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Junior Members Partner Matchday Partner Matchday Partner v Mervue United FC €3 Friday 26 March 2010, 7.45 pm Premier Club Partner Turner’s Cross Issue 2

Off to a good start! By John O’Sullivan, Chairman of FORAS

I’d like to extend a very fered to volunteer on match the entire parade route was warm welcome to Tom night and for other club exceptional, with the people French and his players, as duties. of Cork showing their appre - well as the officials and ciation and support through - supporters of Mervue A shining example of this is out, culminating in the United. It’s a pleasure to the tremendous effort to im - parade dignitaries on the host Mervue on their first prove our training facility in viewing stage joining in on league visit to Turner’s Bishopstown, not only for our the chanting and dancing. Cross, especially as they cel - senior team, but also for the ebrate their 50th anniver - Cork City FC underage teams The parade also saw us win sary this year. Over those who have also started to train our first trophy of the year as fifty years Mervue United and play matches at the we were named the “Best have built a community venue. A huge number of Sporting Group”, which is a club, which currently sees volunteers have put in a very wonderful recognition of the 600 members playing, significant amount of work to true club spirit that was evi - coaching and supporting get us to this stage. dent and shows what a group 26 teams across all age lev - of passionate volunteers can els. Everyone based out of I mention the work in Bishop - achieve when they put their Fahy’s Field can be rightly stown, which is hugely appre - minds to it. proud of their excellent ciated by Tommy, the players reputation within Irish and the board, as it could The passion of our supporters football on this landmark otherwise slip under the and their willingness to put year. radar. Most supporters don’t their shoulders to the wheel, get the opportunity to see on match night or in the St A similar sense of community what a great resource Mc - Patrick’s Day parade, allow is essential to our club as we Carthy Developments have us little victories to comple - find our feet in the Airtricity made available to us, contin - ment the efforts of our team First Division. We have been uing their support of football on the pitch. These little vic - fortunate in the numbers that in Cork City. tories are vital as we seek to have come out in support of bring back pride and respect the club already. Our open - What could not slip under the lost in recent years, not only ing attendance of 4,401 was radar was our recent partici - because it helps attract the highest in either division pation in the St Patrick’s Day crowds and sponsors, but be - on that Friday night, and parade; huge credit must go cause we want our commu - we’ve also brought a won - to John Kennedy and all in nity to be proud of its club. derful travelling support to the Family Enclosure for put - both Derry and Athlone. ting together such a vibrant, Being cheered along Patrick’s Equally important have been colourful and entertaining Street on St Patrick’s Day the numbers who have of - display. The response along shows us we’ve started well.

‘Cross Eye Team: Éanna Buckley, Gerry Desmond & Dave Galvin In the opposite corner John O'Shea looks at our visitors, Mervue United

Brief History: away at , Waterford the start of October proved and Wexford. Mervue man - vital. They finished the season Mervue United AFC was aged to get a point at home with defeats against Long - formed in 1960 by a group of to Finn Harps and Sporting ford, UCD, Waterford and local residents for the youth of Fingal. Their historic first win Sporting Fingal. The final the area. The club has had a came in an impressive 3:0 game of the season saw big role in promoting juvenile success at Kildare County in Mervue draw away to Wex - and junior soccer in Galway. mid-April. This was followed ford. Mervue finished the Mervue has a very renowned by a 3:2 victory at home to season second from bottom, youth system, having won Longford Town. avoiding relegation straight many underage competitions back to the . since their formation, includ - The second series of games This campaign should see an ing two national titles. The looked like it was starting improvement for new man - club’s senior team was ac - well for the Galway side with ager Tom French's side; they cepted into the League in the a draw away to Athlone and have a year at this level inaugural season of the A a 1:0 win at Terryland over under their belts and should Championship along with Limerick. However, things look to progress on from last their Galway neighbours started to go downhill from season's finish. Salthill Devon in 2008. By fin - there for Mervue with the ishing third in their group, team losing eight games on Trivia: Mervue qualified for a pro - the spin, including a crushing motion/relegation play-off 7:0 defeat away to Shel - Mervue's home ground is with Kildare County. Having bourne and a 5:1 loss at home Fahy's Field, but they play won 5:3 on aggregate, the to Monaghan. There were their First Division games in Galway side were promoted also defeats against Finn Terryland Park, as their own to the First Division for the Harps, Kildare, UCD, Sporting ground does not meet 2009 season. Fingal and Waterford in that League requirements. horrific spell for the club. Things ended on a little bit of Mervue defender Damien Last Season: a high as the side drew 0:0 O’Rourke is an ex-player of with Wexford Youths. Cork City. Another former It took Mervue time to settle City player, Johnny Glynn is into their maiden season in The final series of games saw an ex-manager of the club. the First Division. Over the a slight improvement for opening series of games, Mervue. A win at home over Mervue United celebrate Mervue managed just eight Athlone set them up for the their 50th anniversary this points from eleven games. run-in, but this, unfortu - season. They were defeated by nately, was followed by de - Athlone in their first game, by feats to Limerick, Finn Harps, Shelboune at home, and also Shelboune and Monaghan. Their final win over Kildare at

