Well, the first post eh!! At least I can say that I started anyway, in my infinite wisdom I've decided to document the 2009, and if it goes well other seasons following and shouting aimlessly for Cork City. Finally almost given the freedom to travel on the away buses, as well as attening all the home games it will be a long season, but no doubt no matter how we get on I'll be back for more in 2010
For those of you who have stumbled across this fine blog you're probably wondering 'Who the fuck are Cork City?' prepare to be enlightened my friends.
Cork City are a professional football team playing in the city of Cork (You probably guessed that anyway) Cork is a city of about 350,000 people situated in cold, wet and scenic Southern Ireland. The club plays in the League of Ireland (As opposed the Irish League, which is the Northern Irish league) alongside 9 others in the year of 2009. Turners Cross is the 'Rebel Army's' home stadium, one of the most impressive in the league it's an all-seater, soon to be all covered cosy ground that can hold around 8,500 maximum. The league has been, to say the least, in hot water during the 2009 season. Half of last year's teams were in financial trouble, and still now there are 2 or 3 teams in the setup that have the possibility of going under. Many teams have switched from full-time back to part-time and at the end of the year we even had our own mini-Italian betting scandal, when Gary Dempsey of St. Patrick's Athletic placed a join €10 bet against his team!
This year it's all about rescuing the league back from the depths of despair and putting it back on the slightly raised podium it deserves. There were some good notes in 2008 though when it came to European competition, Drogheda United came within a goal-line of knocking out Ukrainian giants Dinamo Kiev, and St. Patrick's Athletic were unlucky not to get a result out of Bundesliga outfit Hertha Berlin.
As for Cork City, the season of 2008 was one of the worst off the pitch, investiment company Arkaga took over the club at the end of the 2007 season and immediatly sacked league and cup winning manager Damien Richardson, the board were keping their cards close to their chest and refused to comment for their actions. Fans were split between hope, suspiciosnous, and dislike. The London based company gave Aidan Tynan the control of the club and he signed the Longford manager Alan Matthews, Matthews was just after leading Longford to the drop from the Premier Division and his last game before
the appointment was a 1-0 loss to City in the FAI Cup final. Still though, he would have survived if it wasn't for a points deduction and he did lead the side to 2 previous FAI Cup triumphs. He was given money to spend and soon enough, former City player Danny Murphy joined with former Longford players Pat Sullivan and Dave Mooney. Fans favourite George O' Callaghan was signed on a 3 year deal before Matthews came in and so City completed their biggest ever transfer spending spree.
Fans hoped for the best, Danny Murphy was a proven left back at LOI level and Pat Sullivan was also more than competant in the back 4, Dave Mooney was incredibly the top scorer in 2007 and posessed a deadly right boot.
O' Callaghan was by fat the highest profile signing though. A home grown hero, O' Callaghan led CCFC to multiple succesfull European campaigns and a league title in 2005. But in 2006 O' Callaghan had a spat with then manager Richardson, and left for England to play with Ipswich. O' Callaghan promptly got himself sent off in his first game, an FA Cup 5th round tie against Watford and after 11 appearences and 1 goal he moved to the Withdean Stadium. He played 14 games in the blue and white of Brighton and Hove Albion before he moved back to Turners Cross.
the appointment was a 1-0 loss to City in the FAI Cup final. Still though, he would have survived if it wasn't for a points deduction and he did lead the side to 2 previous FAI Cup triumphs. He was given money to spend and soon enough, former City player Danny Murphy joined with former Longford players Pat Sullivan and Dave Mooney. Fans favourite George O' Callaghan was signed on a 3 year deal before Matthews came in and so City completed their biggest ever transfer spending spree.Fans hoped for the best, Danny Murphy was a proven left back at LOI level and Pat Sullivan was also more than competant in the back 4, Dave Mooney was incredibly the top scorer in 2007 and posessed a deadly right boot.
O' Callaghan was by fat the highest profile signing though. A home grown hero, O' Callaghan led CCFC to multiple succesfull European campaigns and a league title in 2005. But in 2006 O' Callaghan had a spat with then manager Richardson, and left for England to play with Ipswich. O' Callaghan promptly got himself sent off in his first game, an FA Cup 5th round tie against Watford and after 11 appearences and 1 goal he moved to the Withdean Stadium. He played 14 games in the blue and white of Brighton and Hove Albion before he moved back to Turners Cross.
To be honest readers, the less said about the 2008 season the better. Arkaga pulled out half way through the season landing the club in examinership, players were on 20% of their full wages and the club had to settle for a mediocre finish in the league. A loss to amateur side Wexford Youths in the League Cup semi-final didn't help one bit.
The fans staged a protest against the situation and refused to back down. FORAS (Friends of Rebel Army Society) were a fund set up to aid the club on a day-to-day running and had hopes to take over the club long term. 'The Club is in the wrong hands' was rung out fiercefully during Cork City's 3-0 home win over Bray Wanderers, and this sparked a revival in the club.
But there was good news from the season. After progressing from their group City beat Derry City in the Setanta (All-Ireland) Cup with a header from youth team player Tim Kiely and in front of a sell-out crowd the Leesiders came back to beat Belfast side Glentoran in the final, winning 2-1 with goals from County Cork native Liam Kearney, and English captain Dan Murray.
Since the club has lost the services of Kearney and midfielder Darren Murphy, but bought in form striker Davin O' Neill from Cobh Ramblers.
So this is where we start the journey, another month and a half to the start of the season and already I can't wait
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