Cobh Wanderers

Previous club (1920s-1940s)

The original Cobh Wanderers club was founded in 1925. There was a popular district league in Cobh in the 1920s with such teams as Red Rovers, Blue Rovers, Sunny Havanas, Pride of the East and Springfield taking part.^[] Brothers Jack Hurley and Pakie Hurley, both ex-service P.E. instructors, brought together a number of players to form a new club, Cobh Wanderers, to compete in this league.^[] Several footballers, who played with the club in its early years, including Henry Ward, Mick Doherty and Tom Burke, subsequently gained international honours.^[] The team started at minor level and had a win in the final of the Cork Minor Cup in 1925/26, beating Sutton 7–0 at Victoria Cross, Cork. A Junior side was started and the club also played Senior for a couple of seasons before its final demise.^[]

In their brief history, Wanderers played on various pitches. The main one was Villa Park (where Moore's Place is now). They also played in Carrignafoy and Ticknock (adjacent to where the slaughterhouses were located). They had no clubhouse as such until eventually they were allowed to use McGowan's shed, which was behind where the Spar shop is today.^[]

In the late 1920s, players like Mossy Cummins, Jim Agger, John 'Speed' Hennessy, Joe O'Driscoll and Jackie O’Reilly were regular Wanderers players.^[] The club was soon to embark on its most successful spell.^[] They were runner-up in both the Minor League and Cup in 1930/31. The following season they bettered this by winning the League and Cup, remaining unbeaten in both competitions. The team late moved up to Junior level and 1933/1934 had the distinction of reaching the final of the "Free State" Junior Cup. They lost 2–1 to B & I in Dalymount Park.^[]

The Wanderers were runner-up in the Junior 2nd Division League in 1934/35. Further success was achieved in 1935/36 when they beat North End 2–1 in the Cork Area Final of the Munster Junior Cup in Villa Park.^[]

In the 1930s, Wanderers had two of their players capped for their country. Dick Barry was capped at Junior level versus Scotland in 1933/34 and later won a second cap versus England in Dublin. He went on to play for Ramblers in the Intermediate Cup Finals of 1939/40 and 1941/42. Jim 'Tubby' Cotter who was a full back, was capped in 1934/35 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 long career.^[]

The Wanderers did not survive beyond the 1940s. This was a time of high level unemployment and emigration resulting in an exodus from Cobh which including a large number of the players.^[] As well as this, more members joined the services during the war and eventually the club folded.^[]

Current club (1980s onwards)

When Cobh Wanderers was founded in 1981, one of the main aims of the club was to one day purchase their own ground. Home games were initially played in Whitegate. Since then, the club has had the use of the facilities at Cobh Community College.^[]

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 the local AIB bank. A business plan was drawn up and an agreement was reached to purchase approximately five acres in Ticknock.^[]

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. Then, in 1996, an application was made for National Lottery funding. After receiving a further bank loan, work commenced on the development in May 1997.

In July 2016, the club appointed former Carrigtwohill United manager, Michael Deasy as manager of the senior side. Under Deasy's tenure, Cobh won two trophies, the Donnie Forde Cup and Keane Cup. They were also runner's up in three major competitions, the Beamish Cup, Munster Senior League and the FAI Intermediate Cup.

In May 2017, Cobh Wanderers were defeated by Liffey Wanderers in the FAI Intermediate Cup Final, on penalties. It was first time they had reached the final in the club's history.

In November 2017, Cobh Wanderers won the Keane Cup by defeating Castleview AFC 3-0. It was the first time they won the trophy in the club's history.