2026 marks 50 years since Albert Rovers election to the League of Ireland 

2026 will be a year of anniversaries and commemorations for Cork soccer, from the centenary celebrations of Fordsons victory over Shamrock Rovers in the 1926 FAI Cup final, to Ringmahon Rangers marking 75 years in business.

The next few months will also mark 50 years since Albert Rovers were elected to the League of Ireland, the club chosen to replace Hibs following their demise.

Albert Rovers, later Cork Alberts and Cork United, weren't around for long at the top table. 

They existed for barely a decade, but each story will be remembered in some way over the coming year through those that lived it.

The club didn’t come from nothing. 

They were originally born in 1946 at a time when the game of association football was exploding in popularity on Leeside in the immediate aftermath of the Second World War. 

Alberts place to play was the AUL during this period, before joining the Munster Senior League.

The step up meant nothing as they were crowned champions three times between 1954 and 1959, in addition to a victory in the Munster Senior Cup and a run to the quarter finals of the FAI Cup following a dramatic defeat of Longford Town over three games. 

The Intermediate Cup was also lifted twice during this stretch, by getting the better of Jacobs and Bray Wanderers, to cement this run as a golden era for Alberts as local soccer enjoyed national success through the exploits of Cork Athletic before their implosion in 1957.

Their replacements were Hibs, who were brought down by financial issues which included owing Rotherham United £1,000 for former Leeds United and Wolves player Mike O’Grady. 

There were reports of debts at one point of £15,000 and despite pleas for the public to help bail out the side with one league title and two FAI Cups in their cabinet, they ceased to be on August 24th 1976.

Albert Rovers were one of those that put their names forward as Hibs replacement, but first they had to navigate a selection process involving a number potential clubs. 

A version of Cork City was mentioned, alongside Swilly Rovers and Bray Wanderers. 

There was even a late application for Galway Rovers, while Cobh Ramblers were talked about as a potential side due to recent performances in the League of Ireland Cup.

Alberts were eventually recommended and this was supported by Joe Delaney of Waterford. 

The decision was later made to elect a second Cork side and their representative, John O’Riordan, gave an impassioned speech as he looked forward to the future.

"I am very grateful that our application was accepted,” he said.

“We promise to carry on our good tradition after 25 years of football. We only want to leave the Munster Senior League because we have already achieved all honours available at that level of football. 

"And we have won the Intermediate Cup twice. We'll be good standard bearers for League of Ireland football in Cork. We won't let you down."

Their first game in the League of Ireland was scheduled for October 3rd at Flower Lodge and Shamrock Rovers were to be the opponents, following from a meeting between the two clubs in the League of Ireland Cup at St Colman’s Park. 

Alberts actually asked their opponents after that game to bring the repeat forward, as it clashed with the final of the Cork Senior Hurling Championship between the Glen Rovers and Blackrock.

The decision meant nothing as Rovers took the points. 

That was one of many growing pains for a club that had to wait until late November to record their first home league win, a 4-0 victory over Limerick at a ‘poorly supported’ Flower Lodge.

Alberts had similar struggles in the FAI Cup, where their campaign ended with a 2-0 loss to Drogheda United on February 13th 1977.

The club went on to finish the season in 13th place, four points from basement side Home Farm. 

They collected just five wins in total, while their city rivals Cork Celtic managed a comfortable midtable finish.

This was to be the start of it for Alberts, a club that competed but never challenged. 

They later changed their name to Cork Alberts and then to Cork United, but there was no great rush of excitement with the sort of rebrand as the Rebel County entered the 1980s.

The Munster Senior Cup offered some sort of golden days out, but ninth place on two different occasions was as good as it got for a club now known as the predecessor to the current day Cork City FC.