Dunmurry Recreation and Football Club was founded by the owner of the local printing works, Thomas Crawford in 1879 and played on a Ground best known as the “BB Fields” now the Middle Green
After a few years they moved to Shower Road and it was there that they started to win a few competitions collecting the Belfast Saturday Night Shield before taking the Steel & Sons Cup in 1898 defeating Ligoniel 2-0
At this time most of the team came from the village with a few coming from neighbouring 
districts. Among those who moved to greater heights were Bobby Irvine, the Scott brothers from Suffolk, Will and Elisha, and Nipper Campbell of Linfield fame. Elisha Scott who was rated by many as the finest goalkeeper of all time played for Liverpool, Belfast Celtic and Ireland
districts. Among those who moved to greater heights were Bobby Irvine, the Scott brothers from Suffolk, Will and Elisha, and Nipper Campbell of Linfield fame. Elisha Scott who was rated by many as the finest goalkeeper of all time played for Liverpool, Belfast Celtic and Ireland
The clubs next move saw them playing on a pitch then called the Whippet Grounds at Lambeg where they remained for two years before returning to the Old or Top ground at Ashley Park in 1918/19 where they competed at Intermediate level
With the end of the First World War there was a wealth of talent available and the club opened their new grounds at Ashley Park, its spacious pavilion being a popular attraction for Dunmurry During this period the club were regularly in the Irish Cup and the Co Antrim Shield besides invitation games in the City Cup. Their most famous Irish Cup match at Dunmurry was against Glentoran when the visitors only equalised in the final minute of the game, the match ending 2-2. The Oval replay was again drawn and back at Ashley where, at the 3rd attempt, the Glens ran out victors by 3-1. The club also had matches against Portadown and Cliftonville winning both by the odd goal. In the early thirties a great run in the Co Antrim Shield was recorded, Barn Utd, then a senior club, were defeated and Ards dismissed in the semi final at Cliftonville with Sammy Curran scoring the winner in the 90th minute. In 1939 with 5
players joining the forces, the club folded during the war years but the post war saw a revival and in 1947-8 it was well back in the soccer picture. Admission to Division 1 of the Northern Amateur League was gained with R Maxwell and Harry Mussen well-known local figures, as sponsors, Distillery being the opposition for the re-opening of Ashley Park.
With no control over Amateur players, Dunmurry Rec was a happy hunting ground for Senior clubs and this told a tale. A list of past players reads like a who’s who of Irish football over the past half-century. Players of note were, 1930, Bobby Irvine, signed for Everton for £500 and played alongside Dixie Dean and achieved 19 Caps. Alan McKnight, of Celtic and West Ham fame, Sammy McCue to Burnley, Distillery Chairman, T Allen, to Bradford.
With the end of the First World War there was a wealth of talent available and the club opened their new grounds at Ashley Park, its spacious pavilion being a popular attraction for Dunmurry During this period the club were regularly in the Irish Cup and the Co Antrim Shield besides invitation games in the City Cup. Their most famous Irish Cup match at Dunmurry was against Glentoran when the visitors only equalised in the final minute of the game, the match ending 2-2. The Oval replay was again drawn and back at Ashley where, at the 3rd attempt, the Glens ran out victors by 3-1. The club also had matches against Portadown and Cliftonville winning both by the odd goal. In the early thirties a great run in the Co Antrim Shield was recorded, Barn Utd, then a senior club, were defeated and Ards dismissed in the semi final at Cliftonville with Sammy Curran scoring the winner in the 90th minute. In 1939 with 5
players joining the forces, the club folded during the war years but the post war saw a revival and in 1947-8 it was well back in the soccer picture. Admission to Division 1 of the Northern Amateur League was gained with R Maxwell and Harry Mussen well-known local figures, as sponsors, Distillery being the opposition for the re-opening of Ashley Park. With no control over Amateur players, Dunmurry Rec was a happy hunting ground for Senior clubs and this told a tale. A list of past players reads like a who’s who of Irish football over the past half-century. Players of note were, 1930, Bobby Irvine, signed for Everton for £500 and played alongside Dixie Dean and achieved 19 Caps. Alan McKnight, of Celtic and West Ham fame, Sammy McCue to Burnley, Distillery Chairman, T Allen, to Bradford.
More recent players were Ian Curliss (Portadown), Phillip Mitchell (Linfield, Ipswich, Distillery & Glentoran), Phillip Dykes (Distillery), F Maguire (Cliftonville), Tommy Jackson N.Ireland International, Glen Larmour & Stewart McPherson both Crusaders Anto Walsh and Glen Hand to Bangor Stevie Greene to Glenavon The Club officials who made major contributions and steered the club towards its present day standing were, HA Frazer (President), Ted Waring (President), R.J McCallum (Chairman), S Jefferson (Secretary& IFA official), D Cuthbertson Snr (Treasurer), Tommy Thompson (Grounds man) and Bryce Gamble (Team Physio ). This has led to several Cup Finals being held at the ground that included the Co Antrim Junior Shield, Border Cup & Women’s Irish Football Association International in 1988 to name but a few.
In recent years the Teams have come close in competition the most memorable being the 1998/99 Steel & Son Cup beating RUC 2-1 in the Final at Seaview and NAFL Premier League Champions in the same year and winning the Border Cup beating Kilmore Rec in the final in 2006/7 season