Formation and History Institute F.C.

1 formation , history

1.1 years (1905–1912)
1.2 intermediate years (1981–1999)
1.3 senior football, promotions , relegations (1999–2010)
1.4 return of paul kee, promotions , relegations (2010-present)

formation , history
early years (1905–1912)

the presbyterian working men s institute founded in 1882 associated football october 1905, when number of players , supporters of north end olympic f.c., had folded, conceived idea of creating new football team. meeting accordingly held in rooms, of diamond hotel, late mr. william buchanan, acting chairman. thereupon decided form junior football club known institute f.c. affiliated north-end football association , play friendly matches during 1905–06 season.

the club played first ever match (a friendly) against st columbs court @ magee college grounds (which club used home pitch season), winning match 2–1. played in match were: j.parkhill, d.patton, wm. neely, r.a.bogle, w. m. wilton, d.gillespie, j.holland, d.mccleery, d.gilfillan, g. young, , a. doherty. institute arranged many other friendlies during season , continued grow in strength.

in 1906–07 season club entered north-west junior league. first ever junior match league match away farm wanderers ended in 4–4 draw. in season of 1907–08, billy gillespie began playing club, , went on become 1 of club s greatest ever players. club won north-west charity cup season, beating derry celtic wanderers 4–1 in final, making them first junior team ever win trophy. mr william logue became chairman of club , remained chairman until year 1914.

in 1910–11 season, although team lost billy gillespie leeds city, managed reach semi-final of irish junior cup, in defeated 2–1 broadway united @ brandywell. 1911–12 season saw club reach final of irish junior cup, narrowly losing out on winning trophy after 2–1 defeat brantwood @ grosvenor park, belfast.

intermediate years (1981–1999)

in 1981 institute joined intermediate league. first season in intermediate league (the 1981–82 season) turned out club s successful ever in league. first ever intermediate match league match against roe valley, won 8–1. season reached semi-finals of intermediate cup, beat ruc on penalties @ coleraine showgrounds, meaning had earned place in first round of irish cup.

they met chimney corner in final, beaten 2–0 in unconvincing performance. irish cup first round match against coleraine ended in defeat, coleraine winning 2–1.

in 1996 institute entered irish league b division 1996–97 season. won smirnoff cup season, beating chimney corner 4–2 in final. finished 7th in league. in 1998–99 season club gained promotion irish first division.

senior football, promotions , relegations (1999–2010)

on 14 august 1999 club played first ever match senior football team. match @ home bangor in irish league first division , result 3–3 draw saw institute come behind. first victory of season 1-0 win away local north-west rivals limavady united. visit armagh city @ end of season saw massive 7–0 victory institute, top scorer roddy mcdowell going down in record books scoring club s first ever senior hat-trick (he scored 4 on day). institute ended season in 6th place.

in 2000–01 season club finished in top half of league, securing 5th place. following season, club finished in 2nd place in first division, securing promotion irish premier league. season saw 4 players reach 100 appearances club, these graeme philson, adrian creane, ryan coyle , john mcgarvey.

the first match of 2002–03 season away glentoran, lost 4–1. season spelt end of paul kee s 3-year reign manager, left manage carlisle united. despite this, club won north-west cup, , finished in 6th place in league (top half), still club s highest ever league placing. in 2003–04 season club finished in 11th place in league, 2004–05 season more successful 1 club, 9th-place finish in table.

institute relegated premier division @ end of 2005–06 season, after losing out in promotion/relegation play-off against donegal celtic, played due club finishing 15th out of 16 in premier division, , donegal celtic finishing 2nd in first division. club lost first leg 3–1 away home , played out 0–0 draw in second leg @ home.

in 2006–07 winners of first division, gaining promotion top flight after 1 season. in 2007–08 season club managed avoid relegation, finishing 14th. following season finished in 7th place out of 12 clubs (after league had been reduced 16 clubs 12 2008–09 season onwards) , reached semi-final of irish cup first time.

the following season, after finishing last (12th) place in premiership, promotion/relegation play-off - again against donegal celtic - decide whether or not club relegated. narrowly lost out in play-off, drawing 0–0 in first leg away home, , losing 1–0 @ home 85th-minute winner donegal celtic s stephen mcalorum. meant relegation ifa championship 1.

return of paul kee, promotions , relegations (2010-present)

2010–11 season club s first season in second tier in 4 years, , saw paul kee return club, after being appointed head of development near end of season. club brought home north west senior cup after beating coleraine 3–1 in final, , finished in 8th place in league, having won 6 out of last 8 league games ease relegation fears there had been before run of form.

in 2011–12 season, club completed cup double having won north west senior cup second successive season, once again beating coleraine in final. result 4–2 , match played @ riverside stadium. accompanied great success in craig memorial cup, lifting trophy after beating tobermore united in penalty shoot-out, when match ended in stalemate 1–1 result @ fortwilliam park. club finished in 3rd place in championship 1.

the 2012–13 season included appointment of paul kee manager , north west senior cup final defeat coleraine; 3-0 @ coleraine showgrounds. club finished 3rd in championship 1 second successive season, missing out on promotion play-off place, finishing 3 points behind league runners-up warrenpoint town. club lifted irish intermediate cup first ever time after defeating ards rangers 1–0 in final late winner darren mcfadden.

once again club promoted top tier after being crowned champions of nifl championship 1 on final day of season, 1-1 draw against harland & wolff welders bangor meaning 2-0 win in north-west derby @ home limavady united enough see club finish top of pile second time. successful season, despite intermediate cup semi-final defeat armagh city , including north-west senior cup final appearance - ending in defeat in penalty shoot-out newbuildings united - enjoyed club. 2014-2015 nifl premiership season in club relegated once more after 12th (bottom) placed finish, saw north-west senior cup triumph, beating moyola park 3-1 in final @ riverside stadium in october 2014. season s end marked end of paul kee s second 4-year stint in charge after being relieved of duties in april 2015; resignations of key board members such chairman keith mcelhinney , vice-chairman trevor hewitt.

kevin deery appointed manager in late may 2015 former institute captain paddy mclaughlin new assistant. in first season under new management, institute finished in 6th place in league still qualified nifl premiership promotion/relegation play-off (due of above teams in 2nd-5th place not acquiring promotion license) in lost out 5-4 on aggregate injury time winning goal ballinamallard united level second leg @ 3-3. knocked out of league cup @ quarter-final stage in 2-1 defeat warrenpoint town; 2-1 craig memorial cup final defeat rivals limavady united, club managed success in irish intermediate cup, defeating league champions ards 3-1 in final.

there taste of success via north west senior cup in 2016/17 season, beating coleraine in final (1-1 full-time, 4-2 on penalties), 5-2 aggregate loss carrick rangers in nifl premiership promotion/relegation play-off final (having beaten ballyclare comrades 3-2 on aggregate in semi-final), coupled first , sixth round exits league cup , irish cup respectively meant made frustrating season overall. manager kevin deery handed in resignation following season end, on 20 may 2017, following discussions chairman bill anderson , replaced assistant, , former club captain, paddy mclaughlin, on 24 may 2017.