Ards FC
| FC Ards | |||
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| Basic data | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Surname | Ards Football Club | ||
| Seat | Newtownards | ||
| founding | 1900 | ||
| president | Brian Adams | ||
| Website | ardsfc.co.uk | ||
| First soccer team | |||
| Head coach | Warren Feeney | ||
| Venue | Clandeboye Park | ||
| Places | 1,895 | ||
| league | NIFL Championship | ||
| 2019/20 | 4th Place | ||
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The FC Ards (officially: Ards Football Club ) is a football club from Newtownards in Northern Ireland District Ards . The club was founded in 1900 and currently plays in the 1st Northern Irish League , in which he was represented from 1922 to 1940, 1947–1998, 2001–2006 and 2013. In addition to the 1958 championship, the most successful period was 1974, when they won three titles.
history
founding
In 1900, Newtownards factory workers formed a soccer team. The place they played on at first is now the airport. In the first few years they played in amateur leagues until the outbreak of the First World War . After the war, the club developed rapidly and in 1922 it was promoted to the first division.
In the same year the site on Portaferry Road was opened. The Castlereagh Park became the new home. The first season ended with the 9th and penultimate place.
The 1926/27 season ended in 5th place, and in the cup final, the first title was won 3-2 against Cliftonville FC . In 1928 and 1934 one was subject in the County Antrim Shield Cup each to Linfield FC .
In 1936 the club was supported by local business people with a £ 3,000 donation to keep the team. From 1940 to 1946 the club was no longer first class.
post war period
The ascent succeeded again in 1947. In the following years the team was only average. The good players moved to English clubs. In 1952 the cup final was reached again. The reigning champions FC Glentoran were defeated 1-0 in front of 15,000 spectators at Windsor Park. In 1953, only George R. Eastham was signed as a player-coach. In the same year his son George Eastham came to Ards for three years. In 1955 Billy Humphries came to Ards FC. He has now become a legend and was a member of the 1958 championship team.
The championship was won with 16 wins, four draws and two defeats. After winning the title, Humphries moved to Leeds United . Apparently he didn't feel at home there and moved back to FC Ards 14 months later. George R. Eastham also left the club for Accrington Stanley, came back in 1964, but was released again in 1970. He was succeeded by Billy Humphries.
The first game in the 1958/59 European Cup was played on September 17, 1958 at Windsor Park , Belfast against Stade Reims , and was lost 4-1. The top scorer of the 1958 World Cup, Just Fontaine , scored all four goals . They also lost the second leg in Paris 2: 6.
The managing director at the time was Harry Cavan, who later made it to the position of Vice President of FIFA from 1960 to 1990. The club then won the cup again in 1969 4-1 after extra time against Distillery FC , with Billy McAvoy scoring all four goals. In total, he scored 301 goals for the club, a record that is unmatched to this day.
In 1974 the trophy was won for the fourth time. Ballymena United were beaten 2-1.
The club was represented twice in the European Cup Winners ' Cup and once in the UEFA Cup .
successes
- Northern Irish Champion (1): 1958
- League Cup Winner (1): 1995
- Northern Irish Cup Winner (4): 1927, 1952, 1969, 1974
- County Antrim Shield Winner (2): 1956, 1972
- Gold Cup Winner (1): 1974
- Ulster Cup Winner (1): 1974
European Cup balance sheet
| season | competition | round | opponent | total | To | Back |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1958/59 | European Champions Cup | Preliminary round |
 Stade de Reims
|
3:10 | 1: 4 (H) | 2: 6 (A) |
| 1969/70 | UEFA Cup Winners' Cup | 1 round |
 AS Roma
|
1: 3 | 0: 0 (H) | 1: 3 (A) |
| 1973/74 | Uefa cup | 1 round |
 Standard Liege
|
4: 8 | 3: 2 (H) | 1: 6 (A) |
| 1974/75 | UEFA Cup Winners' Cup | 1 round |
 PSV Eindhoven
|
1:14 | 0:10 (A) | 1: 4 (H) |
| 1997 | UEFA Intertoto Cup | Group stage |
Royal Antwerp
|
0: 1 | 0: 1 (H) | |
 Nea Salamis Famagusta
|
1: 4 | 1: 4 (A) | ||||
|
AJ Auxerre
|
0: 3 | 0: 3 (H) | ||||
 FC Lausanne Sports
|
0: 6 | 0: 6 (A) |
Overall record: 12 games, 1 win, 1 draw, 10 defeats, 10:49 goals (goal difference −39)