Captain Sensible By Niamh O’Mahony

cap•tain Saturday – noun: a person who is at night’s per - the head of or in authority formance over others; chief; leader. against Athlone was When Cork City FORAS Co- an improve - op announced that Cillian ment on the Lordan would be the club’s Waterford captain for the 2010 season, game, but it there were few, if any, dis - will take senting voices. The 27-year- time.” old has ten years of experience in the League of Cillian has Ireland to his name and has trained and proved himself capable of played under covering several positions six different across the back and in mid - managers at field - in fact, rarely has the this stage but no. 14 shirt been more popu - at a time lar! when ensuring stability is the main aim for and the things we do would Speaking to ‘Cross Eye, ‘Killer’ the FORAS-run club, he says be similar to stuff that we said he was “surprised, but the appointment of Tommy would have done under Paul honoured” to take on the Dunne was an important de - Doolin. Paul was a great captain’s armband and is cision. coach, as is Tommy, and looking forward to getting we’re enjoying working with back playing football again “It’s no secret that the club him. He brings his own ap - after a couple of turbulent has missed stability in the last proach though and has a dif - months. few years between changing ferent personality to Paul. He managers, changing players deals with things differently, “It’s a real relief to just go to and changing people behind but he did work with Paul for training now and not have to the scenes. Tommy has a number of years so you can talk about what’s going on brought in some stability al - see the influences.” around the club - it’s back to ready, as he was here last football,” he admitted. “For a year. The players that were One particularly familiar face couple of weeks that’s been here last season know what’s for Cillian among recent sign - our focus but I think it will expected of us and what ings is that of his younger take another little bit (to get Tommy is all about but for brother. Having spent time things right) because pre-sea - the players coming in, it will with Ipswich Town, Cathal son was so interrupted. take time for him to get his signed for Cork City in 2006 ideas across and for it all to before going on to have spells “We’re getting there slowly come together. for Waterford and Blarney but surely - people have to United. And though his sibling remember that there are still “He is his own man in his own is probably (just a little bit!) new faces arriving - and last right, but a lot of the training biased, he says City fans have cause he was more positive about life away in the team from the pitch. and then we signed Colin “It’s a great honour for me Healy and being captain. It’s a big re - Gareth Far - sponsibility but I feel I’m relly. We al - ready to take on the role and ready had the I had no concerns about sign - likes of Joe ing back. The way things Gamble and went, we were grateful to Darren Mur - FORAS that they had the phy so it was a foresight and imagination to very strong apply for a licence as a squad. And I backup considering what did think that all eventually happen. meant that Cathal and a “I never wanted to leave few of the Cork - I wanted to play for yet to see the younger Lor - younger players probably the club and even though it’s dan’s full potential. suffered. However, with the not in the Premier Division ways things have turned, it’s and we won’t have European “Cathal played against now a real chance for the football, this is a fresh start Athlone and, for me, it’s great younger players around Cork and a new chapter. As play - to see him back. He has been to play in the League of Ire - ers all we ever wanted over unfortunate over the last land, fulfil their potential and the last couple of years was a couple of years so I think his hopefully do well for them - bit of honesty and we’re get - confidence suffered a bit, but selves out of it.” ting that now. It’s something he’s come back really fresh we can build on and we can and hungry, and with a few Cillian was reluctant to make now focus on getting back more weeks training and a any firm prediction about the into the Premier Division and bit more fitness under his belt, season ahead - saying he was on securing top flight football I’m sure we’ll see a lot more hopeful the club can target a for Cork.” from him. finish in the top half of the “Personally, I thought he was table once players get some And so say all of us... unlucky when he was at the more training hours under club last time around be - their belts - but was much

Our half time draw winners from the Watford United game.

Cork City Special Olympics Football Club With thanks Joe Doherty & Terence McSweeney

At a public meeting in Octo - There are players attending than welcome. ber 2009, Special Olympics regularly from Midleton, Fer - Ireland, the Cork City and moy, Macroom and all parts of The team is community based County Sports Partnership the city to make this a truly and the committee is greatly and the FAI pointed out that “Cork” team. The club now has encouraged by attendance at there was no representation a regular panel of 14 players, training and the enthusiasm from Cork in the National 11- with more joining every week. shown by the players. So far the aside league. Subsequently, In the Waterford match, our growth and development of the the team was formed, train - scorers were Steven O’Leary (2), club has been terrific and hopes ing organised and finally, on John Msurphy, Wayne Sugrue, are high that this will continue. Sunday 14th March last, the David Hogan and an own goal. The club intends to be (and is first match was played. Wa - The full squad was Joe Cop - currently) self-sustaining. As terford Special Olympics pinger, Stephen Field, Thomas time progresses, we will be hop - team travelled to play the O’Herlihy, David Hogan, Tyrone ing to involve local players in new Cork City team in Dou - Bailey, Martin Dorgan, John some training sessions and local glas Hall. Cork were domi - Murphy (captain), Steven communities in any fund-raising nant from the start and O’Leary, Jaye Bailey, Edmund activity which the club will need emerged with a 6-1 win. Rea, Wayne Sugrue, Jason Biggs to promote. and Joe McCarthy. James Healy was unfortunately injured and Our link with FORAS is ex - The first training get-togethers unable to play. tremely important as it high - were held at The Glen Resource lights the necessity for Centre and while attendances There is an organised National community based initiatives, es - were small, the committee was League for 11-aside football, and pecially in sport, to be inclusive encouraged and persisted with the new Cork club will proudly and to renew and revive the training sessions. Since Christmas, take its place in this league at very proud Cork spirit and what the training has re-located to the start of next season. Mean - makes Cork the real capital of the splendid SPRAOI Complex, while, training will continue each Ireland! at COPE in Montenotte and the Wednesday night at 7.00 pm at regularity of training has meant SPRAOI. Volunteers to help out, that the word spread. and players to play will be more

