‘Ireland’s Second Capital’? Irish Footballers’ Migration to Liverpool, the Growth of Support and the Organisation of Liverpool and Everton Football Clubs’ Matches in Dublin: An Historical Assessment

ABSTRACT This article assesses the historical links between the cities of Liverpool and Dublin in terms of Republic of Ireland-born player migration to Everton and Liverpool football clubs, the role of supporters’ clubs and the organisation of matches involving these clubs in Dublin. While Everton Football Club had initially been more closely linked to Dublin through the signing of Irish-born players, the organisation of friendly matches and the establishment of a supporters club in the Irish capital by the mid-1950s, it was not until the 1970s that Liverpool Football Club’s popularity in Dublin surpassed Everton’s through European success, Irish player recruitment and the organisation of friendly matches in the city. Abbreviations: B. and I. Ferries: British and Irish Ferries; FAI: Football Association of Ireland; FC: Football Club; IFA: Irish Football Association.