Bray Unknowns
Bray Unknowns FC were founded in the early 1900’s, but only played in local leagues. It wasn’t until after the First World War, when they reformed in, that they competed in the Leinster Senior League in 1921-22. It didn’t take the club long to make an impression and in their second season they were Leinster Senior League champions in 1922-23. The club picked up the LFA Metropolitan Cup the season after (1923-1924), The season after they were elected to join the League of Ireland, were they replaced Dublin side, Midland Athletic. Bray Unknowns FC, alongside Cork side Fordsons who were also elected to the league, became only the second and third clubs respectively outside of Dublin to play in the League of Ireland. The club originally played their home games at Woodbrook from 1924-129 until the moved back to the Carlisle Grounds. The first game in the League of Ireland there was played against Dundalk and resulted in a 2-2 draw. But joining the League of Ireland wasn’t as glamourous as some at Bray Unknowns FC thought it would be and the club struggled to make any progress in the league, placing in the bottom two on a regular and having to apply to be re-elected most seasons.
They do, however, have an unwanted record as being the side that Shamrock Rovers have their record win against in the League of Ireland, an 11-0 loss in 1928. The clubs biggest recorded win in the League of Ireland came in 1925 against Dublin club, Bridville, a 7-1 win. Bray Unknowns best finish in the League of Ireland was a fourth-place finish in the 1936-37 season, playing 22 games, winning 10, drawing 4 and losing 8. It was a season that saw Sligo Rovers win their first League of Ireland title and saw a goals average of 4.33 per game.
The club had limited success in the FAI Cup, reaching the semi-final stage on two occasions in 1924-25 and 1925-26 seasons. But the 1942-43 season would be the last that Bray Unknowns FC would compete in the League of Ireland and after the came bottom of the pile again, the failed to get re-elected. And that was the end of their 18 years in Irelands top flight, but not the end of the Unknowns journey. The club continued to play LSL football but were no longer the dominant force in Bray. The reformation of Bray Wanderers in 1942 saw a battle for dominance appear in the town, with the Wanderers being the more successful side during the 50’ and 60’s. But with both clubs struggling to progress and a power struggle doing nobody any favours in a small town like Bray it became apparent that a merger was best for everyone. So, in 1973 the two clubs merged together, taking the Bray Wanderers name (Much to our disappointment here at Forgotten Clubs).
Bray Wanderers did not enter the League of Ireland until 1985 and despite having financial struggles in recent times, have remained there ever since. They have become an established club and still play their home games at the Carlisle Grounds. Bray Wanderers FC are still currently playing in the First Division of the League of Ireland and are a well-established, well run club as of date, despite their close call of nearly becoming the 40th club to drop out of our national league since 1922. While trying to find a fan that would know about both Unknowns and Wanderers, I was pointed in the direction of one man. Vincent Kirwan is somewhat known in League of Ireland circles as Mr Bray and talking to him told me why. The man’s knowledge of the two clubs was amazing, and he not only provided me with memories but also facts and pictures of from the club’s history. His memories of the Unknowns may not have been complete, but he defiantly had special memories of Wanderers.
‘… My most abiding memory has to be our first time winning the F.A.I Senior Cup in 1990. I suppose it’s not just because we won the Cup but doing it while still in a 1t Div. team, beating a non-league team in St Francis in a game all the pundits and I might say, the FAI, thought would be poorly supported. But on the day the kick off was put back for ½ an hour because the crowd was so big. Over 30,000 turned up to see John Ryan score a hat-trick to win the cup for Bray. It was of course the 1st FAI Cup Final to be played at the old Lansdowne Rd. Memories, memories.’
Memories indeed, as not many people would have predicted Bray would win the cup that year, only officially being a member of the league five years. It was a huge boost for the club and put Bray on the map of Irish football. Vincent’s memories go back further than 1990 though with his favourite away being a long trip to Donegal and to Ballybofey, the home of Finn Harps.
