# Richmond Park (football ground)

53°20′27″N 06°19′0″W﻿ / ﻿53.34083°N 6.31667°W﻿ / 53.34083; -6.31667
Richmond Park is a football stadium in Dublin, Ireland. Situated in the Dublin suburb of Inchicore, it is the home ground of League of Ireland side St Patrick's Athletic (also known as St Pat's). The area where the ground now stands was formerly used as a recreational area by the British Army, who were stationed at the nearby Richmond Barracks, both named after Charles Lennox, 4th Duke of Richmond the barracks having since been demolished.

## History

After the creation of the Irish Free State, and therefore the removal of the British Army, the ground lay idle for 3 years before League of Ireland club Brideville began using the ground in 1925. In 1930 Brideville were forced to move to Harolds Cross Greyhound Stadium to accommodate St Patrick's Athletic moving in. St. Pats continue to use and develop the ground until 1951 when they entered the League of Ireland. The league deemed the ground unsuitable and St. Pats were forced to use a variety of grounds in Dublin as they fought to upgrade Richmond Park. In 1960, after serious development, the ground played host to St Pat's first home league game in Inchicore. The ground closed for redevelopment in May 1989, however, due to St Pats hitting financially difficulties they did not return until 5 December 1993.
The ground lies behind a row of terraced housing in a natural valley and is often used for Republic of Ireland underage and women's teams. It staged the League of Ireland Cup final in 1982 and 2003. It has played host to two Leinster Senior Cup finals, as well as many junior and intermediate finals. In 2001, 2002, 2003 and part of 2004 Shamrock Rovers played their home games in Richmond Park as tenants of St. Pats. In 2005, Dublin City played the first 10 games of their season in the ground, under a similar arrangement. Richmond Park is usually used by non-league clubs in surrounding areas when they qualify for the FAI Cup.
It staged its first European game in July 1996 when Slovan Bratislava visited in a 1996–97 UEFA Cup tie.
In 2005, the board of St. Patrick's Athletic F.C. spoke to their fans about a potential move to a new municipal stadium in Tallaght where they would share with Shamrock Rovers. Outraged by this, the club's fans revolted and a pressure group called 'Pats for Richmond' was set up to mobilise and organise opposition to the plan. In July 2006, the St. Pat's board of directors gave a clear indication of staying put by purchasing local pub Richmond House (also known as McDowells) in order to give the club's fans a social base.
In 2006 the club qualified for Europe for the first time since 2002 via the 2006 FAI Cup final and with the club needing a bigger seating capacity to play in the UEFA Cup, the grass bank behind the Inchicore End goal was dug up and levelled out with concrete and a new temporary stand was built made up of a metal frame and wooden boards. In 2011, at the UEFA Europa League clash between Pats and ÍBV of Iceland, a supporter fell through one of the wooden boards while celebrating a goal. This led to the top half of the stand being closed for the next round against Shakhter Karagandy from Kazakhstan and the stand being closed entirely for the remainder of the 2011 season. Before the start of the 2012 season, any wooden boards that were deemed dangerous were swapped with safe ones from the top half of the stand that remained closed, and the bottom half of the stand was reopened for the Saints 5-1 hammering of Shamrock Rovers and remained open for the rest of the season. There was only two games that were an exception to the stand being open, the Europa League game, once again against ÍBV, when the UEFA delegate deemed the stand unsafe to use for supporters and the next round of the Europa League against Bosnian side Široki Brijeg when once again the UEFA delegate deemed the stand unsafe, but his decision was overruled by the Garda Síochána due to overcrowding in the Main Stand as a result of the tickets being oversold. Midway through the 2013 season, the St.Pat's Supporters Club, the Patron Saints, donated €50,000 to the club for the stand to be dismantled and rebuilt using metal flooring instead of wooden. The first time the new stand was used was a sold-out fixture against Lithuanian side Žalgiris in the UEFA Europa League on 11 July 2013. the stand was officially opened on 27 July 2013 in front of Supporters, Players and Management and given the official name of 'The Patrons' Stand'.
In April 2018, St Patrick's Athletic proposed a plan to leave their Richmond Park home in favour of a move across the road to the St Michael's Estate site where it was speculated that a 12,000 seater stadium and shopping facility, the Richmond Arena, could be built. However, the proposed site was owned by Dublin City Council and the council did not agree to the proposal and progressed its own plans to develop housing on the site instead.
In 2020, Richmond Park played host to the SSE Airtricity League Relegation/Promotion Playoff final between Shelbourne and Longford Town behind closed doors due to COVID-19, Longford ended up winning 1-0 via a Rob Manley Goal.

