Published: Friday, 15th January, 2010 12:47pm

Early promise proved false dawn in turbulent decade for Athlone Town

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IN a decade largely to be forgotten for followers of Athlone Town, it had all started so much more brightly.

With the arrival of a new Millennium, Athlone Town appointed former Republic of Ireland international forward Liam Buckley as manager for a second time.

Buckley had previously arrived at St Mel's Park as player-manager in 1997 and memorably guided Athlone to the semi-finals of the FAI Cup.

However, Buckley had tarnished his name with some Athlone followers by departing for St Pat's later that year. So, his return to the St Mel's Park hotseat in 2000 was met with scepticism in many quarters.

It wasn't long before those sceptics changed their tune, though.

Although the campaign started with a tame scoreless draw at home to Sligo Rovers, Athlone were quickly up and running. Four days after the opening game, Athlone travelled to Home Farm and two goals in the final five minutes from new signing Andy Myler and Stephen Mullan set the tone for an exciting season. The victory over Home Farm was all the sweeter for Athlone didn't look like taking anything from the game for long periods.

A stunning 5-1 away win at Cobh Ramblers - a notoriously difficult place for Athlone to get results - followed. Myler registered two more goals against Cobh and would net an incredible 16 goals in the following 13 matches as Athlone went 16 games unbeaten before losing 3-0 to Dundalk at Oriel Park.

A three-match unbeaten spell followed the loss at Dundalk and seemed to steady the ship, before a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Cobh Ramblers just before Christmas planted doubts back in many people's minds about Athlone's promotion aspirations.

Their patchy form also seemed to sow the seeds of doubt in Buckley's mind. In a bid to boost his side's promotion ambitions, he brought in new signings Greg Costello, Alan McNevin and Maurice O'Driscoll, but many observers felt it was at this juncture that the wheels began to come off Athlone's promotion push.

Buckley seemed increasingly unsure of his best eleven and his decision to persevere with the much-derided McNevin was a source of particular confusion to most Athlone fans.

A scoreless draw against bottom-placed Drogheda Utd in a behind-closed-doors match (due to the Foot & Mouth scare) was followed by a horrific run in late January, as Athlone lost 3-1 to Monaghan Utd and 2-1 at home to Dundalk. Athlone failed to win any of the next three games, a run which included a 4-2 loss at Sligo Rovers.

Four straight wins, achieved mostly while playing only average, kept the promotion push on track, but things got desperate when in-form Monaghan Utd came to St Mel's Park with just three games remaining and won 3-2, scoring all their goals inside the opening 22 minutes. Monaghan were now firmly in the race with Athlone and league leaders Dundalk for the two promotion spots.

Athlone lost their next game, a huge match against table toppers Dundalk at Oriel Park. Dundalk's win sealed promotion for them but Athlone needed to beat Waterford Utd on the final day of the season at St Mel's Park to join Dundalk in the Premier Division.

On a tense final day, Athlone had clear chances to see off Waterford Utd but ended up drawing 0-0.

Despite Athlone looking almost certain to go up for most of the season, it was Dundalk and latecomers to the party, Monaghan Utd, who won promotion.

Athlone had fluffed it big-time and were resigned to a promotion/relegation play-off against Premier Division UCD.

Two goals from Myler - who finished the season with 29 goals (a new record for an Athlone player) - gave Athlone a 2-1 advantage after the first leg of the play-off at St Mel's Park. A reversal of the scoreline at Belfield a week later saw the play-off enter extra-time and eventually penalty kicks, where Athlone lost out 4-3.

It was a heartbreaking way for the season to end and, in some respects, Athlone have never really recovered on the pitch since.

The following season, with Buckley still at the helm, was a huge disappointment, as Athlone failed to get going at all and finished seventh.

Crowd favourite Andy Myler also left the club midway through a frustrating season, after Athlone accepted a bid for his services from Waterford Utd. In April 2002, Buckley decided to leave Athlone for a second time, joining Shamrock Rovers, a club where he enjoyed much success as a player.

Athlone were now at something of a crossroads and they turned to local coach Jimmy Greene.

With a hugely restricted playing budget, Athlone and Greene decided to give local players a chance. The likes of Alan Kelly, Robbie Shine, Michael Harney and Damien Rushe were added to the more experienced local players like Stephen Mullan, Warren Parkes and Michael Collins. It was always going to be a very tough year, though, and Athlone found the going really difficult, finishing second from bottom and having to apply for re-election to the First Division for the first time ever.

Athlone managed only five wins all season, the highlight undoubtedly coming at Oriel Park when Athlone won 4-2 and Warren Parkes hit a hat-trick. Waterford Utd won the league title in season 2002/03.

The following season saw the league switch to summer football, with the campaign beginning in March and ending in November. The First Division also became a twelve-team league.

The Town only managed one win in the opening 17 matches but got their act together during the second half of the season. The signing of veteran forward Martin Reilly and exciting right-back Gerard O'Brien were major coups for Greene, while local central defensive partnership Des Hope and Ronan Frawley were developing an excellent understanding. Although only finishing eighth, confidence certainly grew during the last few months of the season and the general consensus was that Athlone were now not a million miles away from possibly making a promotion push in 2004.