permitted in the stadium. Ground Regulations > Unauthorised persons are not permitted to enter the field of play or designated or restricted areas at any time. All persons entering Turner's Cross Stadium are admit - > The club reserves the right to refuse admission to, or ted subject to the following stadium regulations. Fail - eject, any person who refuses to be searched by a mem - ure to abide by the following regulations may result in ber of an Garda Siochána. refused entry or ejection from Turner's Cross Stadium. > The club will not tolerate any form of racist abuse, threatening behaviour and racist or obscene chanting or > Fireworks, Smoke canisters, Bottles, Glasses, Cans, Flags, language is strictly forbidden. Banners, Poles, Laser Pens, Flares or any similar articles > Any person found damaging or defacing the property or containers including anything that could be used as a of the club will be prosecuted. weapon are not permitted. > In general the right of admission is reserved to the club. > The consumption of intoxicating liquor in the stadium is not permitted and spectators are not permitted to bring alcohol into the stadium. Persons are admitted to this stadium subject to their ac - > The unauthorized climbing of floodlight pylons, stands ceptance of these ground rules and regulations and the or any other buildings in the stadium is forbidden. rules of the Football Association of Ireland and the Air - > Under no circumstances is it permitted to throw any ob - tricity League. Entry to the ground constitutes unquali - ject onto the field of play. fied acceptance. > Unnecessary noise such as that from use of radio sets and behaviour likely to cause confusion or nuisance is not It Makes You Wonder

By Dave Galvin

4401. Four thousand, four carried away by initial success you out of existence, espe - hundred and one; you've as there will be, no doubt, cially in the context of a life got to admit: it’s a hell of a some discouraging days reborn in the First Division. crowd. All the more so ahead, and yet, even the And yet, 4401 at the Cross, it given that it was posted in most pessimistic among us makes you wonder the First can’t but be pleasantly sur - Division. It must surely rep - prised at events to date. In particular, it makes me resent one of the biggest wonder about football in crowds in many a year in Anyway, returning to the fig - places such as Scotland and the lower tier. Who else but ure of 4401 at the Cross a the lower leagues in England, Cork City FORAS could pull fortnight ago, the thing is, and the fan bases many of this off in our very first we’re forever being reminded these clubs attract. I've long home game outside the of just how crap we are. This had a bit of thing about at - Premier Division in which is the simple truth of it! We tendances in Scotland and we have resided for the know it only too well, the fact with this in mind I decided on past 25 years? Almost four that there’s no shortage of a little experiment to com - and a half thousand peo - (un)informed opinion, on the pare crowd numbers across ple, a true statement of in - street, in the workplace, in the Scottish leagues on Satur - tent from Leeside and its the media and pretty much day 13th March, the day after indomitable support base! everywhere else, just awaiting the Waterford United game. an opportunity to advance In the event, this was Scottish In its licence application to their take on how crap the Cup quarter final weekend, the FAI, Cork City FORAS Co- League of Ireland is and what and with most of the big op set a target of averaging no-hopers we all are for sup - guns, Celtic, Rangers and the home gates of 1000 for the porting it! Crap football, crap like otherwise occupied, there 2010 campaign. With nearly facilities, crap crowds and a were just three league games four and a half times that crappy product that nobody in both the Premier and First number through the turnstiles yearns to watch. Thus are we divisions, with a full comple - on opening day, it has been a suitably enlightened! An oc - ment in the other two. Atten - phenomenal start. Factor in cupational hazard, perhaps, dances across these sixteen impressive traveling support certainly it is the reality of games make for interesting at both Derry City and hitching your sail to League reading. Athlone Town and fulsome of Ireland football. And yet early financial support from such people at least express Scottish Division 3 sponsors and fans alike, and an opinion, indulge in a 5 Games the net result is an impressive measure of debate, irksome Total Attendance: 1762 overture to what remains a though it may be. This is at (average: 352 ) daunting challenge, the LOI least preferable to the stance Highest: Queens Park v East First Division. Not unnatu - taken by a large swathe of Stirling 457 rally, an inbuilt sense of cau - the visual and print media Lowest: Albion Rovers v tion coloured by the past whose modus operandi ap - Montrose 217 means that few will get too pears to be one of ignoring Scottish Division 2 apathetic football hinterland, winding-up order from HM 5 Games posted a league attendance Revenue coupled with atten - Total Attendance: of 1054 at home to Waterford dant tribulations, what is par - 3244 (average: 641 ) United last season. Crowds of ticularly poignant about Highest: Stirling Albion v 500-plus were recorded Accrington’s plight and their Alloa Athletic 1038 against Mervue United, Shel - scant support, is that Stanley Lowest: East Fife v Peterhead bourne, UCD and the Suir - were in fact one of the origi - 453 siders a second time later in nal twelve founder members the year. 818 punters made of the football league in 1888. Scottish Division 1 their way through the turn - With crowds like this, no won - 3 Games stiles at Jackman Park for the der they, like so many others Total Attendance: 6073 game with Derry City a fort - in the lower reaches of the (average: 2024 ) night ago, though I’ll wager a English game, are living life Highest: Inverness Caledonian fair few of those traveled right on the margins of viabil - Thistle v Morton 2788 from the Maiden City. Fairish ity. Lowest: Airdrie United v Ayr numbers nevertheless, espe - United 1122 cially in the context of what Comparing this with what we’ve seen above. Cork City and other LOI clubs Scottish Premier Division can and do achieve figures- 3 Games And what of the lower league wise, the numbers who made Total Attendance: 12522 scene in England? A quick the long trips to Derry and (average: 4174 ) reference to the 2009/10 Na - Athlone in recent weeks, and Highest: Falkirk v St tionwide Football Annual , the question remains: are we Johnstone 5895 which unfortunately doesn’t really in as bad a place as Lowest: Hamilton Academi - bother itself with Scottish av - many would have us believe cal v St Mirren 2179 erages, shows that last season when it comes to interest in no fewer than sixteen English our domestic game? Espe - When you consider that Scot - League clubs in Leagues One cially in view of the almost land, unlike the Republic, is a and Two, posted average unique difficulties we face rel - country where football is the crowds of less than 4401. ative to competition from number one sport, and far These included Hartlepool other major sports here. Of and away the most popular, United (3834) where no fewer course, when looking else - 217 people at Albion Rovers’ than four ex-Cork City men where, it’s not always an easy CliftonHill Stadium (capacity currently ply their trade and thing to compare like with 1249) and an average atten - John O'Flynn's Barnet (2152) like and any sequence of dance of just 501 across ten one of the worst supported. numbers can be manipulated games in the lower leagues is The dubious honour of small - to a greater or lesser degree. mind-boggling. Even two of est average gate, however, Those damned statistics can the three games played in the resides with Accrington Stan - and do sometimes lie, never - Scottish Premier Division ley, where the average over theless, it makes you wonder. posted crowds smaller than the 2008/09 season was a the one here against Water - pitiable 1415 diehards per ford United. How are all these game! clubs surviving? And are we really in such a bad place In fact, the lowest attendance compared with this? in the entire 2008/09 Nation - wide League campaign was Maybe we are, but again, it 1033 for Accrington’s home does make you wonder. Lim - game with Luton Town. Hav - erick FC, a LOI club long as - ing endured a Cork City-like sociated with an especially scenario in having to face a Is a Professional League Feasible? By Ger Byrne

