Pioneers F.C. (Dublin)

Pioneers Football Club are an Irish association football club based in Dublin. It was founded in 1908 by members of the Pioneer Total Abstinence Association. Between 1922–23 and 1925–26 they played four seasons in the League of Ireland. In 2009–10 Pioneers were playing in the Amateur Football League. In 2015 Pioneers were revived after a five season period of inactivity. They now play in the Leinster Senior League. 
History.
Leinster Senior League.
In 1921–22 Pioneers were playing in the Leinster Senior League Senior Division. Other teams in this league this season included Shamrock Rovers, Bohemians B, St James's Gate B, Bray Unknowns, Shelbourne United, Midland Athletic, Brooklyn, Merrion, Glasnevin, CYMS and Richmond. 
League of Ireland.
The 1922–23 season saw the League of Ireland expand from eight to twelve teams. After Frankfort and YMCA dropped out, Pioneers became one of six new teams to join the league. The others were Shamrock Rovers, Shelbourne United, Rathmines Athletic, Athlone Town and Midland Athletic. Pioneers subsequently spent four seasons playing in the League of Ireland. They finished the 1922–23 season in 8th place, the 1923–24 season in 9th place and both the 1924–25 and 1925–26 seasons in 10th and last place. At the end of the 1925–26 season they failed to get re–elected and they were replaced by Dundalk. Pioneers also played in four [[FAI Cup]] campaigns. Their best result was a quarter final appearance in [[1924–25 FAI Cup|1924–25]].
Pioneer XI v Gallia.
In 1923 [[Gallia Club Paris]] visited Dublin to play two friendly matches against [[Bohemian F.C.|Bohemians]] and Pioneers. The tour was significant as it saw the [[French Football Federation]] officially recognize the [[Football Association of Ireland]]. On Saturday, 31 March, Gallia played a 1–1 draw against Bohemians at [[Dalymount Park]]. Then on Sunday, 1 April, at same venue, a Pioneer XI played a 0–0 draw with Gallia. The FAI originally hoped that Gallia would play a [[League of Ireland XI]]. However the FFF had only sanctioned club matches. The Pioneer XI, however, was entirely made up of guest players and was effectively a League of Ireland XI. None of the players selected played for Pioneers. The guest players included, among others, [[Frank Collins (footballer)|Frank Collins]], [[Ernie MacKay]], [[Charlie Dowdall]], [[Ned Brooks (footballer)|Ned Brooks]], [[Bob Fullam]] and [[Christy Robinson]]. 
Ground.
During their four seasons in the [[League of Ireland]], Pioneers played their home games at two different venues. During the [[1922–23 League of Ireland|1922–23]] season they played at Strand Hall, [[Clontarf, Dublin|Clontarf]]. The following three seasons, [[1923–24 League of Ireland|1923–24]] to [[1925–26 League of Ireland|1925–26]] saw them play at The Thatch in [[Whitehall, Dublin|Whitehall]]. During the 1923–24 season they shared this venue with [[Midland Athletic F.C.|Midland Athletic]]. While playing in the Amateur Football League 
Pioneers played at [[Saint Anne's Park]]. Since 2015 they have been based at the ALSSA Sports Complex, near [[Dublin Airport]].
Notable former players.
Ireland internationals.
The following Pioneer F.C. players represented [[Republic of Ireland national football team|Ireland]] at full international level. 
External links.
[[Category:Association football clubs established in 1908]]
[[Category:Association football clubs in Dublin (city)]]
[[Category:Former League of Ireland clubs]]
[[Category:1908 establishments in Ireland]]
[[Category:Leinster Senior League (association football) clubs]]