Salthill Devon F.C.

Salthill Devon F.C. was founded in 1947 as Salthill Crusaders. In 1950 they became Salthill Athletic. In 1977 Salthill Athletic merged with Devon Celtic to become Salthill Devon.[1][2]

Between 1981 and 2000 Salthill Devon played in the Connacht Senior League. In 1981–82, together with Sligo Rovers Reserves, Castlerea Celtic, Mervue United, Ballina Rovers, Tuam Celtic and UCG, Salthill Devon became founder members of the CSL. While playing in the CSL, Salthill Devon won both the Connacht Senior Cup and the Connacht Senior League Challenge Cup on three occasions. Between 1989–90 and 1991–92 they won the Senior Cup three times in row. In 1989–90 and 1991–92 they won both cups in the same season. After finishing as runners-up on three occasions, Salthill Devon finally won the league title in 1990–91. They also completed a double by winning the Senior Cup. In 1991–92 Salthill Devon became the first CSL champions to represent the league in the League of Ireland Cup.[3][4][5]

During the early 2000s Salthill Devon entered a team in the League of Ireland U21 Division. In 2006 they became the first club to win the division championship, the Dr Tony O'Neill Cup, without having a team in the senior League of Ireland divisions.[6][7] In 2008, together with local rivals, Mervue United, Salthill Devon, were founder members of the A Championship. In 2008 they finished bottom of their group but 2009 saw a complete reversal as they comfortably won their group. Salthill narrowly lost out in the A Championship play off final against Shamrock Rovers A but as the highest placed non-reserve team, they qualified for a promotion/relegation play-off against Kildare County. However, after Kildare County withdrew from the League of Ireland First Division, Salthill Devon won promotion without evening kicking a ball. Between 2010 and 2013, Salthill Devon finished bottom of the table three seasons in a row. In their inaugural season Salthill Devon avoided relegation by defeating Cobh Ramblers home and away in the First Division Play Off. Subsequently, they avoided relegation because the A Championship was disbanded.[8] Following the withdrawal of Galway United from the League of Ireland after the 2011 season, Salthill Devon re-branded themselves as SD Galway for the 2012 season. They adopted the maroon and white worn by Galway United and switched their home matches from Drom Soccer Park to Terryland Park.[9]

In 2012 an FAI commissioned report 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 the Galway Football Association, the Galway United Supporters Trust, Mervue United and Salthill Devon should work together to form such a club.[10] 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 reformed Galway United. The new board of Galway United featured two Salthill Devon representatives, Jim McSpadden and Ollie Daniels.[1][11][12][13] In advance of the 2014 League of Ireland First Division season eight former Salthill Devon players, including Vinny Faherty, also signed for the reformed Galway club.[14] The O'Connor Report had also recommended reforming the Connacht Senior League, allowing Mervue United and Salthill Devon to play at a provincial level.[15] However, in June 2013 the Connacht Tribune reported that the plans for a reformed CSL were shelved due to a lack of sufficient interest from the clubs.[16] The senior teams of Mervue United and Salthill Devon subsequently joined the Galway & District League.