I was delighted to help launch two new editions of some historic Bohemian FC publications last month in the Jackie Jameson bar in Dalymount Park. The books are currently available to order from the club shop at this link. Thank you to everyone who attended and to Ciarán Priestley, Kie Carew, Luke O’Riordan, Brian Trench, Gary Keating and many others for their support in getting these books back in print.

Some of you may have an older edition of Ciarán’s book, although this one now has some updated content as well as some additional sections provided by me and by Brian Trench, focusing on some key individuals in the early years of the club. The presentation, binding and photographs mean, that in my view, it is the best edition yet of this important early history of Bohemian Football Club.

The “Hints to players” booklet by William Hooper was first published 101 years ago and I came across it when helping Helen Rapple, the granddaughter of former Bohemian Club President, Liam Rapple, sort through some of her grandfather’s papers, I knew it was something special and bought it there and then. Hooper was an amazing servant to Bohemians as a player, doctor and administrator and his life is detailed in Brian Trench’s short biography which is included at the start of the new edition. Hooper was clearly ahead of his time in thinking about physical fitness and tactics and this comes across in his booklet. I was delighted to recieve the back of the club in getting this republished.

Below is a quick synopsis of both books, I can heartily recommend both for purchase.

The Enduring legacy of an idle youth – the founding of Bohemian Football Club

By Ciarán Priestley

The Bohemian Football Club was founded on 6th September 1890 in the gate lodge of the Phoenix Park by a group of young men in their late teens and early twenties.

Dublin of the 1890’s can be a difficult place for its modern inhabitants to understand because, to paraphrase a famous lyric, Dublin kept on changing and nothing seems the same. To reimagine the Irish capital as a Victorian city of Union Jacks, empire and radical politics is to remove the events of the twentieth century from its landscape.

It was not inevitable that the Bohemian Football Club would survive the social transformation that was brought about by the First World War or the Irish Revolution, given that it boasted participants from different sides of these conflicts amongst its membership.

Important decisions were made early in the life of the new club that helped it to adapt to a rapidly changing world. The role of democracy and ambition forged a sense of purpose amongst its members that overcame the great political questions of the era. Securing a permanent home in Dalymount Park reflected these values and created a position of strength that ensured the club has remained at the forefront of Irish football to this day.

This book examines the community of young footballers that inadvertently created a Dublin institution during their formative years, placing these efforts in a social context that inspired the literary works of James Joyce and caused a national revolution. This is a revised and updated third edition with new imagery and content including guest contributions.

Hints to players

By Dr. William F. Hooper

Originally published in 1925 and distributed to the players of Bohemian FC, Hints to players is one of the first football coaching manuals written and published in Ireland. Complete with hand drawn tactical diagrams “Hints to players” covered everything from tactics, to fitness and match preparation while also correctly predicting tactical changes that would soon come to dominate football.

William Hooper was a star player for Bohemians at the turn of the century, before playing important roles as an administrator and club doctor for Bohemians as well as being the long serving president of the FAI. Republished for the first time in over a century this new edition features an introduction and short biography of Hooper, written by Bohemian FC historian Brian Trench.