Billy Hogan

In his book *Mud, Sweat and Jeers*, the renowned veteran Kilkenny journalist and himself lifelong dedicated EMFA and City stalwart [ Manager 1985-89 ], Jim Rhatigan rightly mentions Billy's contribution to the Club that was founded in 1966 as EMFA [ = Emmett Street and Fatima Place ] , entered the League of Ireland in 1985, was re-named Kilkenny City AFC in 1989 but sadly played its last League game on Nov 10, 2007, before resigning from the League in Jan, 2008, due to persistent problems of finance, poor results and poor attendance [ 137 average attendance over 3 years 2004-2006, with a max for any fixture of 400 reached in 2005 ]. Its highest ever attendance was 6,500 for the FAI Cup Semi-Final against Shamrock Rovers on April 28, 1991, under Manager Joe McGrath, a Dubliner [ lost to the Hoops 1-0 ]. In its final 3 years, it finished 4th in the League in 2005, and 10th in both 2006 and 2007, in contrast to its glory year when it won the First Division in 1996-97, with Waterfordman Alfie Hale [ born 1939 ] as Manager, and was promoted to the Premier Division.

Having earlier played in St James Park, Freshford Road, Kilkenny City, it had then bought  from farmer and City shopkeeper Mick Murphy, who owned the adjacent Tinny Park House,  a 5.7 acre site at Tinney Park,  2 miles South-West of the City on the N 76 Callan Road, which it then magnificently developed as  Buckley Park  [ honoring the first EMFA President Marty Buckley ], with capacity for 6,000, including eventually seating for 1,850, dimensions of 107 x 78 yards, and which had also hosted several Junior  International fixtures. 

In its 41 year  League era, 1966 to 2007, EMFA/City has played 603 matches, of which they Won 146 [ =24.2 % ], Drew 150 [  =24.9  % ], and Lost 281 [ =46.6  % ] , scoring 636 Goals [ = 1.05 per match ],  Letting in 899 Goals [ = 1.49 per match ], and accumulating 539 Points [ =  0.89 per match ]. 

The combination of always orbiting in the shadow of bigger Clubs, to whom better players or Managers were bound to gravitate, plus a very small home base [ in the County of the almost unbeatable Kilkenny Senior Hurlers ] finally proved forces too strong to reverse.