DUNBOYNE AFC put its foot in the water for the very first time on Sunday, 30 August 1970 with an AUL Division 3A game against Newbrook Celtic. No need to mention the result, only to say that the A "youthful" Joe Dalligan with the original pitch marker!visitors went away the happier! We plugged away and within three short years rose to become league champions.

However, the real result was the establishment by a few brave souls of what has gone on to be one of the biggest soccer clubs around. Credit for their foresight must go to the likes of Paddy Mulreid, now the club's president, Mick McAuley (yes, the Mick McAuley!), Peter Brady, Michael Cunniffe, John Curtis, Ray Hughes, Willie McEntee, Mick Kane and Shay Nugent.

In those early years, pitches were begged and borrowed. Lands owned by Eamon Walsh and Brian Reilly were used initially, while the earliest changing rooms (use your imagination!) included packing cases, car cases, building pallets, and the famous "big old van" compliments of Paddy Waters. Roddy Doyle must have Dunboyne connections!!

By 1974 it was all change. The club moved lock, stock and one smoking van to a new pitch on the Summerhill Road. This was kindly donated by Joe Bruton. Six years later a king's ransom (£600, actually) was paid for our first official dressing rooms.The word finally got out that there was soccer in Dunboyne, so much so that during the 1980's two other pitches were in use, one in Barry's Lane, which is now the "front" part of Mill Farm, and the other in Joe Mullally's back garden.