## Facilities

The main stand seats 1,800 people. Behind one goal, at the Inchicore end, space was constructed into a new uncovered stand in time for the 2007 UEFA Cup campaign of St Patrick's Athletic F.C. This stand seats 1,000 and is known as the West (or 'New') Stand. The hardcore St. Pat's supporters have traditionally gathered at the other end, in the 'Shed End', though in more recent times the Shed has housed the away supporters while the more vocal Pat's fans have moved to the main stand. Although known locally as the "Shed End" the official name is the John Minnock stand, as it was financed with money received from his transfer to Charlton Athletic. It was originally a fully covered terrace before half the roof was removed in the early 2000s and the other half in early 2020, leaving it as an uncovered terrace. The Camac terrace, across from the main stand, is used by home fans, and named after the river that runs behind it. The Camac holds the ground's TV gantry.

## Other uses

Richmond Park hosted Ireland's first-ever outdoor rock festival on 4 September 1970. Headlined by Mungo Jerry, the lineup also featured one of the earliest performances of the then recently formed Thin Lizzy. A crowd of several thousand had been expected but, in the event, widespread rumours of a Garda drugs bust and poor weather kept the attendance to an estimated 800.

## Notable players

List of players that have been included in squads at senior international tournaments to have played at Richmond Park, in order of their first appearance at the ground.
| Player | National Team | Tournament squad(s) | First appearance | First fixture (player's club in bold) |
| Mirlind Daku | Albania | UEFA Euro 2024 | 21 July 2022, UEFA Europa Conference League | St Patrick's Athletic 1–1 Mura |
| Nando Pijnaker | New Zealand | 2020 Olympics | 25 February 2022, League of Ireland | St Patrick's Athletic 1–2 Sligo Rovers |
| Vítězslav Jaroš | Czech Republic | UEFA Euro 2024 | 27 March 2021, League of Ireland | St Patrick's Athletic 2–1 Drogheda United |
| Andre Burley | Saint Kitts and Nevis | 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup | 14 February 2020, League of Ireland | St Patrick's Athletic 0–1 Waterford |
| Willy Caballero | Argentina | 2004 Olympics (1st), 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup (2nd), 2018 FIFA World Cup | 13 July 2019, friendly | St Patrick's Athletic 0–4 Chelsea |
| Michy Batshuayi | Belgium | UEFA Euro 2016, 2018 FIFA World Cup (3rd), UEFA Euro 2020, 2022 FIFA World Cup | 13 July 2019, friendly | St Patrick's Athletic 0–4 Chelsea |
| David Luiz | Brazil | 2011 Copa América, 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup (1st), 2014 FIFA World Cup (4th), 2015 Copa América | 13 July 2019, friendly | St Patrick's Athletic 0–4 Chelsea |
| Mateo Kovačić | Croatia | 2014 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2016, 2018 FIFA World Cup (2nd), UEFA Euro 2020, 2022 FIFA World Cup (3rd), UEFA Euro 2024 | 13 July 2019, friendly | St Patrick's Athletic 0–4 Chelsea |
| Andreas Christensen | Denmark | UEFA Euro 2020, 2022 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2024 | 13 July 2019, friendly | St Patrick's Athletic 0–4 Chelsea |
| Ross Barkley | England | 2014 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2016 | 13 July 2019, friendly | St Patrick's Athletic 0–4 Chelsea |
