Home. 22 years in the wilderness but finally were home.
In 1987, the Kilcoyne family, who owned Shamrock Rovers since 1972 and had recently bought Glenmalure Park from the Jesuits, decided to sell the stadium to property developers. They stated that their aim was to move Rovers to Tolka Park to share with Home Farm F.C. The last match at Milltown was an FAI Cup semi-final between Shamrock Rovers and Sligo Rovers on the 12th of April 1987, attended by some 6,000 people. This game saw a pitch invasion and protest by fans objecting to the sale of the ground. Some Shamrock Rovers supporters occupied the pitch at half-time were joined by Sligo fans in solidarity. They had to be persuaded to leave the pitch before the game could restart.
The following season Shamrock Rovers fans formed an organisation called 'Keep Rovers at Milltown' (KRAM) and placed a picket on home games at Tolka Park, effectively bankrupting the club's owners. KRAM collected money to purchase Glenmalure Park but could not match the offer of a property developer to whom the Kilcoynes eventually sold the site.After a lengthy appeals process, Glenmalure Park was demolished in the summer of 1990 and an apartment complex was built there. It is now marked by a permanent memorial erected by Shamrock Rovers supporters on Thursday the 21st of May 1998.
On Thursday the 12th of April 2007 a ceremony was held at the monument to commemorate 20 years since the last competitive game was played at the famous old ground.
Shamrock Rovers played in Tolka Park, Richmond Park, Dalymount Park, The RDS and Morton Stadium on the long road to Tallaght. 13 March 2009, finally home.
The first game was at HOME was against Bray and Shane Robinson hit a brace from the right wing to seal a magical win on a magical night.
Bray were the party poopers in the League Cup a few weeks later when they beat us one nil but I didn’t care. Tinpot competition.
The cup, our cup. Galway thrashed us 3-0. Next year.
Following the departure of Coad in 1960 and an unsuccessful season under Albie Murphy, Seán Thomas took on the role of rebuilding the Rovers team which had suffered from the break up of the Coad’s Colts. Paddy Ambrose and Ronnie Nolan had remained with the club and were soon joined by a whole host of signings including Irish internationals, Frank O’Neill and Johnny Fullam. The decision by Liam Tuohy to return to Rovers as captain following four successful years at Newcastle United effectively saw the completion of Thomas’ side. The club won every domestic honour except the Top Four Competition in the 1963–64 season and were narrowly defeated by holders and eventual finalists Valencia CF in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. Thomas, however, quit the Hoops at the end of the season following a dispute with the Cunningham’s (Owners) over team selection. Liam Tuohy took over as player-manager and led the club to a further five FAI Cup’s in succession, completing a run of six Cup wins in a row, including a 3–0 defeat of league champions Waterford in 1968 in front of 40,000 people at Dalymount Park. The following season saw Rovers player Mick Leech score a total of 56 goals, including two in the last Cup final of the six in a row period, against Cork Celtic. 24 cups including 6 in a row. Ours.
In the League we challenged all year but finished 4th, only 6 points of top. Next year.
9.3, some updates done by myself on the LOI.
There are other seasons that I have done and will post later![]()

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