AUL: Rathcoole FC build for the future

RATHCOOLE manager Chris Tarrant recently revealed the club's exciting plans for this season and the years ahead.

The North Cork side was established in 1978 and is now one of the strongest and most consistent in the league.

“To begin with and from humble beginnings our stalwart and rock of the club Alfie Cooney founded the club back in 1978.

“And in the inauguration year, Alfie registered the club in the West Cork league where they played their football for one season.

“The club then moved to the Cork AUL for one year in the '80s and then moved on after that to the Kerry league where they were known that time as Killarney Road Rovers.

His father and granduncle played in that side.

“They were Connie and John Tarrant and one of their vivid memories that sticks in the archive was winning the Youth Cup. It’s also on record that they were the first Cork side to represent the Kerry league where they were later pitched against St Michael's of Tipperary.

“A decision was made then to join up with the Cork AUL where it did not take long for the team to gain promotion to the Premier.

“However, as much as it was a successful period then, there were also some disappointing memories when they lost in back-to-back St Michael’s Cup finals over two seasons, but won it back again in 2023.

“According to Alfie, the 2023 St Michael’s Cup success was one of his fondest memories when they won 3-1 against Blackpool Celtic,” said Tarrant.

But, in Alfie’s opinion, the best all-round team in the history of the club was back in 2008 when gifted local Tadgh Browne played alongside his brothers Vince, John and Richard.

“Moving to more recent times, Alfie decided to take a step back after many years of giving a huge commitment and service to the club so, the decision was made to hand the managerial reigns over to myself, “said Chris.

“Right now, I have to be pleased with our current progress at the minute as we are in third place of League 3, ahead of the New Year.

Of course, it’s impossible to make progress or even survive as a club unless you get some financial support from local businesses.

“We are extremely lucky that we have E. Tarrant, Skoda car dealers, Nolan Electrical and Tony O’Brien Master Butchers as our sponsors going forward.

FOCUS

“We are of course also very focused on the development of the club in other areas too. We have U11 and U13 teams going also and are in the process of adding women’s grades to our infrastructure too.

“Our current goals for the club are to upgrade the playing pitches as well as add a new training ground.

“We are also focusing on developing our academy to branch out further afield and introduce more grades of football at the various schoolboy’s levels.

“We also have good fund-raising plans thought through so, all in all, everyone at the club is quite excited about the future of the club.

With the assistance of club legend Alfie Cooney, Rathcoole, one of Cork’s oldest clubs is here to stay with aspirations big enough to pave the way for success for both the current and future seasons ahead.