| Mason Mount | England | UEFA Euro 2020 (2nd), 2022 FIFA World Cup | 13 July 2019, friendly | St Patrick's Athletic 0–4 Chelsea |
| Olivier Giroud | France | UEFA Euro 2012, 2014 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2016 (2nd), 2018 FIFA World Cup (1st), UEFA Euro 2020, 2022 FIFA World Cup (2nd), UEFA Euro 2024 | 13 July 2019, friendly | St Patrick's Athletic 0–4 Chelsea |
| Kurt Zouma | France | UEFA Euro 2020 | 13 July 2019, friendly | St Patrick's Athletic 0–4 Chelsea |
| Emerson | Italy | UEFA Euro 2020 (1st) | 13 July 2019, friendly | St Patrick's Athletic 0–4 Chelsea |
| Jorginho | Italy | UEFA Euro 2020 (1st) | 13 July 2019, friendly | St Patrick's Athletic 0–4 Chelsea |
| Billy Gilmour | Scotland | UEFA Euro 2020, UEFA Euro 2024 | 13 July 2019, friendly | St Patrick's Athletic 0–4 Chelsea |
| César Azpilicueta | Spain | 2012 Olympics, 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup (2nd), 2014 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2016, 2018 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2020 (4th), 2022 FIFA World Cup | 13 July 2019, friendly | St Patrick's Athletic 0–4 Chelsea |
| Pedro | Spain | 2010 FIFA World Cup (1st), UEFA Euro 2012 (1st), 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup (2nd), 2014 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2016 | 13 July 2019, friendly | St Patrick's Athletic 0–4 Chelsea |
| Alexander Fransson | Sweden | 2016 Olympics | 11 July 2019, UEFA Europa League | St Patrick's Athletic 0–2 Norrköping |
| Jordan Larsson | Sweden | UEFA Euro 2020 | 11 July 2019, UEFA Europa League | St Patrick's Athletic 0–2 Norrköping |
| Dante Leverock | Bermuda | 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup | 19 April 2019, League of Ireland | St Patrick's Athletic 2–1 Sligo Rovers |
| Romeo Parkes | Jamaica | 2015 Copa América | 19 April 2019, League of Ireland | St Patrick's Athletic 2–1 Sligo Rovers |
| Federico Fernández | Argentina | 2014 FIFA World Cup (2nd) | 17 July 2018, friendly | St Patrick's Athletic 0–2 Newcastle United |
| Christian Atsu | Ghana | 2013 African Cup of Nations (4th), 2014 FIFA World Cup, 2015 African Cup of Nations (2nd), 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (4th), 2019 Africa Cup of Nations | 17 July 2018, friendly | St Patrick's Athletic 0–2 Newcastle United |
| Ciaran Clark | Republic of Ireland | UEFA Euro 2016 | 17 July 2018, friendly | St Patrick's Athletic 0–2 Newcastle United |
| Mohamed Diamé | Senegal | 2012 African Cup of Nations, 2012 Olympics, 2017 Africa Cup of Nations | 17 July 2018, friendly | St Patrick's Athletic 0–2 Newcastle United |
| DeAndre Yedlin | United States | 2014 FIFA World Cup, 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup (4th), 2016 Copa América (4th), 2022 FIFA World Cup, 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup (4th) | 17 July 2018, friendly | St Patrick's Athletic 0–2 Newcastle United |
| Kyle Lafferty | Northern Ireland | UEFA Euro 2016 | 5 July 2017, friendly | St Patrick's Athletic 1–0 Heart of Midlothian |
| Aaron Hughes | Northern Ireland | UEFA Euro 2016 | 5 July 2017, friendly | St Patrick's Athletic 1–0 Heart of Midlothian |
| Mohamed El Monir | Libya | 2012 African Cup of Nations | 21 July 2016, UEFA Europa League | St Patrick's Athletic 0–1 Dinamo Minsk |
| Jorginho | Guinea-Bissau | 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, 2021 Africa Cup of Nations | 29 July 2015, friendly | St Patrick's Athletic 3–2 Manchester City |
