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Athlone Town A.F.C.

Athlone Town A.F.C. (Cumann Peile Bhaile Áth Luain) is an Irish football club playing in the Football League of Ireland. The club was founded in 1887 and are the oldest football club in the Republic of Ireland. First elected to the League of Ireland in 1922, they play their home matches in Lissywoollen their new stadium which opened in 2007. The club's colours are Blue and Black.

History

Athlone first competed in the League of Ireland in the 1922-23 season finishing sixth. They competed in the league until 1928 and not again until the 1969-70 season. Athlone Town won the FAI Cup, their first domestic success in 1924 beating Fordsons.

The club finished second in the league in the 1974-75 season earning a place in the UEFA Cup, the first time they had ever qualified for European competition. Their first round game was against Norwegian side Vålerenga who they beat. Athlone's second round tie was against Italian side AC Milan drawing 0-0 in the first leg at St. Mel's Park setting a record attendance of 9,000 before losing the second leg at the San Siro 3-0.

Athlone won their first league title in the 1980-81 season. They played KB in Europe the following season earning a draw in the first leg in Denmark and again at St. Mel's Park going out on the away goal rule.

In the 1981-82 season Athlone Town won the League Cup for the second time beating Shamrock Rovers. However they failed to retain their league title that year finishing 4th. Athlone Town were again crowned league champions in the 1982-83 season and qualifying for Europe and also retained the League Cup beating Dundalk . Their opponents in Europe on this occasion were Belgian outfit Standard Liège, losing 3-2 at home and 8-2 in Liège.

In 1985 six new clubs were elected to the league increasing the leagues participation to 22. As a result the current two division (Premier and First) structure was adapted with Athlone Town in Premier Division. In 1987 the club finished last and were relegated to the First Division. Their stay there was short, finishing top of First Division the following season, gaining promotion to the Premier Division. The club remained in the top flight until the 1991-92 season, when they finished eleventh and were subsequently relegated to the First Division.

Athlone Town again gained promotion to the Premier Division in the 1993-94 season, finishing runners-up to Sligo Rovers that season. The club were once again relegated in 1996, narrowly missing out on promotion in 2001 by one point to Monaghan United.

The club unveiled the first stage of their 6,000 seater stadium on March 9 2008 against Kilkenny City.