Tag: Irish-named Clubs Abroad

FF de Chile Primera Division 2020-21

Final Table

PosTeam

Legend / Key: (C) Champions, (RP) Relegation Playoff, (R) Relegated

Universidad de Concepcion were relegated after losing Playoff 0-1 to Colo Colo.

Recap

O’Higgins finished 11th in the Chilean Primera Division in 2020-21, on 45 points from 34 matches, 20 points behind Champions Universidad Catolica, and 4 above relegated Universidad de Concepcion. Other teams with names recognizable to Irish readers were Union Espanola (4th), Palestino (5th), Santiago Wanderers (12th), Everton (13th) and Audax Italiano (14th). [1]

About O’Higgins Soccer Team and General Bernardo O’Higgins

Like O’Higgins numerous Soccer teams in Chile reference the origins of the majority of Chileans in European ancestry. O’Higgins are named after General Bernardo O’Higgins, born in Chile out of marriage to Ambrosio O’Higgins, who was born in Ireland and Isabel Riquelme. Bernardo O’Higgins took charge of a rabble of a rebel army, despite having no military training himself and led the Liberation of Chile from Spanish rule in a war that lasted from 1810 to 1818. Today he is regarded as the liberator of Chile and the father of the Nation [2]. He is recognized by Football authorities not just in the name O’Higgins for the Soccer team, but also in the Copa Libertadores, the Liberators Cup, which is the South American equivalent of the UEFA Champions League, named in honour of all the South American Liberators.

Statue of General Bernardo O’Higgins in Santiago, Chile.

Bernando O’Higgins General Statue at Bulnes Square and Bicentenario Chilean flag – Santiago, Chile / Item ID: 1276756747 Contributor Diego Grandi (2022) [Internet] Available from: https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/bernando-ohiggins-general-statue-bulnes-square-1276756747 [Accessed 15 January 2022][3]

REFERENCES

[1] Stephen Fishlock Group Ed.. (2021) “World Service: Club football: South America: Chile” World Soccer. April 2021 pg. 96, Kelsey Media, Maidstone, Kent, England. UK.

[2] Christopher Minster (2019) Biography of Bernardo O’Higgins, Liberator of Chile Thought Co. July 21, 2019. [Internet] Available from: https://www.thoughtco.com/bernardo-ohiggins-2136599 [Accessed 15 January 2022]

Image References

[3] Contributor Diego Grandi (2022) Bernando O’Higgins General Statue at Bulnes Square and Bicentenario Chilean flag – Santiago, Chile / Item ID: 1276756747 [Internet] Available from: https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/bernando-ohiggins-general-statue-bulnes-square-1276756747 [Accessed 15 January 2022]

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thanks to Bernard (Loreto Community Project, Nutgrove)

ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish North American and World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 15 January 2022

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2022

You may quote this document in part provided that proper acknowledgement is given to the authors. All Rights Reserved. The Logos and Photos used in this article remain the property of the organisations and individuals which own the copyright and are used here for educational and information purposes only.

Argentina FA National A Division 1992-93

Apertura (Opening Championship) Table 1992-93

PosTeam

Note: * River Plate v Argentinos Juniors abandoned at half-time with River Plate leading 1-0.

Clausura (Closing Championship) Table 1992-93

PosTeam

Note: $ Game between River Plate v Talleres Cordoba in the matter of the courts – The Referee sent of 5 Talleres players and the result and the effect the subsequent player suspensions had on Talleres Cordoba’s season was so great that they were relegated. Talleres brought the matter to court, and were banned for doing so by the Argentina FA, but the judge ruled that the FIFA statutes barring teams from going to court was unconstitutional, and the matter was going through the court system in Argentina at the cessation of the Championship.

Relegation Averages (Points Per Game Over Past 3 Seasons)

PosTeam

Legend / Key

P – Played, W- Won, D – Drew, L – Lost, F – Goals For, A – Goals Against, GD – Goal Difference, Pts – Points, (C) Champions and Copa Libertadores Qualifiers (R) Relegated by lowest average points over last three seasons.

Season Recap

Velez Sarsfield finished sixth of 20 teams in the Apertura (Opening Championship) and then won the Clausura (Closing Championship) in the Argentina Football Association National A Division in 1992-93 [1, 2]. It was only the fourth Championship victory for the traditionally Irish-Argentine Soccer team, and the first in 46 years [2]. With no playoff between the Apertura and Clausura Champions unlike in other South American Championships at the time, there was no Overall Champion for the 1992-93 season [2], and both Boca Juniors (Apertura Champions) and Velez Sarsfield (Clausura Champions) qualified for the Copa Libertadores – the South American Champions League [2].

About Velez Sarsfield

Velez Sarsfield are named after Dalmacio Velez Sarsfield, whose Grandfather George Sarsfield left Ireland in the early 1700s [4]. Dalmacio is a hugely important figure in Argentina, having written the country’s civil code in 1856 [4]. The Code remained in use until 2015. Velez Sarsfield are a multi-sport club based in the Capital Buenos Aires, and are most famous for their successful Soccer team.

VELEZ SARSFIELD

Velez Sarsfield Stamp
ARGENTINA – CIRCA 1977: a stamp printed in the Argentina shows Dalmacio Velez Sarsfield, Argentine Lawyer and Politician, Author of Argentine Civil Code, circa 1977

References

[1] Anon. / Keir Radnedge (Ed.) “South America: Tables” World Soccer. February 1993 pg. 51. IPC Magazines, London, UK.

[2] Anon. / Keir Radnedge (Ed.) “South America: Tables” World Soccer. September 1993 pg. 49. IPC Magazines, London, UK.

[3] Maynooth University (2021) Viva Irlanda! Remembering the history of the Irish in Argentina [Internet] Available from: http://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/research/spotlight-research/viva-irlanda-remembering-history-irish-argentina [Accessed 31 January 2021][Last Accessed 29 December 2021]

PHOTO REFERENCES

[4] ©boris15/123RF.COM

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thanks to Rose McCabe, Gabriel McCloyne, Gerry Tully, Paul Leech, Peter Lemass, Ciaran Simms, Cathal Gallagher, Paul Foley (TCD).

ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT

Researched, compiled and written by Enda Mulcahy for the

Eirball | Irish North American and World Sports Archive

Last Updated: 29 December 2021

(c) Copyright Enda Mulcahy and Eirball 2021

You may quote this document in part provided that proper acknowledgement is given to the authors. All Rights Reserved. The Logos and Photos used in this article remain the property of the organisations and individuals which own the copyright and are used here for educational and information purposes only.