Wexford Youths W.F.C.
| Full name | Wexford FC Women's Football Club |
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| Nickname(s) | The Youths | ||
| Ground | Ferrycarrig Park | ||
| Capacity | 2,500 (609 temp seats) | ||
| Manager | Hugh Strong | ||
| League |
Women's National League Women's Under 17 National League |
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| 2023 | 7th | ||
| Website | Club website | ||
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Wexford FC Women's Football Club is an Irish association football club based in Crossabeg, County Wexford. Their senior team plays in the Women's National League. In the course of women's football in Ireland, Wexford have steadily been one of the league's strongest teams.
As Women's National League winners, they represented Ireland in the UEFA Women's Champions League in Poland in 2015, at home in Wexford in 2016, in Belfast in 2018 and in Lithuania in 2019
History
Women's National League
In 2011–12 Wexford Youths, together with Peamount United, Castlebar Celtic, Cork Women's F.C., Raheny United and Shamrock Rovers, became founder members of the Women's National League. Youths finished third in both 2012–13 and 2013–14. In 2013–14 they also won their first trophy, the WNL Cup, after defeating Castlebar Celtic 3–0 in the final at Ferrycarrig Park. In 2014–15 Youths won their first Women's National League title after finishing two points clear of second placed UCD Waves. The 2015–16 season saw Youths win a treble. They started the season by winning the FAI Women's Cup for the first time. In the final at the Aviva Stadium they defeated Shelbourne Ladies 4–2 on penalties after a 2–2 draw. Shelbourne Ladies would be Youths main challengers throughout the season. The two sides met again in the WNL Shield final, played at Ferrycarrig Park, on 30 March 2016. Wexford Youths again emerged as winners with Edel Kennedy scoring in the 1–0 win. In the league itself, the two teams finished level on points before Wexford Youths retained the title after a play-off. Youths travelled to Galway W.F.C. on Sunday, 8 May knowing a victory would secure them the league title. However Youths dropped their first league points away from home and could only manage a 1–1 draw. Youths had a second chance to clinch the title when they played Shelbourne Ladies at Tolka Park on Wednesday, 11 May. However Shelbourne Ladies won 3–1 and as result finished level on points with Youths. This meant the title would be decided by a play-off for the first time. The play-off took place on Sunday, 22 May at Tallaght Stadium. It proved third time lucky for Wexford Youths as they finally secured the title with a 2–1 win. Shortly after guiding Youths to their second title, head coach Will Doyle announced he was resigning.
In June 2016, Gary Hunt was named as the new senior women's team manager, having been a coach under Will Doyle for the previous two years.
After one season in charge, Gary Hunt stepped down as manager of the club, replaced by former assistant manager Laura Heffernan.
In 2017 Heffernan secured Wexford Youths Women their third WNL title in 4 years, stepping down at the end of the season.
She was followed by Tom Elmes at the beginning of the 2018 Season. He guided the team to the treble that year and UEFA Women's Champions League qualification in 2019, The following year the team won the Senior cup in the Aviva stadium under Tom Elmes. Elmes departed in July 2021 to be appointed as Ireland's WU16 head coach and the Women's Senior team assistant coach to Vera Pauw. He was replaced by his assistant Stephen Quinn.
In the season 2021 the team finished 3rd in the league and won the Women's Senior Cup under the leadership Of Stephen Quinn.
Stephen Quinn departed the club mid-season in 2023 after an unsuccessful spell. The club appointed Hugh Strong as it's new manager ahead of the 2024 season.
Players
Current squad
- As of 29 May 2022.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Former players
Republic of Ireland women's internationals
Wexford Youths in Europe
2015–16 UEFA Women's Champions League
After winning the 2014–15 Women's National League title, Wexford Youths qualified for UEFA Women's Champions League for the first time. They played in Group 7 and finished second after winning two out of three games.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Medyk Konin (H) | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 | +15 | 9 | Advanced to knockout phase |
| 2 | Wexford Youths | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 7 | −1 | 6 | |
| 3 | Gintra Universitetas | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 6 | −1 | 3 | |
| 4 | Cardiff Met. | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 15 | −13 | 0 |
| Gintra Universitetas | 0–1 | Wexford Youths |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Gleeson
 67'
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| Wexford Youths | 0–6 | Medyk Konin |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Daleszczyk
5', 82' Sikora 18'Balcerzak 67', 84'Tarczyńska 86'
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| Cardiff Met. | 1–5 | Wexford Youths |
|---|---|---|
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Allen
60'
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Report |
Breen
3', 6', 42', 80' Cassin 30'
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2016–17 UEFA Women's Champions League
After winning the 2015–16 Women's National League title, Wexford Youths qualified for UEFA Women's Champions League for a second time. Wexford Youths have been announced as hosts of one of the group stage tournaments with games due to be played at both Ferrycarrig Park and the Waterford Regional Sports Centre.
- Group 7
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | KAZ | GIN | WEX | CRI | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BIIK Kazygurt | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 | +8 | 9 | Knockout phase | — | — | 3–1 | 3–0 | |
| 2 | Gintra Universitetas | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 4 | +11 | 6 | 0–3 | — | — | 13–0 | ||
| 3 | Wexford Youths (H) | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | −3 | 1 | — | 1–2 | — | — | ||
| 4 | ARF Criuleni | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 16 | −16 | 1 | — | — | 0–0 | — |
Honours
- Women's National League
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FAI Women's Cup
- Winners: 2015, 2018, 2019, 2021: 4
- Runners-up: 2016: 1
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WNL Cup
- Winners: 2013–14 1
- Runners-up: 2018, 2019: 2
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WNL Shield
- Winners: 2015–16, 2018 2
Source: