Cork Celtic F.C.

Cork Celtic F.C.

Full name	Cork Celtic Football Club
Founded	1959
Dissolved	1979
Ground	Turners Cross Cork
League	League of Ireland

Cork Celtic F.C. were a Irish football club based in Cork. They played in the League of Ireland between 1959 and 1979 and played their home games at Turners Cross. The club had previously played in the league as Evergreen United. In 1974 they were League of Ireland champions and the following season they reached the second round of the European Cup.

History

Earlier Cork Celtics

The Cork Celtic of the 1960s and 1970s was not the first club to use the name. In 1904 a Cork Celtic won the Munster Senior Cup. During the 1920s, together with Fordsons, Cork Bohemians, Cobh Ramblers and Cork City a Cork Celtic fielded teams in both the Munster Junior League and the Munster Senior League . ^[1] In 1932 their junior team finished as runners-up in the Munster Junior Cup. ^[2] In 1957 another Cork Celtic applied to join the League of Ireland but lost out to Cork Hibernians.

League champions

In 1959 the League of Ireland team that had previously played as Evergreen United changed their name to Cork Celtic . During the 1960s they enjoyed a local rivalry with Cork Hibernians. In 1974 with a team that included Alfie Hale Bobby Tambling Celtic won their only League of Ireland title under Manager and former player Paul O'Donovan. Tambling, a former Chelsea player and England international had initially moved to Ireland to work as a Jehovah's Witness missionary. He scored 7 league goals in his first season as he helped Celtic win the title.

Best, Hurst and Seeler

In subsequent seasons Celtic attracted several other notable players. On the back of League success in 1974, Manager Paul O'Donovan signed George Best and then Geoff Hurst. In December 1975 George Best had a brief spell with Celtic in between equally brief spells at Stockport County and Los Angeles Aztecs. He played only three league games, against Drogheda United, Bohemians and Shelbourne, but despite attracting big crowds he failed to score or impress. ^[3] In 1976 Geoff Hurst spent a month with Celtic, scoring three goals during his brief stay. Uwe Seeler also played one game for Celtic during the 1977-78 season and scored twice in a 6-2 defeat to Shamrock Rovers. ^{[4] [5] [6]}

Honours

• League of Ireland
  • Winners 1973-74 1
  • Runners Up 1959-60, 1961-62 2
• FAI Cup
  • Runners Up 1964, 1969 2
• League of Ireland Shield
  • Winners 1960-61 1
  • Runners Up 1962-63, 1964-65 2
• Dublin City Cup
  • Winners 1961-62 1
  • Runners Up 1960-61 1
• Munster Senior Cups
  • Winners 1960, 1962, 1964, 1972, 1974 5
• Top Four Cup
  • Winners 1974 1

Cork Celtic F.C. in Europe

Opponents:

Season	Competition	Country	Team
1964-65	European Cup Winners' Cup		Slavia Sofia
1974-75	European Cup		Omonia Nicosia
1974-75	European Cup		Ararat Yerevan

Notable former players

• Paul O'Donovan
• Kevin Blount
• Jimmy Barry-Murphy
• Amby Fogarty
• Alfie Hale
• Keelan Hegarty
• Jimmy O'Neill
• Geoff Hurst
• Bobby Tambling
• George Best
• Billy McCullough
• Uwe Seeler
• Barry Notley
• Alec Ludzic

Notable Former Managers

• Paul O'Donovan
• Bobby Tambling
• Alfie Hale

Season Placings

Season	Position
1978/79	16th
1977/78	14th
1976/77	9th
1975/76	8th
1974/75	7th
1973/74	1st
1972/73	12th
1971/72	8th
1970/71	5th
1969/70	9th
1968/69	11th
1967/68	3rd
1966/67	11th
1965/66	11th
1964/65	8th
1963/64	4th
1962/63	4th
1961/62	2nd
1960/61	4th
1959/60	2nd

See also

• League of Ireland in Cork city
• 1962 League of Ireland Championship play-off

References

1. ^ Mallow United history
2. ^ Munster Football Association
3. ^ George Best at Celtic
4. ^ BionicBohs
5. ^ Article referring to Hurst, Best, Tambling and Seeler playing for Celtic
6. ^ Uwe Seeler stats