UCC Diaspora FC look to end cup journey with trophy

UCC Diaspora FC, a team of Irish people living in London, will play their first final in the London Junior Cup this Saturday, with the underdogs taking on Senior League side FC Hamlets in the biggest match in the club’s history.

Founded in 2010 by four University College Cork graduates who moved to London (hence the club's name), UCC Diaspora play their Junior League football in the Wimbledon and District Football League Premier Division.

Irishmen Jack O’Connell, Paul Irwin, Steve Tagney, and current club chairman Paul Williamson formed the club following a merger with the remains of Wandsworth Celtic, a team nearing the end of its lifespan due to multiple player retirements.

The vast majority of players to wear the Diaspora jersey have been Irish as, for six years and counting, the club provides an easier opportunity for Irish expatriates to socialise through football in a new country.

Diaspora’s first team manager Stephen O’Connell is one such expat. O’Connell moved to London in 2011, and has since been involved with the club, first as a player and then joining the management setup after getting injured two seasons ago. While Diaspora’s first team marched to this cup final under O’Connell’s management, he makes it clear it’s the players who should be commended for the “unbelievable run”.

“Trying to pick the team for the final,” says O’Connell, “is a nightmare for me, to be honest with you. Everyone has been unbelievable. It’s been the squad that’s gotten us there, not individuals. They’ve all stood up and played their part in getting us into the final.”

Selection headaches were ameliorated throughout the season due to players’ off-field commitments, which is par for the course for clubs at this level, but especially for the Diaspora.

“Not once this season,” says O’Connell of his 18-man squad, “have I been able to pick the same team two weeks a row in any match. We’ve a lot of Cork boys, some Dublin boys, we’ve a couple of English lads as well. Because the majority of us are Irish and the average age of the team is about 27 or 28 […]fellas are always going back home for stags, for weddings, or just to visit family, or fellas are just working here.”

Befitting their name, Diaspora’s cup run has been nomadic to say the least. They travelled to the four corners of London, never once playing at home. In the first round, they travelled to Hackney Marshes in North-East London, a notable breeding ground for young footballers, and played the current cup holders Sloane FC. After a 2-2 draw, UCC Diaspora emerged victorious after a tight penalty shootout that ended 5-4 in their favour.

In the second round Diaspora played Boca Seniors, again going 2-0 up only to be pegged back to 2-2 after conceding two penalties. It took another penalty for Diaspora to take the 3-2 victory. In the quarter finals they played Hilltop in North-West London, a team that were something of an enigma to Diaspora according to O’Connell. Nonetheless, Diaspora went 2-0 up in the first half and Hilltop crumbled, with Irish expats sweeping to a 5-0 victory to cap off “a brilliant performance”.

Their biggest test so far came in the semi-finals and rightly so. Their opponents were Lewisham Athletic who, until then, had been undefeated in all competitions. Diaspora went 1-0 up, but Athletic pulled it back to 1-1. This pattern continued until both teams were tied 2-2 after extra time. Lewisham lost a man after his second bookable offence and conceded a penalty shortly afterwards, which Diaspora tucked away to edge past into the final.

Diaspora’s chairman Paul Williamson, the only one of the four founding members to remain officially linked to the club, admits the London Junior Cup is “kind of a bogey competition” for the club as they’ve rarely advanced past the first or second round in previous years.

But Williamson points out that Diaspora generally fared well in other competitions. Entered into the First Division for their first season, Diaspora’s first team won the league “quite easily” and remained unbeaten until the final game of the season, while the second team have been promoted twice in the last five years, winning the Third Division three years ago and finishing as runners-up in the Second Division this season.

The skull and crossbones that adorn Diaspora’s jerseys is one of the many lasting influences the Cork university had on the club.

“We always try to keep that connection,” Williamson says. “It’s more of a casual connection than an official one. They’d be telling me about fellas who might be moving over. And UCC hold an alumni lunch every year, in February, so a few of us go back for that as well. I suppose the sports department of UCC are aware of us and they’ve written a few articles on us, but we haven’t gotten any funding or anything like that.”

But Williamson says Diaspora hasn’t struggled too much with funding. The club doesn’t have the cost of their own facilities - they don’t own a club house and they play on council pitches - and sponsorship provides for the kit and training gear. Fundraisers and members’ contributions keep the club afloat.

The final against FC Hamlets this Saturday - postponed from last week - is easily the biggest match in Diaspora’s history.

“We’ve beaten some of the top teams in the competition,” says Williamson, “but the team we’re playing in the final look like a very decent side. Hopefully we can put in a performance on the day, y’know?”

The only ever London Junior Cup victory by a team in Diaspora’s league was achieved by Real Phoenix in the 04/05 season. Second Division sides from the Senior League, such as FC Hamlets, are eligible to play in the Junior Cup despite being a step above in the football structure than Junior League teams.

“They’re a very good side,” says O’Connell.

One thing’s for certain, given Diaspora’s recent record from the spot, FC Hamlets will hope it doesn’t go to penalties.