| Angus Gunn | Scotland | UEFA Euro 2024 | 29 July 2015, friendly | St Patrick's Athletic 3–2 Manchester City |
| Ayman Ben Mohamed | Tunisia | 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (4th) | 14 March 2014, League of Ireland | St Patrick's Athletic 3–2 UCD |
| Pascal Millien | Haiti | 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup, 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup, 2016 Copa América | 19 April 2013, League of Ireland | St Patrick's Athletic 2–0 Sligo Rovers |
| Roberto Lopes | Cape Verde | 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, 2023 Africa Cup of Nations | 22 August 2011, League of Ireland | St Patrick's Athletic 1–1 Bohemians |
| Tony Mawejje | Uganda | 2017 Africa Cup of Nations | 7 July 2011, UEFA Europa League | St Patrick's Athletic 2–0 ÍBV |
| Ryan Thompson | Jamaica | 2015 Copa América, 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup (2nd), 2016 Copa América | 25 April 2011, League of Ireland Cup | St Patrick's Athletic 1–1 (3–1 pens) Shamrock Rovers |
| Michael Hector | Jamaica | 2015 Copa América, 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup (2nd), 2016 Copa América, 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup, 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup | 25 March 2011, League of Ireland | St Patrick's Athletic 3–2 Dundalk |
| Alan Mannus | Northern Ireland | UEFA Euro 2016 | 6 November 2009, League of Ireland | St Patrick's Athletic 1–0 Shamrock Rovers |
| Robbie Brady | Republic of Ireland | UEFA Euro 2016 | 6 September 2009, friendly | Republic of Ireland U19 2–0 Turkey U19 |
| Oleg Ivanov | Russia | UEFA Euro 2008, UEFA Euro 2016 | 30 July 2009, UEFA Europa League | St Patrick's Athletic 1–0 Krylia Sovetov |
| Roman Shishkin | Russia | UEFA Euro 2016, 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup | 30 July 2009, UEFA Europa League | St Patrick's Athletic 1–0 Krylia Sovetov |
| Jordi Cruyff | Netherlands | UEFA Euro 1996 | 16 July 2009, UEFA Europa League | St Patrick's Athletic 1–1 Valletta |
| James McClean | Republic of Ireland | UEFA Euro 2012, UEFA Euro 2016 | 7 April 2009, League of Ireland | St Patrick's Athletic 0–3 Derry City |
| Paulo Ferreira | Portugal | UEFA Euro 2004 (2nd), 2006 FIFA World Cup (4th), UEFA Euro 2008, 2010 FIFA World Cup | 18 February 2009, friendly | St Patrick's Athletic 2–2 Chelsea |
| Niall McGinn | Northern Ireland | UEFA Euro 2016 | 10 November 2008, League of Ireland | St Patrick's Athletic 2–1 Derry City |
| Anders Svensson | Sweden | 2002 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2004, 2006 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2008, UEFA Euro 2012 | 28 August 2008, UEFA Cup | St Patrick's Athletic 2–1 Elfsborg |
| Teddy Lučić | Sweden | 1998 FIFA World Cup (3rd), UEFA Euro 2000, 2002 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2004, 2006 FIFA World Cup | 28 August 2008, UEFA Cup | St Patrick's Athletic 2–1 Elfsborg |
| Johan Wiland | Sweden | UEFA Euro 2008, UEFA Euro 2012 | 28 August 2008, UEFA Cup | St Patrick's Athletic 2–1 Elfsborg |
| Emir Bajrami | Sweden | UEFA Euro 2012 | 28 August 2008, UEFA Cup | St Patrick's Athletic 2–1 Elfsborg |
| Séamus Coleman | Republic of Ireland | UEFA Euro 2016 | 24 August 2008, League of Ireland | St Patrick's Athletic 1–0 Sligo Rovers |