The last few years have Back in the day, when Shels, So the question arises: Where been pretty traumatic for under the control of Ollie do we go from here? Is part- the League, not least in Byrne, were winning all time football the only way? Cork. The financial troubles around them, many stood At the moment, for many that have been bubbling back and admired. It was un - clubs, that’s the only sensible under the surface have derstandable. Here was a course of action. Their current come to a head, prompting professional Irish club side infrastructure is simply not a drastic re-assessment of competing in Europe and at conducive to supporting a budget policy in clubs least putting up a reasonable full-time set-up. Many rent or throughout the League. showing. We all wanted to lease their home grounds, The experiment in profes - believe that better days lay possess no physical structure sionalism has failed disas - ahead: days when our club designed to raise revenue, trously and the only way sides would no longer be the such as a bar or club shop, forward is part-time foot - laughing stock of Europe. Un - apart from, possibly, a stall ball. The alternative is fortunately, it caused knock- inside the ground on match bankruptcy. That, at least, on effects, which have nights. is what the experts in the certainly given the League media tell us. far too much bad press. Yet, the potential does exist. The football-following popu - The same experts who Seeking a slice of the pie, lation is extremely large, but praised the achievements of other clubs proceeded to many have been turned Shelbourne in the relatively drastically overspend, and away from supporting their recent past while never ques - continued to do so even after local team due to apathy or tioning the budgetary philos - Shelbourne’s financial col - mismanagement. In many ophy behind the whole lapse. “We can do it better”, places, it will need a massive venture? Mostly, yes. The seemed to be the attitude of effort to recapture their alle - same experts who once re - several clubs. It came to the giance and gain enough ferred to “the experiment in stage where contracts were public support and sponsor - professionalism” as “Irish soc - offered to players that paid ship to make even a modest cer’s Golden Era”? Again, yes. no heed to the idea of bal - level of development possi - I could make many com - ancing the books. Often, clubs ble. ments on the “experts in the ran out of money during the media”, but I promised the season, leaving wages and While clubs operate on a Editors I’d try not to get them other necessary bills unpaid. shoestring, with little if any into trouble, at least for a Fortunately, the FAI’s Salary long-term planning, develop - while, so instead I’ll take a Cost Protocol is addressing ment is virtually impossible. look at the situation and that problem, even if some Solid structures to expand the offer my own, inexpert, opin - clubs are finding the adjust - inward revenue stream are ion. ment difficult. essential. This may be the most difficult part for many development of the structures eral clubs, both here and in particularly those with a necessary to generate the re - Britain, to the brink of extinc - small support base, but it quired inward flow of rev - tion. A repeat performance is needs to be done. Neither can enue, I believe it is. No club something we cannot afford. clubs afford to be detached can afford to be ridiculous Proper reform and develop - from the local community, is - with its wage structure, even ment, however, can usher in suing the occasional press re - in a good year. The idea of a true Golden Era, without lease, and then sitting back, offering a player a handy the threat of bankruptcy. It’s hoping that the crowds flock wedge of cash in excess of our choice; let’s choose right. through the turnstiles. It does - what the club can reasonably n’t work like that, folks. Clubs afford is just not on. However, need to engage with the a sensible, full-time set-up, community and become part given the right conditions, is of it. Once that is achieved, possible. real development is possible. Clubs can expand their sup - But is full-time football really port base, develop their struc - possible? Given real, not tures and move gradually to token, engagement with the a full-time set-up, but not local community, strong, sen - overnight. The desire for in - sible leadership, and gradual stant success has brought sev - City Shorts! EA Sports Cup g with Wexford Our first round meetin Don’t be late! ark will be uths at Ferrycarrig P Yo April or supporters in- either on Monday 12 e’d like to remind any played to be W Park for April. The date has yet g to travel to Jackman Tuesday 13 r tendin erick tch our official website o ay’s fixture against Lim decided, so wa next Frid al definite details. The e has the earlier than usu the press for more that this gam ill be at home to f 4.30pm. FORAS are winners of this tie w kick-off time o ers in Round 2 e game, which will imerick or Cobh Rambl running a bus to th L ay 11 May. y at 2pm sharp onday 10 May or Tuesd leave from Patrick’s Qua on M e. Fares are €15 and return after the gam (Child). Contact (Adult) and €10 py birthday, Gavin! to book your Hap [email protected] ke is celebrating seat. Ten-year-old Gavin Bur his friends at his birthday with all ng. We all hope Turner’s Cross this eveni , Gavin! With a you have a great time ormance and a little luck, a good perf y you’ll enjoy it positive result, hopefull ore! Razor’s Rhymes all the m Welcome back! Our Premiere a and Con’s Fruit & ny thanks to Barry’s Te Ma ack on board this Nervous in advance of game andon Road) who are b Veg (B us again and Petit crowd would be a shame great to have you with season. It’s vailability New beginning for us all rtainly appreciate the a the players ce away This is our club, standing tall at home games and of Con’s fresh fruit e a huge difference to th trips. Similarly, it makes available for hospitality Draw away in Derry gained, lub to have Barry’s Tea c ord of thanks also to Set the scene, our first home game match nights. A special w on ed, for their kind Spoilsport Blaahs not far to go , who have also return Haribo squad. Noelle Corkmen all throughout, you know of energy foods for the sponsorship in seeing rked her magic already Feeney has wo come Walking down the Curragh Road valued friends have that these old and , portant role for us. Now Crowds of people, support showed back to play such an im individual would like to Forty three more on the door if any shop, business or tearoom at half-time… We’d have gotten all the 4’s sponsor biscuits for the you! we’d love to hear from Disgraceful pen, some naïve play Gelling team, another today FIf you haven’t already visited the club’s website – Let’s hope all this goodwill may www.corkcityforasco-op.com - check it out soon and keep Repeat itself on Mervue day up to speed with all the latest news about the club.

