Previous names •
Galway Rovers F.C. (1937–1981) •
Galway F.C. (2014) •
Galway United F.C. (1981–2011), (2015–present)
Galway Rovers Galway United F.C. were founded as
Rovers F.C., in honour of the first
League Of Ireland winners from
Connacht,
Sligo Rovers. The club was established in the
Claddagh district of
Galway. The club's website claims the club was founded in
1937. By 1937 Rovers were fielding youth teams as well as a junior side. Rovers won the
Connacht Junior Cup in 1958 and they also played in the
Western League. Rovers first gained national attention when they were invited to play in the 1976–77
League of Ireland Cup. In
1977–78 they made their debut in the
League of Ireland. They played their first League of Ireland game on 28 August 1977 at
Terryland Park against
St. Patrick's Athletic.
Eamonn Deacy scored Rovers' first League of Ireland goal on 2 October 1977.
1980s In 1980–81 Rovers reached the
League of Ireland Cup final, but lost on penalties to
Dundalk. In the
1981–82 season, Galway Rovers changed their name to Galway United and under their new name, the club reached two cup finals in successive seasons. United made their first appearance in an
FAI Cup final in 1985 but lost 1–0 to
Shamrock Rovers. In
1985–86 United became founder members of the
League of Ireland Premier Division and finished second behind Shamrock Rovers in the new division's inaugural season. In 1985–86 United won its first major trophy after defeating
Dundalk 2–0 in the
League of Ireland Cup final. Denis Bonner and
Paul McGee scored the vital goals.
1990s Galway United made a good start to the 1990s, winning their first
FAI Cup and qualifying for
Europe for a third time. In the
1991 FAI Cup final at
Lansdowne Road, United defeated
Shamrock Rovers 1–0. With five minutes to go on the clock, captain Johnny Glynn scored a late goal. In
1991–92 United was relegated to the
First Division for the first time, but the following season,
1992–93, they returned to the
Premier Division after winning the First Division title and the
League of Ireland First Division Shield. The club finished
1993-94 in a respectable 3rd place. In
1995–96 United were relegated for a second time. In
1996–97 United won the
League of Ireland Cup defeating
Cork City 4–2 over two legs along with the
First Division Shield. It was the second time United had won both trophies. United remained in the First Division until
1998–99 when, under
Don O'Riordan, they were promoted to the Premier Division after finishing as runners-up in the First Division to
Drogheda United. In April 2005 United appointed
Nick Leeson as commercial manager. He then became general manager in late November 2005 and by July 2007 he had become the club's CEO. By the end of the decade United were joined in the
League of Ireland by two other
Galway–based teams,
Mervue United and
Salthill Devon.
2010s demise and rise By 2010 Galway United had debts estimated to be between €35,000 and €70,000. In 2011, after
Nick Leeson resigned as CEO, the Galway United board of directors and the Galway United Supporters Trust ("GUST"), which had been established in 2001, came to an agreement under which the latter group took over financial responsibility for the club and the day-to-day running of the team. However, after the
2011 League of Ireland Premier Division season, in which Galway United lost 32 out of 36 games, this arrangement broke down. In December 2011 it was announced that Galway United would not be competing in the
2012 League of Ireland First Division season. Meanwhile, GUST unsuccessfully applied to join the
League of Ireland as an independent club and continued to support the Galway United team playing in the
League of Ireland U19 Division. In 2012 a report commissioned by the
Football Association of Ireland (FAI) recommended that
Galway city and
County Galway should be represented in the League of Ireland by a single club or team based at
Eamonn Deacy Park. The O'Connor Report also recommended that GUST,
Salthill Devon,
Mervue United and the
Galway Football Association, should work together to form such a club. GUST was reluctant to support this "merger" but eventually agreed. Following the conclusion of the
2013 season, both Mervue United and Salthill Devon withdrew from the
League of Ireland First Division to make way for a team known as Galway F.C. A new board of directors was established featuring representatives from GUST, Salthill Devon, Mervue United and the GFA. In
2014 Galway F.C. played in the First Division and after finishing third and winning a play-off they gained promotion to the
2015 League of Ireland Premier Division. Before the start of the season Galway F.C. was renamed Galway United. On 27 October 2017, Galway United were relegated to the
League of Ireland First Division after a 4–3 loss to
Dundalk in their final game of the
2017 League of Ireland Premier Division at Eamonn Deacy Park. Despite finishing the
2017 season in 10th place, a normally safe position, a change in league format ahead of the 2018 season meant that this was not enough for the club to retain its place in the top flight.
2020s It was announced on 30 March 2022, that brothers Brian and Luke Comer of the Comer Property Group would be granted an option to acquire the majority ownership of the football club which had been operating under a fan owned model since its re-emergence in 2014. Following a vote of the members of the Galway United Friends Co-operative Limited, 82% backed the move which would see the Comer brothers take an option to acquire an 85% ownership stake in the club. The club remains 100% owned by Galway United Friends Co-operative Limited. The Comer brothers announced an initial influx of half a million euro into the club with ambitions to take it back to the Premier Division. In October 2022, the club announced that it would be launching a
women's team, to compete in
League of Ireland Women's Premier Division from the 2023 season onwards. On 23 July 2023 the women's team made history by winning the inaugural
All-Island Cup in their maiden season, defeating
Cliftonville Ladies F.C. 1–0 in the final at
The Showgrounds, Sligo. On 22 September 2023, Galway United won the
League of Ireland First Division title for the second time in the club's history with five matches to spare, when they defeated
Kerry FC 4–0. This ensured a return to top flight football for the first time since
2017. They finished the league season with a record total of 94 points, with 98 goals scored and a 100% home win record. ==Grounds==