| Romauld Boco | Benin | 2004 African Cup of Nations, 2008 African Cup of Nations, 2010 African Cup of Nations | 7 March 2008, League of Ireland | St Patrick's Athletic 3–1 Sligo Rovers |
| Arkadiusz Głowacki | Poland | 2002 FIFA World Cup | 13 November 2007, friendly | St Patrick's Athletic 1–1 Wisła Kraków |
| Krzysztof Mączyński | Poland | UEFA Euro 2016 | 13 November 2007, friendly | St Patrick's Athletic 1–1 Wisła Kraków |
| Michael Thwaite | Australia | 2007 AFC Asian Cup | 13 November 2007, friendly | St Patrick's Athletic 1–1 Wisła Kraków |
| Christian Bolaños | Costa Rica | 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup, 2006 FIFA World Cup, 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup, 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup, 2014 FIFA World Cup, 2016 Copa América, 2018 FIFA World Cup, 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup | 19 July 2007, UEFA Cup | St Patrick's Athletic 0–0 Odense Boldklub |
| Arkadiusz Onyszko | Poland | 1992 Olympics | 19 July 2007, UEFA Cup | St Patrick's Athletic 0–0 Odense Boldklub |
| Robbie Keane | Republic of Ireland | 2002 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2012, UEFA Euro 2016 | 12 July 2007, friendly | St Patrick's Athletic 0–1 Tottenham Hotspur |
| Gareth Bale | Wales | UEFA Euro 2016, UEFA Euro 2020, 2022 FIFA World Cup | 12 July 2007, friendly | St Patrick's Athletic 0–1 Tottenham Hotspur |
| Jacques Maghoma | DR Congo | 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, 2019 Africa Cup of Nations | 12 July 2007, friendly | St Patrick's Athletic 0–1 Tottenham Hotspur |
| Adel Taarabt | Morocco | 2012 African Cup of Nations | 12 July 2007, friendly | St Patrick's Athletic 0–1 Tottenham Hotspur |
| Didier Zokora | Ivory Coast | 2002 African Cup of Nations, 2006 African Cup of Nations (2nd), 2006 FIFA World Cup, 2008 African Cup of Nations (4th), 2010 African Cup of Nations, 2010 FIFA World Cup, 2012 African Cup of Nations (2nd), 2013 African Cup of Nations, 2014 FIFA World Cup | 12 July 2007, friendly | St Patrick's Athletic 0–1 Tottenham Hotspur |
| Stephen Ward | Republic of Ireland | UEFA Euro 2012, UEFA Euro 2016 | 12 September 2004, League of Ireland | St Patrick's Athletic 1–2 Bohemians |
| Stephen Quinn | Republic of Ireland | UEFA Euro 2016 | 23 April 2004, League of Ireland | St Patrick's Athletic 1–2 Shamrock Rovers |
| Frank Sinclair | Jamaica | 1998 CONCACAF Gold Cup (4th), 1998 FIFA World Cup, 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup | 13 February 2004, friendly | St Patrick's Athletic ?–? Leicester City |
| Steffen Freund | Germany | UEFA Euro 1996 (1st), 1998 FIFA World Cup | 13 February 2004, friendly | St Patrick's Athletic ?–? Leicester City |
| Joseph N'Do | Cameroon | 1998 FIFA World Cup, 2000 African Cup of Nations (1st), 2002 African Cup of Nations (1st), 2002 FIFA World Cup | 2003, League of Ireland | St Patrick's Athletic ?–? ??? |
| Kevin Doyle | Republic of Ireland | UEFA Euro 2012 | 2001, League of Ireland | St Patrick's Athletic ?–? ??? |
| David Forde | Republic of Ireland | UEFA Euro 2012 | 1 December 2000, League of Ireland | St Patrick's Athletic 3–0 Galway United |
| Stig Inge Bjørnebye | Norway | 1994 FIFA World Cup, 1998 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2000 | 5 August 2000, friendly | St Patrick's Athletic 0–2 Blackburn Rovers |