Back Home! Turner’s Cross, 12 March 2010 Pic: Alan Mooney

The Lively Corner Family Enclosure news with John Kennedy

Greetings from all here in sion! 1998 was the last time and who ever does win, the Cork City Foras Co-op I travelled to Athlone. don’t forget to bring back Family Enclosure! It is in - Along with 150 or so City loads of photos from Africa! deed a special pleasure to fans, I made the journey Also, we are linking with welcome all associated once more for the game last Brian Allen of Great Stuff with Mervue for your first Saturday night, and the Catering and Cork City it - visit to , road from Thurles through self, to host birthday parties. home of the Rebel Army! the midlands is as bad as So why not have the party Even though it remains ever! Still, there was some here at a home game? We early in the season, good craic travelling with will have burgers, chips etc tonight’s game is impor - everyone on the FORAS and a club prize for the spe - tant as both sides try to bus. Speaking of FORAS, cial birthday person, all move away from the bot - can I encourage people to while supporting our club! tom of the table. join up? How many other See the club website for fur - supporters around the ther details Before I go any further, can country would love to be I both thank and congratu - part-owners of their own Once again we are selling late everyone who took club? new club flags for €10 park in the St Patrick’s Day tonight. The money raised parade! It was a great oc - City improved as the game goes towards sponsoring a casion and the reception we went on, and in the end game. This is a great way to received the whole way they were unlucky not to show your true colours for along the route was out - have come away with all the club and be one of those standing. Singing ‘Stand up three points. Here’s hoping sponsoring a match! We will and sit down for the Cork we get them here tonight. also have some football pin City’ in front of the review - We must be patient and badges on sale, and again, ing stand and seeing all give the manager and all the money raised goes those on the stand get up squad time to gel together. towards the club! and join in was amazing! Let’s get fully behind the Thanks also to Dave Mac of boys in green tonight! We have been given a new Red FM who was the MC name this year ‘The Lively and gave City and FORAS a It was really good to see so Corner’ so come along and mighty plug! We won the many old friends back at be a part of the atmos - Best Sporting Group Award. the Cross after so long. In a phere, be part of the colour, This is officially the club’s way the past two seasons be part of the experience first trophy. The first of need to be put behind us but most of all, be part of many, I hope! all, and it’s onwards and our club. upwards we go! With this in A true and loyal City sup - mind, it’s great to have ‘City till I die’ and always porter, Tim O’Keeffe, posted Fota Wildlife Park on board proud to be a REBEL! the following on the forum with us again as Family last week, ‘This starts the Match Day partners. Discover Ireland Tour’. He Stephen Ryan has been was right as we have many very good to us and I look new places to visit this year, forward to working with and some old friends to him in the future. Can I wish catch up with, as we jour - all the contestants of “Go ney through the First Divi - Wild in Fota” all the best Things to do when you’re cold By Gerry Desmond

