‘CROSS EYE Official Matchday Programme of Cork City FORAS Co-op v Waterford United FC €3 Friday 12 March 2010, 7.45 pm Turner’s Cross Issue 1 Historic day for club that can rise again By Fran Gavin, Director, Airtricity League It is an historic day at the club entered into exam - the hands of the supporters Turner’s Cross, as Cork inership in 2008. When Tom – the same fans who fol - City FORAS Co-op pre - Coughlan purchased the lowed Cork City all over pares for its first Airtricity club, the FAI and the sup - Ireland now have the oppor - League match. After a porters were pleased that tunity to shape their own turbulent off-season, foot - the club had been given a destiny. ball fans in Cork now have second chance. However, we an oppoartunity to be also warned Mr Coughlan The FAI is fully supportive of part of a very special new that the club could regain FORAS. We believe that this era for Airtricity League stability only if he adhered is a real opportunity to es - football in the Rebel to a sound and sustainable tablish a sustainable, com - County. financial path. Unfortu - munity-based club in Cork. nately, Tom Coughlan chose The days of false promises As Cork City FORAS Co-op a different path. and unrealistic spending take to the field tonight should now be over. The against Waterford United, Despite the efforts of FORAS people running the club now fans will experience many and Quintas to purchase the have no agendas; they are different emotions. There will club, the situation was left supporters who care only be disappointment, of unaddressed and so when about the best interests of course, that Cork is no longer the Independent Licensing Cork football. represented in the top flight Committee met to discuss of Irish football. More impor - Cork City, they were faced The road ahead will contain tantly, however, there will with a licence application many challenges. However, be a tremendous sense of from a club with no tax in the Brandywell last week I pride at having saved senior clearance certificate and no witnessed at first hand, the football in the city, and a plans in place to meet the support, dedication and pas - huge sense of excitement many creditors. Faced with sion of the real fans of Cork about what the future holds. this situation, the licensing football and the commit - committee had no choice ment of the clubs players, Everybody involved in Air - but to deny a licence. and I am convinced this club tricity League football is dis - can rise again. appointed that Cork is not While the shock of recent represented in the Premier weeks will no doubt take Division. Cork City FC was a time to sink in for many huge club with a large and Cork football fans, this passionate fan base. evening’s match is an impor - tant step on the road to a After a turbulent spell under new beginning. The new the ownership of Arkaga, Cork City FORAS Co-op is in ‘Cross Eye Team: Éanna Buckley, Gerry Desmond & Dave Galvin Charting a Course John O’Sullivan, Chairman of FORAS I would like to welcome make the club a success, but We have been overwhelmed you all to Turner’s Cross these commentators forget by the goodwill shown to a for tonight’s game. A that supporters in Cork are supporters’ owned club these warm welcome also to our more than people who stand past two short weeks. The visitors this evening, who for 90 minutes watching the business community has have made the short jour - game. FORAS counts among come to our aid with gener - ney from Suirside, we hope its members people such as ous sponsorship and practical you enjoy your visit to the Jerry Harris, Joe Hurley, support in terms of accom - Rebel County. Dave Barry and Noelle modation, kit and equip - Feeney who have been vital ment; our good friends here The crest on the jersey of to football in Cork for the in Turner’s Cross also, with your team tonight depicts, last 25 years and more and both the local Community as many local football crests who offered necessary help, Centre and the Turner’s down through the years support, publicity and ad - Cross Tavern opening their have, a play on the Cork vice to ensure that we got doors to us. City coat of arms showing a off on the right foot. Football ship in full sail between two people such as Liam Murphy We are particularly de - towers. On the new crest the were essential as we sought lighted with the ready sup - sea that the ship sails on is to find the right man for the port that has been offered perfectly flat, in sharp con - manager’s role and in help - by the football community; trast to the stormy seas de - ing to identify potential Crosshaven accepting a picted in the past and which players. hastily arranged practice over the past two years have match coupled with the kind been reflected in real life. Within days of getting and welcome offers of train - started Tommy Dunne, ing facilities by Carrigaline We’ve had a busy few weeks Kevin Mullen and Éanna United FC and Blarney since the news broke that Buckley were on board and United. I was lucky enough Cork City Investments FC ensuring that we were al - to spend some time speak - Ltd., had failed to achieve ready heading in the right ing with Carrigaline Chair - the necessary standards for a direction. The work done by man Willie Walsh, and Brian licence to compete in foot - all three in such a short time Martin [under-15 coach] as ball. It fell on the supporters, has been amazing, culmi - Tommy Dunne took his first awarded a First Division li - nating in the outstanding re - training session at their facil - cence, to get our ship afloat sult last week in the ity. The goodwill towards and place a team represent - Brandywell, where a fine Cork City and the opportu - ing Cork City on the pitch in group of players, some expe - nities it can offer young local less than ten days. rienced, some less so played players to play at a high with immense pride in the level while completing their It’s been mentioned by some jersey they wore, cheered on education formed a large Irish commentators that a by a few hundred supporters part of the discussion. We crew of supporters don’t who had made the lengthy hope that over time we can have the experience to bus trip with them. start to build a positive rela - tionship with local clubs. Our goal is to win back the You can do what you’re Many of our 500 FORAS name and play under it in doing right now, attend the members are also members the future. We strongly be - games and buy the pro - of clubs throughout the lieve that the name should gramme and cheer on the county and beyond, who belong only to the support - lads on the pitch. recognise the value of the ers of the club and to the local club structure and who City itself; you are the peo - For the first time in the his - want to give back to it. ple to whom it means the tory of the game in Cork, most, you are the people you can walk into Turners’ In the short term the focus is who have enjoyed the highs Cross and be an owner of to steady the ship, to be as and suffered the lows of the the club. It’s mine, it’s yours, competitive as possible in past 25 years and you are it’s ours and to return to the every game we play and to the people who can do the ship on the crest, we can bring some much needed most to return the name to chart the course. That we pri de back to the game in the its former standing, restoring can start the journey with a City. We want the headlines we pride and trust. Munster Derby against a make to be on the sports pages very strong Waterford and to let everyone focus on There are three ways you United team is a huge football again. can help: bonus. Stephen Henderson You can join the 500+ peo - has put together a fine In the mid-term we’re in ple who currently own the squad that is sure to chal - talks with the Liquidator club and have a genuine lenge at the top of the table about buying the name democratic say in directing this season and it’s great to Cork City Football Club, as our future. www.forastrust.ie welcome back the many fa - well as the intellectual prop - and www.corkcityforasco- miliar faces on the Water - erty of the club e.g. crests op.com have all the details ford side. used between 1984 and you need, or you can attend 2010. We are also supporting the FORAS stalls inside the Finally, I’d like to invite you the Cork City FC underage ground on match nights. all, be you a home or away teams where we are being You can volunteer to help supporter to the Turner’s allowed that opportunity; out on match nights, in Cross Tavern after the game they are currently under the fundraising or even in some - for a fun Sports Quiz. sole ownership of the liq - thing as simple as the clean- uidator.