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A is for AMBY, as in Amby Fogarty, who was player manager when Galway United (or Galway Rovers as then were then, see ‘R') made their bow in the National League, back on August 28, 1977, at home to St. Patrick's Athletic. A is also for ATHLONE Town, United's nearest rivals and the side they have played against more times (66) than any other in the league.

B is for both BOURNEMOUTH and BRIGHTON and Hove Albion, the two English sides United have beaten in preseason friendlies. They beat Bournemouth 1-0 in August 1984, and turned over Brighton 2-0 in July 2000.

C is for CHICK, otherwise known as Eamon Deacy, the local man who scored United's first ever league goal, hitting the net away to Thurles Town on October 2, 1977. It was the only goal of the game and also secured United's first ever league win. He later joined Aston Villa, winning a league medal with the Villains in 1980/81.

D is for DERRY CITY, the side who have inflicted the biggest home (6-0) and away (9-1) defeats on United, but at least United got them over and done in a short time - they occurred within the space of two months in the 1989/90 season.

E is for EAST FIFE, the first non-Irish opposition for United in a preseason friendly when the two sides met in the Galway Sportsground on Wednesday July 20, 1977. The then Scottish First Division side took a two goal lead, but strikes from guest Athlone Town players Padraic Nicholson and John Minnock saw the home side earn a 2-2 draw.

F is for FRIENDLIES and United have managed to attract some decent names over the years such as Glasgow Celtic, Sunderland, Bolton Wanderers, Derby County, Southampton, Dundee, Kilmarnock, Manchester City, Fulham, Leicester City and Birmingham City.

G is for GREANEY, as in Mattie Greaney, who along with Joe Hanley, stepped up to the plate in December 1984 to rescue a debt-ridden Galway United. Without their intervention, there would possibly be no Galway United, and their place in United's history should never be forgotten, as is the case with Gerry Gray and Eamon Naughton, recently elected as Chairman of the eircom League.

H is for HOME, or to be more precise, HOMES. While Terryland has always been home, United have played competitive home fixtures at a number of different venues down the years, such as greyhound stadium/rugby ground the Sportsground, rugby ground Crowley Park; the GAA grounds in Carraroe and Ballinderreen; and perhaps strangest of all, Harolds Cross in Dublin, where United ‘hosted' Shelbourne on April 2, 1994. They lost 5-2.

I is for INCLEMENT, the polite word used to describe the weather that forced United's FAI First Round game with Waterford United in 1995 to be postponed three times and abandoned once. Along with two draws, it meant a marathon seven attempts were needed to decide the tie, United eventually winning 2-0.

J is for JOEY (Malone) and JOHNNY (Glynn), the men behind United's greatest ever day, the 1991 FAI Cup Final win over Shamrock Rovers. Joey was the manager, Johnny was the captain whose goal in the 86^th minute secured a famous 1-0 win on Sunday  May 12, 1991, in Lansdowne Road.

K is for KEANE, as in Roy, the Sunderland manager. He started his senior soccer career with League of Ireland side Cobh Ramblers, but contrary to what some will have you believe, he never played against United, unlike fellow legendary internationals Paul McGrath (see ‘P') and Ronnie Whelan (see ‘R'), both of whom not only played against United, but also scored against them. Keane did, however, bring his Sunderland side to Terryland  for a preseason friendly in 2007.

L is for LAVINE, as in Eric, who is the only United player to score four goals in a league game - against Finn Harps in August 2000. L is also for LYNGBY, United's opponents when they qualified for European competition for the first time in their history, the Cup Winners Cup of the 1985/86 season. Groningen (1986/87 season) and Odense (1991/92 season) were United's other opponents in Europe.

M is for MONAGHAN United, the team who have been on the receiving end of both United's biggest home (8-0) and away (7-2) wins.

N is for NOEL Connolly, United's groundsman who won the league's inaugural Groundsman of the Year award in 1997/98. The best groundsman in the country by a mile. On the downside, he is an Ipswich Town fan.

O is for OVERSEAS, and United have had plenty of overseas players in their history, representing countries such as the usual suspects of England, Scotland and Wales, along with Barbados, the USA, Australia, Russia, Poland, France, Spain, the Netherlands, Italy and Finland, and not forgetting St. Vincent and Grenadines, which supplies current club captain, Wes Charles.

P is for PAUL McGee, United's all-time top scorer with 74 league goals. Alan Murphy has every chance of breaking that mark, sitting as he does second in the list on 61 goals. Another PAUL, this time McGrath, scored the winner against United in a 2-1 win for St. Pats in October 1981.

Q is for QUINN, as in Sunderland Chairman Niall. The preseason friendly back on Wednesday August 1 was not his first encounter with United, as he came on as a substitute for Manchester City in a friendly in the Sportsground on July 24 1995, and promptly scored the third goal in a 3-0 win for the visitors.

R is for ROVERS, as in Galway Rovers, the name of the club when it joined the League of Ireland in 1977 and played under until the 1981/82 season, when they changed their name to Galway United. R is also for RONNIE Whelan, who played for Home Farm against United in Terryland as a 16 year old in October 1977, and grabbed the winner eight minutes from time in a 2-1 win.

S is for SLIGO Rovers, United's provincial rivals. They may have won the league twice, in 1937 and 1977, but United had the pleasure, nay, privilege, of relegating them in 2003 thanks to a Dave Goldbey goal. Legend.

T is for TOLKA Park, the venue for United's first ever national Cup success, when they beat Dundalk 2-0 in the League Cup final on January 1, 1986. T is also for TONY Mannion, who has sat in the United manager's chair on three occasions, stretching over nine complete seasons and three bit-seasons.

U is for UNORTHODOX, which was the manner in which Tommy Callaghan found out he has lost his job as manager in March 1979. A board meeting of the club was held, after which a handwritten note was pushed through his letterbox late at night with just six words on it: ‘Tommy, we resigned ya. The Board.'

V is for VLADIMIR Antamonov, who became the first Russian player to line out for United when he joined the club in the 2002/03 season, making a handful of appearances. He arrived via the exotic surroundings of Kiltimagh in Mayo, where his wife was working in a nursing home, and he hadn't a word of English. He still lives in the West.

W is for WINNING, as in the six trophies United have in their cabinet - one FAI Cup (1991), two League Cups (1985; 1997), one First Division title (1993) and two First Division Shields (1993; 1997).

X is for XENOGLOSSIA, which the dictionary explains as an ability claimed by the likes of mediums and clairvoyants to speak a language with which they are unfamiliar. No harm in a bit of education every now and then.

Y is for the YOYO effect, which United experienced in the early 1990s when they were relegated at the end of 1991/92, only to go straight back up as champions the following year, and were either promoted or relegated 5 times in 11 seasons in and around the decade.

Z is for ZERO, the number of away games United won in the 1978/79 season. Z is also for ZHIVAGO, the outlet on Shop Street where you can buy tickets for all United's home games.

© Keith Kelly, Connacht Tribune