The death of a local institution
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“It’s over, you’ve no need to tell me…I’ve got no distance left to run”
Having attempted to digest the effect yesterday’s judgement has had on the players, Paul Doolin, the fans and of course the people behind the scenes – it becomes more and more infuriating that Cork City FC, a club which means so much to so many people will no longer exist come the end of the week.
The players deserve an astounding amount of praise. They’ve continued to play to the best of their ability, not complained, held the highest level of professionalism throughout and never lost sight of what the club means to the fans. For players like Dan Murray, who has settled on Leeside and calls it home, it means they must now uproot to survive. And despite the exploits of one recent visitor to Ireland in the transfer market, the football economy is also on a severe downturn. Some of the players, particularly on the fringe of the first team are going to struggle to find new full-time clubs.
Players like extratime.ie columnist Greg O’Halloran have declared that they will pack up football if the club goes to the wall. Unemployment will sadly become a problem for some of the clubs’ staff. For players like loyal goalkeeper Mark McNulty it will mean a return to the trades they postponed to become professional footballers. It’s the end of the dream for many people and to say it hurts is an understatement.
The people behind the scene also deserve a huge amount of credit. In particular the clubs Director of Media & Operations, Éanna Buckley. Éanna is a fan first and foremost, but he almost single handedly kept the club running from the turbulent Arkaga rein onwards. For these people it was a way of life. They devoted their entire energy to keeping the club working from day to day only to now find themselves without a job and even a team to support.
The fans will be making their daily commute to work this morning feeling like they’ve lost a loved one. Stomach churning, unable to eat, supporters who’ve travelled the length and breadth of the country to watch the team Pat Dolan affectionately coined: the ‘Rebel Army’, now find themselves with a huge void in their life.
Trips to Estonia, sunny Cyprus and rainy Ballybofey will just remain as fond memories. Watching Dan Murray score a winner at Dalymount Park when there were as many Cork fans as home ones on the way to the 2005 league win. Derek Coughlan scoring the winner against Shelbourne in 1998 at the same venue. Travelling to Prague with almost a 1000 others to see the club perform above its weight. Speaking to people you would never know otherwise in places like Longford and Athlone. All memories never to be repeated again.
CCFC was more than just a club, it was, as already stated, a way of life. For many people, the club was a way to meet like minded people and hundreds of friendships have grown from it. Personally, some of my earliest childhood memories are of been taken to games as a wide-eyed youngster by my Dad. However, once the club reached the high point of 2005, it quickly became apparent that things would deteriorate. It’s just surprising that the change from Champions League performers to complete evaporation has been so rapid.
Though the club have been given 72 hours to live, it has become an insurmountable problem and even if the team lines-out one last time on Friday night, the end has come. It will be a long tearful goodbye for many Corkonians, the players will go down as legends on Leeside for their dignity, and the same goes for those off-the-field warriors.
Having attempted to digest the effect yesterday’s judgement has had on the players, Paul Doolin, the fans and of course the people behind the scenes – it becomes more and more infuriating that Cork City FC, a club which means so much to so many people will no longer exist come the end of the week.
The players deserve an astounding amount of praise. They’ve continued to play to the best of their ability, not complained, held the highest level of professionalism throughout and never lost sight of what the club means to the fans. For players like Dan Murray, who has settled on Leeside and calls it home, it means they must now uproot to survive. And despite the exploits of one recent visitor to Ireland in the transfer market, the football economy is also on a severe downturn. Some of the players, particularly on the fringe of the first team are going to struggle to find new full-time clubs.
Players like extratime.ie columnist Greg O’Halloran have declared that they will pack up football if the club goes to the wall. Unemployment will sadly become a problem for some of the clubs’ staff. For players like loyal goalkeeper Mark McNulty it will mean a return to the trades they postponed to become professional footballers. It’s the end of the dream for many people and to say it hurts is an understatement.
The people behind the scene also deserve a huge amount of credit. In particular the clubs Director of Media & Operations, Éanna Buckley. Éanna is a fan first and foremost, but he almost single handedly kept the club running from the turbulent Arkaga rein onwards. For these people it was a way of life. They devoted their entire energy to keeping the club working from day to day only to now find themselves without a job and even a team to support.
The fans will be making their daily commute to work this morning feeling like they’ve lost a loved one. Stomach churning, unable to eat, supporters who’ve travelled the length and breadth of the country to watch the team Pat Dolan affectionately coined: the ‘Rebel Army’, now find themselves with a huge void in their life.
Trips to Estonia, sunny Cyprus and rainy Ballybofey will just remain as fond memories. Watching Dan Murray score a winner at Dalymount Park when there were as many Cork fans as home ones on the way to the 2005 league win. Derek Coughlan scoring the winner against Shelbourne in 1998 at the same venue. Travelling to Prague with almost a 1000 others to see the club perform above its weight. Speaking to people you would never know otherwise in places like Longford and Athlone. All memories never to be repeated again.
CCFC was more than just a club, it was, as already stated, a way of life. For many people, the club was a way to meet like minded people and hundreds of friendships have grown from it. Personally, some of my earliest childhood memories are of been taken to games as a wide-eyed youngster by my Dad. However, once the club reached the high point of 2005, it quickly became apparent that things would deteriorate. It’s just surprising that the change from Champions League performers to complete evaporation has been so rapid.
Though the club have been given 72 hours to live, it has become an insurmountable problem and even if the team lines-out one last time on Friday night, the end has come. It will be a long tearful goodbye for many Corkonians, the players will go down as legends on Leeside for their dignity, and the same goes for those off-the-field warriors.
About Alan Smith
Alan Smith works as a sub-editor for the Guardian newspaper in London. Originally from Cork, he freelances for several other newspapers and websites. Follow him on twitter @alansmith90. View Full Profile