wins and four Leinster Senior League titles. The 1989-90 FAI Cup run remains one of the standout national stories, with St Francis becoming the first non League of Ireland club in more than half a century to reach the final.
The final drew more than 33,000 to Lansdowne Road and ended with Bray Wanderers winning the decider. For a youth directory page, the value of that story is the sense of depth behind the modern pathway.
Facilities and coaching
Grass, 3G, gym and coaching structure
John Hyland Park gives the club a facility base with match surfaces, training space and social support around the football programme. The club lists a 180 square metre gym for weekly strength and conditioning work.
The published coaching structure includes UEFA A, UEFA B, National C and National D qualified coaches. The club also says all coaches must hold FAI grassroots certification.
The development approach is described through the Francis Way, built around physical health, confidence and character, friendships and education.
Visitors
Before travelling to a St Francis fixture
Check whether the match is at John Hyland Park, Corkagh Park or another assigned venue. Confirm the age group, pitch, surface, kickoff and arrival time before travelling.
Players should bring boots suited to the surface, shin guards, water and clothing for the weather. The club coffee shop and parking information belongs to John Hyland Park, so do not assume the same facilities at every away or alternate venue.
Sources
Where this profile was checked
Official St Francis FC site
Official club story
Club honours
John Hyland Park facilities
Mini Saints academy
DDSL team list
FAI National League invitation
DDSL club profile
Current teams, registrations, contacts, fixtures and pitch assignments should be confirmed with St Francis FC or the relevant competition before travelling.
