Armagh City F.C. is an intermediate, Northern Irish football club playing in the IFA Championship 2. The club, founded in 1964 as Milford Everton, and originally hailed from the village of Milford, just outside Armagh city, but changed their name in 1988 on relocation to Armagh. The club played at the Mill Field, Armagh from 1988 to 1991, when it moved to its current home, Holm Park. The club's colours are azure and black stripes. In early 2010 the club embarked on a partnership with Fundación Marcet, a Barcelona-based academy, in an arrangement based on coaches and young players from the academy joining the Eagles. The actual terms of the agreement were not finalised at the time, and negotiations broke down in July 2010. Former player Marty Rice was named first team manager on 10 July 2010, having been assistant to Ivor McGucken at the start of the 2009/10 season.
The club achieved senior status in 1999, but reverted to intermediate status in 2003 when the Irish Premier League was established and the number of senior clubs was reduced from 20 to 16. In 2005, however, City gained promotion to the Premier League, but after three more seasons at senior level, the club failed to gain a place in the 12-club IFA Premiership and reverted once more to intermediate status as a member of the IFA Championship.
The original name of Milford Everton was in honour of the founders' favourite English team Everton. Milford was the village were the penalty kick was first introduced in 1890 when local goalkeeper William McCrum suggested a way to combat illegal challenges near to goal. Milford Everton eventually bought and refurbished the McCrum Institute in the early 1980s as they strove to improve facilities for the 'B' Division.
During the 2011/2012 season Armagh City entered into negotiations with various bodies including the IFA, Armagh City and District Council and Sportni to secure funding to replace their grass pitch with the latest, FIFA approved, 3rd generation pitch. The pitch is now expected to be laid in 2013.
Read more about Armagh City F.C.: Current Squad, Staff
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