Page 6 - COBH WANDERERS V SLIGO ROVERS FAI CUP 3RD ROUND 2015

In the 1930’s the Wanderers had the honour of having two of their players capped for their
country. Dick Barry was capped at Junior level versus Scotland in 1933/1934 and later won
a second cap versus England in Dublin. He went on to play for Ramblers in the Intermedi-
ate Cup Finals of 1939/1940 and 1941/1942. Jim ‘Tubby’ Cotter who was a stylish full back,
was capped in 1934/1935 also at Junior level versus Scotland. He joined League of Ireland
side Limerick in 1937 and played for Cork F.C. and also Ramblers in a along and distinguished
career.
Sadly the Wanderers did not survive beyond the 1940’s. This was a time of high level un-
employment and when work became available in London there was a big exodus from Cove
which including most of the players. As well as this more members joined the services during
the war and eventually the club folded. Cove Wanderers may not have existed for very long
but they had the success in their era, and they are well remembered. It is only fitting that the
present day club should take its name from such a famous predecessor.
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COBH WANDERERS GROUND DEVELOPMENT
When Cobh Wanderers was founded in 1981 one of the main aims of he club was to one day
purchase our own ground. Initally home games were played in Whitegate .Since then the club
has been lucky enough to have had the use of the excellent facilities at the Cobh Community
College.Without these facilities it would not have been possible to have continued as a club.

In 1993 the club became aware that some land was available for purchase in the Ticknock
area.Meetings took place with the landowner and with our local bank,AIB. A business plan
was drawn up and an agreement was reached to purchase approximately five acres in Tic-
knock.

The club officially took possession of the property in May 1995. It was decided to develop the
land in phases as and when finances allowed..A boundry fence was the first task completed
by club members.

Then in 1996 an application was made for National Lottery funding and with the help of local
T.D. John Mulvihill in particular,Michael Ahern T.D. and Bernard Allen T.D. a grant was forth-
coming.
After receiving a further bank loan work commenced on the development in May 1997.

An ex player Donal Collins was the mainstay behind the transformation of a hilly farmland
to a well laid out playing facility and associated siteworks. His tireless work and expertise
ensured that everything went according to schedule.

The long awaited first official game on the new pitch took place on the 5th September 1999
with a 3-1 Munster Senior League victory over Glasheen .Jimmy Hally had the distinction of
scoring the first goal on the new pitch.
Thanks to another National Lottery grant and further bank loans a dressing room complex
was built and has been praised as one of the best facilities in the Munster Senior League.
John Barry and his various team of FAS workers over the years have done great work look-
ing after the ground and it is a tribute to John in particular that everything has turned out so
well.

Only recently the pitch has been railed off and hopefully this will generate more revenue for
the club through the sale of advertising boards around the pitch. It is evident to all who visit
the ground that tremendous progress has been achieved. Everything that has happened has
been thanks to an awful lot of hard work by many people but most importantly thanks to the
financial support from the local people for our various fundraising efforts over the years.The
club will continue to strive to improve the facilities and repay the faith the town has shown in
it.