‘Most favorite away day with the Wanderers has to be Sunday 2nd. March for the trip to Ballybofey for the final game of the 1985/86 season against Finn Harps when a 0-0 draw was enough to see Bray become the 1st. winners of the L.O.I. 1st Div. in their first season in the League. The celebrations went on long into the night in Jacksons Hotel In Ballybofey. Then there is the away trip to Turkey to play Trabson in the Cup Winners Cup in 1990 when only 4 supporters travelled and then the trip to Zurich in 1999 to play F.C. Zurich in the E.U.F.A. Cup. Memories never to be forgotten.’
Like most fans when I ask this question to, Vincent finds it difficult to give a definite answer. Names like Jason Byrne were mentioned of course, after he helped the club win the cup in 1999, but others just came before him. ‘Favorite players for me from the distant past have to be 2 Internationals Alan Kelly (Preston North End) and Andy Mc Evoy (Blackburn Rovers)………..In the more recent past I’d have difficulty picking players but I’ll go for our 2 Cup winning captains……Dermot Judge 1990 captain, a class midfielder and Mick Doohan 1999 captain a great defender who went on to have a successful career with Dundalk where he is a legend as he is in Bray.’ And like any true fan, Vincent remembers the not-so-good times, the troubles the club have endured in recent times, but he is upbeat as to where the club is currently heading and feels that it is in safe hands.
‘Being as low as we were just 2 years ago………days away from being out of existence. Now all is good again with Football people with a great business head running the Club. Its onwards and upwards from here. Our new owners are ambitious without being “silly”. They have a plan and won’t just throw money at it recklessly. For me everything in the garden is rosy with so much to look forward to.’
But the one question that I really wanted the answer too, and god knows I tried to find the answer to couldn’t even be given by Vincent. Or maybe it was. Maybe there is no answer to it. Where did the name Unknowns come from?
‘Unknowns….. it’s probably unknown where the name came from it’s so long ago now and with nobody around now who was around then I have found it impossible to get a definitive answer. The “best” I have is that when they started, they were unknown hence Bray Unknowns.’
Ironic that the origin of the name Unknowns is actually unknown, but I feel it adds a bit of mystery to the originally football club of Bray. The club that started it all in County Wicklow and paved the way for Bray Wanderers to be the club they are today. With that, Vincent had a lot of people he wanted to give a special mention to, those who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to keep the club going over the years and those who continue to keep the green flag flying high.
‘……..Back in the day Mick Donegan was Mr. Bray Wanderers a great wheeler and dealer (with players) ……then in later times there was John O Brien, long time Secretary who was instrumental in leading the Club into the L.O.I. and with his other Directors talked Pat Devlin into becoming Manager and what Bray Wanderers. owe him in terms of what he achieved could never be measured. I’d have to mention the Slevin brothers Frank and Eddie who came along and pumped a small fortune into the Club and the 1999 Cup Final was their only reward. Finally, when the Club was only days away from extinction in July last year along came our present owners Niall and Tim O Driscoll, we can only thank them for saving a great Club but I know they have so much more to offer in the future………..more great memories to be formed in the days ahead.’
It is quite clear that Bray Unknowns will never be forgotten, even if their name doesn’t live on, them spirt does in the form of Bray Wanderers FC. Fans like Vincent and other Seagulls fans will always be thankful for the work the Unknowns did before merging with their club in 1975 and creating one big family club in the area of Bray, a place that needs a football club. The Carlisle Grounds itself is a great little stadium and one of the better grounds in the League of Ireland. Vincent provided me the memories and the pictures, but I will also let him provide the final words on what it is like to be a Bray fan and indeed a football fan
‘. I suppose you could say it has been a roller coaster ride really. There have been so many ups and downs. There have been League Title wins and of course our 2 F.A.I. Senior Cup wins and 2 European Cup travels. They were the highs, but we have also had relegations, and Cup defeats by non League sides, days when I would have been at my lowest as a fan but the highs outweigh the lows and I suppose that’s what being a fan of any team brings you and that’s why we are dedicated football fans.’