Travelling up to Athlone witnessed an improbable, packed to the rafters as De last week brought memo - glorious scoreless thrashing of Town stacked Leagues and ries trickling back about AC Milan. City took a point in League Cups and All-Ireland my first football-related a 1:1 draw from a game that Tyler Cups and Leinster Sen - visit there. December 1990, was played in slow motion in ior Cups into its rickety side - it was. The coldest Decem - front of (guessing) 198 people, board just a few short years ber day since records began who were more or less frozen earlier. Packed to the rafters, in this country. Strangely, where they stood. Morley so it was, while football on the Met Office – officially scored ours, as I recall. The Leeside floundered and, at least – has failed to weather was the best part of briefly, disappeared. And it recognise this fact; one can the game. had frequently housed Euro - only wonder as to the rea - pean football, besides that son. Mel’s itself is fondly recalled famous Milan occasion. by the City legions who in - They’d had Standard Liege, This later transpired to be habited it on Kabia’s glory- and Copenhagen and a Nor - City’s first heartbreaking glory night, nearly eight years wegian crowd with a funny ‘nearly season’, when Dun - later, when the diamond- name. There was no sneaking dalk thieved the title from us toothed one shot us into our off to Dalymount for the in our own backyard as the ultimately first successful FAI extra shillings, either. No, curtain came down on the Cup final. But that was Mel’s Athlone folk were proud of St last round of hostilities. But with a big crowd. That was Mel’s, proud of their team – back on that raw winter’s Mel’s with her warts and and rightly so. Sunday afternoon, and de - shabby clothing hidden by spite a twelve-game un - the midlands’ deep, dark Since those heady days of beaten start to the league night. That was not St Mel’s championships and cups and campaign, just a lonely clus - Park in the harsh light of a trips to the San Siro, Athlone ter of eleven fans crammed freezing December day, the Town has sunk almost with - into a van of unrecognisable wind flinging razor blades at out trace in the mysterious manufacture, which seem - your face and your perished depths of the First Division. ingly doubled as a type of ears desperately seeking And St Mel’s is no more. Last mini-minibus (the prototype some sign of life in the vicinity; week’s visit to the still spic- nano-bus?) at weekends. Just even a referee’s whistle. In and-span Athlone Town Sta - eleven of us off, our knees hindsight, his pea may have dium was a quantum leap squarely tucked under our iced-over… from Skippy’s goal, though chins, on the bleakest, bitter - the result, curiously, was iden - est day in Ireland’s secret me - For me, from a solitary visit, tical. They’ve got a proper teorological records, to St St Mel’s Park was a horrible stand. And a proper shop. Mel’s Park, which had once place. Yet it had been And tons of parking. City folk made comparisons with Bish - is an extended stay in the First ing the loss of the Premier Di - opstown. And the ground is Division, they’ve built a new vision and European nights indeed a wee bit Bishop - stadium and they’ve got has been neatly shelved. It’s stowny. Without the fog and hundreds of people prepared refreshing to see the accept - the bog, like. But that stand to stump up scarce cash. We ance of how things are, the is better than what was built think we’re the only ones acceptance of where we are on the Curraheen Road, bet - sometimes, but we’re not. We and the patient determina - ter by a stretch. think they’re a small club. tion to haul this club back up And perhaps they are. But on its feet again. There’s a lot Anyway, I met this elderly they’re decent, and welcom - more to it now than just gent at half time. He actually ing, and it’s a proper football going to games or just follow - started the conversation, as I town with history and tradi - ing the team. There’s a confi - am notoriously shy. That’s tion and, now, prospects of dence about the place again, true: I’m shy, notoriously so. moving on positively. More an honesty, a sense of trust. Anyway, he says, “We were and more and more this There’s a unity and a com - delighted that ye saved the League is being underwritten radeship. And it’s fun again. club!” I thanked him, but he and run by the fans. Without a second thought I persisted, “No, really, we were believe we have already re - delighted that ye did it. Ye I like FORAS folk. Their com - stored much of the pride that have to have Cork there, it mitment – financially and was damaged recently dur - wouldn’t be the same.” with their time and expertise ing the Darkness. – is admirable. City fans have Of course, we all think we’re suffered a lot – suffered too My fondest memory this sea - stars now ‘cos we saved the much – in recent seasons. But son has nothing to do with club – even without elderly trips to Athlone and Derry football, at least on the pitch. gents telling us about it. We prove, as visits to Monaghan My fondest memory hap - think we’re the business. We and Shelbourne will confirm, pened last Friday week as I own a football club: ‘tis a that we are far from alone in stood behind the Curragh great old boast at work, in our plight. We are far from Road Stand before kick-off the pub, anywhere that you the only fans fighting back to watching clutches and knots want to throw it on the table. save or rebuild clubs or keep of City fans smiling, laughing, We’re all kind of cosy-smug them going, and away games shaking hands, hugging; about it. Anyway, my new - give us a true perspective happy again, at long, long found Athlone buddy contin - after the savage intensity of last. Standing next to Trevor, ued. “We were nearly gone the past two or three years I was, as he sold scarf after ourselves. Four hundred of us that we have endured. scarf after scarf, while I drank put in a grand a man last in the sight of so many beam - year to save the club…” I was I like the attitude of City fans, ing familiar and unfamiliar astonished, to tell the truth. too, this year more than ever. faces celebrating the saving Hand on heart, I think we’d There’s a great feeling this of our club. I’ll keep that be hard pushed to find four season of getting on with memory for a long while; it hundred people in the city things, of making things bet - will be handy on cold Decem - and county of Cork with that ter, of doing something your - ber days when the season is kind of commitment. Athlone self for your own club. And over, when the years roll by… have toughed it out in the there’s been no hankering for long, soul-destroying slog that the good old days. Lament -