| Alan Kelly, Jr. | Republic of Ireland | 1994 FIFA World Cup, 2002 FIFA World Cup | 5 August 2000, friendly | St Patrick's Athletic 0–2 Blackburn Rovers |
| Damien Duff | Republic of Ireland | 2002 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2012 | 5 August 2000, friendly | St Patrick's Athletic 0–2 Blackburn Rovers |
| Christian Dailly | Scotland | 1998 FIFA World Cup | 5 August 2000, friendly | St Patrick's Athletic 0–2 Blackburn Rovers |
| John Filan | Australia | 1992 Olympics | 5 August 2000, friendly | St Patrick's Athletic 0–2 Blackburn Rovers |
| Frank Lampard | England | UEFA Euro 2004, 2006 FIFA World Cup, 2010 FIFA World Cup, 2014 FIFA World Cup | 23 July 2000, friendly | St Patrick's Athletic 0–1 West Ham United |
| Rio Ferdinand | England | 1998 FIFA World Cup, 2002 FIFA World Cup, 2006 FIFA World Cup | 23 July 2000, friendly | St Patrick's Athletic 0–1 West Ham United |
| Michael Carrick | England | 2006 FIFA World Cup, 2010 FIFA World Cup | 23 July 2000, friendly | St Patrick's Athletic 0–1 West Ham United |
| Trevor Sinclair | England | 2002 FIFA World Cup | 23 July 2000, friendly | St Patrick's Athletic 0–1 West Ham United |
| Michael Dawson | England | 2010 FIFA World Cup | 23 July 2000, friendly | St Patrick's Athletic 0–1 West Ham United |
| Frédéric Kanouté | Mali | 2004 African Cup of Nations, 2008 African Cup of Nations, 2010 African Cup of Nations | 23 July 2000, friendly | St Patrick's Athletic 0–1 West Ham United |
| Hayden Foxe | Australia | 1996 Olympics, 2000 Olympics, 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup (3rd) | 23 July 2000, friendly | St Patrick's Athletic 0–1 West Ham United |
| Dominic Iorfa | Nigeria | 1988 Olympics, 1995 FIFA Confederations Cup | 7 October 1999, League of Ireland | St Patrick's Athletic 1–0 Waterford United |
| Jeff Clarke | Canada | 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup (1st), 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup | 2 October 1998, League of Ireland | St Patrick's Athletic 1–0 UCD |
| Heremaia Ngata | New Zealand | 1998 OFC Nations Cup (1st), 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup, 2000 OFC Nations Cup (2nd) | 18 September 1998, League of Ireland | St Patrick's Athletic 3–0 Bohemians |
| Raf de Gregorio | New Zealand | 2000 OFC Nations Cup (2nd), 2002 OFC Nations Cup (1st), 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup, 2004 OFC Nations Cup (3rd) | 18 September 1998, League of Ireland | St Patrick's Athletic 3–0 Bohemians |
| Billy Hamilton | Northern Ireland | 1982 FIFA World Cup, 1986 FIFA World Cup | 1984, League of Ireland | St Patrick's Athletic ?–? Limerick |
| Paul McGrath | Republic of Ireland | UEFA Euro 1988, 1990 FIFA World Cup, 1994 FIFA World Cup | 30 August 1981, League of Ireland Cup | St Patrick's Athletic 1–0 Shamrock Rovers |
| Gordon Banks | England | 1966 FIFA World Cup (1st), UEFA Euro 1968 (3rd), 1970 FIFA World Cup | 2 October 1977, League of Ireland | St Patrick's Athletic 1–0 Shamrock Rovers |
| Jimmy Johnstone | Scotland | 1974 FIFA World Cup | 1977, League of Ireland | St Patrick's Athletic ?–? Shelbourne |
| Felix Healy | Northern Ireland | 1982 FIFA World Cup | 1974, League of Ireland | St Patrick's Athletic ?–? Sligo Rovers |

## Gallery

* Welcome to Richmond Park signage
* The Shed End
* Richmond Park in the 1990s
* Street art dedicated to Paul McGrath outside the ground on Emmet Road