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• Sunday August 23rd, 2020 @ 12:45

St Pat's History - The 1950's

Pat's almost replicated the treble of three years previously in the 1950-51 season. They completed the LSL Division One four-in-a-row, regained the FAI Intermediate Cup, and came runners-up in the Leinster Senior Cup.

By this stage the League of Ireland could no longer ignore the most successful club from outside their ranks and Pat's were admitted to the single-division, twelve-team LOI for the 1951-52 season alongside Transport, who shared similar roots in the old GSR club.

What happened next was nothing short of remarkable. There are few examples anywhere in world football of a team entering an established top-flight professional league from the nonleague ranks and winning it at the first attempt, but that's exactly what the Saints did.

Using much the same team as had dominated the Leinster Senior League in the four years previous, St Patrick's Athletic began their maiden season inauspiciously, with just four wins in their first twelve games in the Shield and various cups.

Indeed, the Saints lost their first League game proper, but went on to secure the title with a free-scoring approach led by the great Shay Gibbons who netted 26 goals in 22 League games.

You can read the article in full in our matchday programme: