Cherry Orchard
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Wikipedia - Cherry Orchard F.C.
Cherry Orchard Football Club is an association football club based in the Cherry Orchard area of Ballyfermot, Dublin in Ireland. Their senior team plays in the Leinster Senior League (LSL). They have also competed in the FAI Cup, the FAI Intermediate Cup, the FAI Junior Cup and the Leinster Senior Cup. The club also has reserve teams playing in the LSL and enter teams in the Dublin and District Schoolboys/Girls League (DDSL). A number of players, who progressed through the Cherry Orchard youth system, have gone onto play for professional clubs in Ireland and the United Kingdom. Several have also represented the Republic of Ireland national team at international level.
History
Senior teams
When Cherry Orchard was formed in 1957, it initially only organised adult teams. They began playing in the Leinster Alliance League and then the Leinster Junior League before switching to the Athletic Union League in the mid-1960s. Cherry Orchard (also known as Orchard) first won a national competition in the 1981-1982 season, when they won the FAI Junior Cup. They also won the FAI Junior Cup, three times in a row, between the 1984-1985 and 1986–1987 seasons. They also won it twice in a row in 1989–1990 and 1990–1991. During this time, Orchard also won the Athletic Union League five times.[]
Following these successes, the club decided to join the Leinster Senior League for the 1992–93 season. In their first season in the Leinster Senior League, Orchard gained promotion to the LSL Senior Division. In 1993–94, in their debut season in that division, Orchard won their first Leinster Senior League title. In the 2015–16 season, the club won the Leinster Senior League Senior 1 Sunday Division and the Charlie Cahill Cup double.[]
Youth academy
Cherry Orchard first began to field schoolboy teams in 1970. In the decades since, Orchard have won several schoolboy and youth league and cup competitions at both provincial and national level. In 1993, Cherry Orchard also won the Milk Cup, beating Rangers F.C. 4–2 on penalties after a 1–1 draw in the final played before a crowd of 10,000 at the Coleraine Showgrounds. All the previous winners of the Milk Cup had been academy teams of top clubs from England and Scotland.
A number of Cherry Orchard youth players have played on Republic of Ireland youth teams. In 1998, when the Republic of Ireland won both the UEFA European Under-16 Championship and the UEFA European Under-18 Championship, both teams included former Orchard players. Andy Reid played in the under-16 team, while Alan Quinn scored in the under-18 final against Germany.
Jessie Stapleton, who later played with West Ham United and the Republic of Ireland women's national football team, also started at Cherry Orchard.
Cherry Orchard competes in various leagues and tournaments in Ireland, showcasing their skills and teamwork against top clubs in the country. The team is known for their attacking style of play, quick passing, and solid defense.
The players of Cherry Orchard are dedicated and hardworking, always striving to improve and achieve success on the field. They have a loyal fan base that supports them at every match, creating a vibrant and exciting atmosphere at their home games.
Overall, Cherry Orchard is a respected and competitive soccer team in Ireland, with a bright future ahead as they continue to develop and grow in the sport.