However, Greene decided to step down from the post after two testing seasons in charge and Aaron Callaghan was installed as Athlone's third manager of the decade.

Callaghan arrived at St Mel's Park with a growing reputation as a great coach and, from all accounts, the players had a huge regard for his coaching abilities.

He spoke confidently about the club's ambitions for 2004 and things looked bright when they destroyed Monaghan Utd 4-1 on the opening day of the season. But Callaghan's relationship with club officials was reported to be strained and he resigned his position after just ten games in charge.

Stephen Kelly, an experienced Athlone player who was actually interviewed for the position when Jimmy Greene stepped down, took the job until the end of the season.

It was a rough period for Kelly, as Athlone failed to win any of the last seven matches, a run which included a 6-0 trouncing at Finn Harps.

Athlone were deducted three points for fielding an unregistered player, Michael McCann, in the 4-1 over Monaghan Utd on the opening day of the season. Athlone were also fined €2,500 for the offence and the team finished a truly horrible season in tenth position.

The Town actually began the following season in good form, going unbeaten for the opening three games, but things went downhill pretty swiftly, with Stephen Kelly parting company with the club on July 5, 2005. Kelly's spell at the helm at St Mel's Park was not particularly rewarding on the field but Athlone supporters and players should never forget the dignity and strength he showed when 23-year-old Athlone attacker, Shane Brennan, died tragically following a freak accident in Newtownforbes in May, 2005. Kelly behaved impeccably during this period and led by example throughout a really difficult time for the club and its playing staff.

Dubliner John Gill took over following Kelly's departure and although himself and assistant Gerry Scully seemed to steady the ship, and the team began to play somewhat better and more cohesively, Athlone still finished bottom of the First Division. Gill then joined Dundalk at the end of the season, as Athlone seemed to drag their heels over offering Gill a new contract.

During the 2006 pre-season, rumours were rife that legendary figure Turlough O'Connor could return to the club as manager, but it was his younger brother, Michael O'Connor, who was named manager for a second spell.

Finances were low as the club concentrated most of its energy on the construction of its new stadium in Lissywoollen, with the plan being to open the ground in March 2007.

So, Michael O'Connor was forced to deal mainly with local players, although he did add the likes of Ian Rossiter and Jim Sheridan from Sligo.

Athlone finished the league season third from bottom as Shamrock Rovers won the First Division, but the highlight of Athlone's season was reaching the quarter-finals of the FAI Cup.

The game was screened live on television and played at Dubarry Park, the home of Buccaneers Rugby Football Club. Jim Sheridan's headed goal gave Athlone a first-half lead but Rovers fought back to win 2-1.

The following season (2007) promised so much but ultimately proved anti-climatic.

With the club moving to a new stadium in Lissywoollen - a move met with great positivity by the local community - Athlone made a concerted effort to push for promotion from the First Division.

Players with large reputations in the league, the likes of striker Paul McTiernan, goalkeeper Ciaran Kelly and Barbados forward Eric Lavine, were expected to lead the promotion charge, and it was another pre-season recruit, Dave O'Dowd, who netted the first ever goal in Lissywoollen as Athlone got off to a bright start, beating Kilkenny City 3-0.

The atmosphere around the club seemed distinctly positive but there were worrying signs when Athlone lost 6-2 at Dundalk in the fourth game of the season. In truth, Athlone never really recovered from this blow and the season took a disappointing turn for the worst when a disagreement occurred between the manager and the 'Mad as Cootes' Supporters Club.

Ultimately, O'Connor left the club on July 6, with the then-chairman Ken Bryan saying: "I am saddened at Michael's departure as manager. Both Michael and the O'Connor family have given invaluable service to Athlone Town Football Club over many years, both on and off the pitch."

O'Connor's assistant, Dermot Lennon, took over the manager's job until the end of the season, with Athlone eventually finishing sixth on 41 points. The general feeling was that Athlone had blown a superb chance to compete for promotion and it was immediately made clear that 2008 would see Athlone operate off a much-reduced playing budget. Dermot Lennon would also stay in charge of team affairs.

A season which was hampered by an inability to meet player and management payments at times, particularly towards the end of the campaign, saw Athlone struggle to a ninth placed finish.

It quickly became crystal-clear that Athlone was in major financial trouble.

And the club very nearly went out of business during the 2009 pre-season before a special Patrons' Scheme saved the club.

Former player Brendan Place was appointed as the club's new manager and although results during last season were less than impressive and far from consistent, it seems most supporters want to give Place at least another season to prove his true capabilities.

Athlone finished last season third from bottom and a certain train of thought exists that they should be satisfied with that considering the club almost went out of business before the season began.

However, Place has already spoken of an ambition to improve Athlone's playing fortunes in 2010.

And Athlone followers can only hope that the next ten years delivers less disappointment and more enjoyment and success than the previous decade.