Presentation to Satellite Taxis, Matchday Partner v Waterford Utd

Presentation to Sheds of the World, Matchball Partner v Waterford Utd

Presentation to TicketScan, Programme Partner v Waterford Utd PLAYER SPONSORSHIPS REMAINING

The Club have had many Entry to this draw is only publicised once the club is in enquiries with regards to €200 with each sponsor re - full receipt of payment and player sponsorships this ceiving:- details from the 20 entrants. season. To satisfy demand, • A 2010 Cork City and to make it equal for jersey signed by the player Should demand exceed sup - all, we are doing something you win! ply, and indications show this different. A Player Sponsors • Framed and signed could be possible with so Draw! photograph of you with your much goodwill and support player taken on the night evident over the past few This is your chance to be part • Your chosen cap - weeks, the Club reserve the of history in Cork City Foras tion featured in all matchday right to offer the sponsorships Co-op’s first season by spon - programmes by their photo - as “home and away player soring one of the players who graph sponsors” and thus allowing will be proudly wearing the • Acknowledgment up to 40 supporters the op - City jersey in 2010! of sponsorship on official web - portunity to sponsor a poten - site’s squad page tial City legend. We will host a Players Spon - sors Evening at a City venue All companies, individuals, Enquiries, with further details where all players and man - exile groups and supporters by reply, are welcome to agement will be in atten - are welcome to enter collec - Kevin@corkcityforasco- dance and where we will tively as often as they wish in op.com draw lots to determine who this draw. will sponsor whom for the season ahead. Simple, but The date and venue for the promises to be great fun! draw will be determined and Táimíd faoi draíocht... by Jerry Kelly

I know it's a bit of a cliché to title a piece 1) B drives, and Clipclop and myself are like with words from a poem by Liam Ó Flait - children, annoying him. Can we stop at the heartaigh, but please bear with me a shop? Can we change the CD? Are we there while. The poem in question is Na Blátha yet? Craige, which translates as "The Crag Blos - 2) Talking rubbish. Unfortunately, I've run soms". The poet speaks to these crag-blos - through all the rubbish we talked, in me head, soms, pointing out that they've chosen a and none of it can be re-printed in a family mean ould spot to live in: clinging to a cliff- programme. Wallis Bird came up, though, edge, looking down on grey rocks covered and women’s shoes. in bird-shite; a foggy, treacherous place, 3) Criticizing B's driving, as part of 1) above, snagging sea-rubbish, with rarely a burst which is a little unfair, but fairness doesn't of sunlight to lighten the spirits. come into it. 4) Speculating about whether we'll make A bit like the First Division, then. kick-off. This relates to the time we got to Sligo two and a half hours before the game, Nonetheless, there was great excitement as B, and still managed to be late for the start. Also Clipclop and myself prepared for our trip to ties neatly into 1), 2) and 3) above. Athlone, much discussion centring on when the 5) Etc., etc., including, today, which Cork City three of us had actually last gone on an away Football Club's Youths will be signed up by trip together. There was no doubt about the Cork City FORAS Co-op in the summer. first away trip together - Rovers, at Tolka, '96, travelled in a Transit van. Though my memory So on we drive, through Ireland's finest county, of that seems to involve a U-turn on the M50, Tipperary, then the next one up, which I think and I don't know if that's even possible. That is called Mordor. As it's not in Munster, it does - was a long time ago, and there's been an es - n't really count. The lads, being from West calation of commitment since then. So B Cork, get more and more twitchy and nervous breezily suggested that we should take in the as we travel up the country. It's wonderful, Youths match away to Park United of Mitchelstown, on the way. Park United have a lovely set-up, three pitches and three astro-turf cages, with the mighty Galtee Mountains as a backdrop. Bowdy's boys battled to a 1:0 victory. It was back into the car to continue the trip.

Every away trip has its own distinctive character, but some things never change, such as - changes in the country in the past fifteen years are kind of epitomised by this purchase of Polish beer from a Nigerian man in a Centra garage. But the comfort - able post-match trip home through the dark, sleeping Midland towns is the same. Athlone Town's stadium is new, but the fol - lowers of our league, the rhythms and lan - though, to hear their murmurs of delight and guage and en - awe at such things as streetlights, and farm gagement with it all, are all the same. Our animals that don't look depressed. manager spoke eloquently about this in the last programme - "...it really is a culture for We arrive in Athlone three hours before the us...this is our life. We have a hunger and a game, a new record that really puts it up to B passion for it and once you have that, you'll to ensure we miss kick-off. We drive around just never give up". I used to believe that we Athlone and get lost. B asks me to ring Shakey should try and promote and grow our league, for directions. I refuse. B rings Shakey himself. but for the moment, I don't care. We came so "Where are ye now?" asks Shakey. B responds close to losing it all, but we didn't, we still have that we don't know. That's why I refused to it. As I walk along behind the stand, the poem ring. It's hard to get directions to somewhere if is in my head. The crag-blossoms respond to you don't know where you are. the poet's question as to why they are where they are - clinging to a challenging, unglam - We find the ground and go Ooh! and Aah! It's orous, weather-battered spot - by saying like Bishopstown gone right. Pleasingly, the sign for the game refers to us simply as Cork Is cuma linn, a stór. City. Táimíd faoi draíocht ag ceol na farraige. That doesn't bother us, love. Dubarry Park is more or less across the road We are spellbound, bewitched by the music so we go there to watch the rugby. Nice bar. of the sea. I'm not too upset at Scotland winning as Mark, my sister's fella and a St Johnstone man to the I climb the steps to the metaphorical cliff-top core, will be happy. Forty minutes before kick- and look out on the pitch at our team warm - off, and surely there's no way we can be late ing up and think: We have clung on. We are now? B is sipping his drink. Lissywoollen is less still here; spellbound and bewitched by the than five minutes away, he points out. I HATE music of this thing we love. MISSING KICK-OFF, I point out.

