🇮🇪 Cork FC (1930-1938) (Rep of Ireland)

 Cork FC (1930-1938)

A continuation of Fordsons FC, the name change to Cork Fc happened in 1930 and that is what the club were known as when they played in the League of Ireland season, 1930-31. Like Fordsons, they finished in 4^th place in their first season as Cork FC, finishing four points behind eventual champions, Shelbourne FC.

It was their second season under the name Cork FC that they came close to winning their first League of Ireland title, finishing runners-up to Shamrock Rovers, only three points behind the Dublin side. Their success that season was helped by the fact they had joint top goal scorer, Pearson Ferguson in their side. The Scotsman scored 21 goals that season, and alongside Waterford’s Jack Forster, he picked up the Golden Boot that season. Ferguson only played one season in the league of Ireland, moving back to Scotland to play for Ayr United, Queen of the South, Morton, Montrose, East Stirlingshire and English Football League side, Carlisle United.

The 1932-33 season saw the club drop back into 4^th place and with the club being knocked out in the second round of the FAI Cup (Free State Cup) by Shamrock Rovers, it was an uneventful season for the Munster club. But the 1933-34 season proved to be a better one, when the club came close to clinching the title, only to be beaten by one point by Bohemians FC. Their title push was helped by former Republic of Ireland International, Tim O Keefe, who scored 11 goals in the league that season, finishing third top goal scorer. He would slot go on to score one of the clubs most important goals in their history.

That season was also the first time the club, under the Cork name, won a major trophy, winning the FAI Cup (Free State Cup) against St James Gates, 2-1 in the final which took place on the 17^th March, 1934 at Dalymount Park in front of 24,000 people. Tim O Keefe and Kelso scored for Cork that day.  It was the second time a Cork club had lifted the trophy. The club seemed to be on the up, having just been one point away from a historic double. 

But the following season saw a huge slump in form, and the club finished 10^th place, rock bottom of the league, meaning they had to apply for re-election, which they gained for the following season. A huge improvement followed for the 1935-36 season, with the club finishing 3^rd in an expanded 12 team League of Ireland. They were helped by the goal scoring exploits of Scottish striker, Jimmy Turnbull, who scored an impressive 37 goals in 22 league games. He also helped the club reach their second FAI cup final, under the Cork FC name, by scoring 11 goals in the competition. Despite one of those goals coming in the final at Dalymount Park on the 19^{th of} April 1936, it wasn’t enough to deny Shamrock Rovers victory, winning the game, 2-1.

Despite their success in the 1936 season, the 1936-37 season was not to be as successful. In fact, it turned out to be one of the worst in the club’s history, finishing 11^th out 12 clubs in the league that year. On top of that, the club were knocked out of the FAI Cup by non-league side, Fearson’s Athletic.

The 1937-38 season was no better, as the club finished 11^th once again and were knocked out of the FAI Cup by St James Gate. The club were also struggling financially and at one point, they had to concede a game to Shelbourne FC as they could not pay the train fare to travel up to Dublin. For other away games, the players had to pay the fares and it soon became evident that the club was on the brink of going bust. Then on February 8^th, 1938, it was announced Cork FC was going into Voluntary liquidation and thus ended the first club named Cork FC.

Under the name Cork FC, the club won the FAI Cup and finished runners-up twice in the League. They also added two Munster Senior Cups and one Munster Senior League.

Just like Fordsons, the club also had a few players represent their countries on the international stage. Players like Tom Burke, Tim O Keefe and Jim Foley all played for Cork FC whilst also pulling on the green jersey.

Like Fordsons FC, Cork FC were successful in their own right and were basically a continuation of their predecessors. As we delve deeper into Cork history, you will know that this is only the beginning of what becomes a long and complicated series of stories and football clubs that come from the Rebel County.