We get there with minutes to spare. It feels odd to be a supporter again; odd but good. After the game, Clipclop and I will split a four- pack of Karpackie for the journey home. The Photos: Michael Collins

Commercial Focus with General Manager Kevin Mullen

For tonight’s Airtricty League of Ireland Conor and Dougie for their very generous sup - first division match against Mervue United port and look forward to adding to their at The Cross we welcome several key part - signed and framed programme collection for ners, all of whom we hope will prove to be the next seven games! long term friends and associates of the Club! OFFICIAL CLUB PARTNERS

TONIGHT’S MATCH PARTNERS As always, we wish to extend our thanks and gratitude to our season long partners. MATCHDAY PARTNERS – Gold Rush Casino Beamish, Fota Wildlife Park, Cork’s Red FM, hummel, LeisureWorld and Satellite Taxis Macurtain Street based Gold Rush Casino join have been superb in the first few weeks of our us this evening as our Matchday Partners. existence in offering such generous support for Proprietor Seamus Murphy will be in atten - the crucial season ahead. dance with many family, friends and col - leagues and I will be delighted to be From nights out on the stout (after a swim or presenting Seamus with a signed jersey on the gym session!), with a cab home, a family day pitch at half-time to commemorate the occa - out at Fota the morning after (whilst listening sion of their generous support of the Club. to the radio of course in the car!) we have a collection of partners who I hope you will all MATCHBALL PARTNERS – sooner or later be returning their support over The Horseshoe Inn the season. No strangers to regulars at The Cross, the Over the next few weeks we will be announc - Horseshoe remains a popular pre and post ing numerous special offers and events with match destination for many of us (and for our partners, including with LeisureWorld who some of you, at half time too!). To Neil Mur - this week were unveiled as our Junior Mem - phy and all his family we extend a very warm bers Partner. welcome to tonight’s match and encourage many of you to visit his pub after tonight’s PLAYERS SPONSORS proceedings along with the staff and manage - ment of the club. You could even win the We have just a few places left in the “player signed ball that we will presenting to Neil at sponsors draw” for the 2010 season. The venue half-time thanks to Neil kindly offering to host of the draw will be announced soon (it could a raffle! be a night at a brewery!) so be quick not to miss out. See page 24 for further details. PROGRAMME PARTNERS – TicketScan GET IN TOUCH! Conor and Dougie loved the involvement at I would be delighted to hear from you if you our first home game against Waterford United wish to be involved with this true and passion - so much that they have now decided to be our ate community asset. Please feel free to con - Programme Partners for the first eight home tact myself, Kevin Mullen, General Manager, league games of the season! We kindly thank by email at [email protected] Our Boys Mervue Utd 1 McNULTY, Mark GK BARRETT, Kevin 2 TURNER, Ian BROWNE, Eric CAPT 3 ROGERS, Dave BURKE, Gerry 4 MULCAHY, Stephen CONNEELY, Martin 5 O’HALLORAN, Greg CONNOLLY, Evan 6 MORRISSEY, Gearoid CREHAN, Kevin 7 O’NEILL, Davin CUNNINGHAM, Dan 8 WARREN, Dave CURRAN, Enda 9 CUMMINS, Graham CURAN, Nicky 10 DUGGAN, Shane ELWOOD, Mike 11 DEASY, Paul FARRELL, Kenny 14 LORDAN, Cillian CAPT GAFFNEY, Rory 15 HOJAN, Uros GOLDBEY, Dave 16 DEVINE, Mick GK HANLEY, Ger GK 17 LORDAN, Cathal First HOBAN, Pat 18 DINEEN, John KEOGH, Ollie 19 FORDE, Eoin Ever LALLY, Padraig GK 20 HEFFERNAN, Willie LEE, Alex 21 CLANCY, David Meeting LUDDEN, Mark 22 MORRISSEY, Rory McKENNA, Liam 23 TONG, Wesley GK MARTIN, Eoin GK O’DOWD, David Manager: Tommy DUNNE O’ROURKE, Damien Assistant: Greg O’HALLORAN SCALLY, Paul TIERNEY, Mike Referee: J. McLoughlin VARLEY, Noel Assistant: E. Dynan YOUNG, Darren Assistant: E. McNally Fourth Official: K.Callanan Manager: Tom FRENCH Assistant: Brendan O’CONNOR

Next Game: Limerick, Jackman Park, 2 April, 4.30 pm Next Home Game: Longford Town, 9 April, 7.45 pm Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of Cork City FORAS Co-op, or the Board of Management or members of The Friends of the Rebel Army Society, unless so stated. The Parting Shot!

Pic: Angela Clayson