| Full name | Cork Celtic Football Club |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1959 |
| Dissolved | 1979 |
| Ground | Turners Cross Cork |
| League | League of Ireland |
Cork Celtic F.C. were a Irish football club based in Cork. They played in the League of Ireland between 1959 and 1979 and played their home games at Turners Cross. The club had previously played in the league as Evergreen United. In 1974 they were League of Ireland champions and the following season they reached the second round of the European Cup.
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The Cork Celtic of the 1960s and 1970s was not the first club to use the name. In 1904 a Cork Celtic won the Munster Senior Cup. During the 1920s, together with Fordsons, Cork Bohemians, Cobh Ramblers and Cork City a Cork Celtic fielded teams in both the Munster Junior League and the Munster Senior League . [1] In 1932 their junior team finished as runners-up in the Munster Junior Cup. [2] In 1957 another Cork Celtic applied to join the League of Ireland but lost out to Cork Hibernians.
In 1959 the League of Ireland team that had previously played as Evergreen United changed their name to Cork Celtic . During the 1960s they enjoyed a local rivalry with Cork Hibernians. In 1974 with a team that included Alfie Hale Bobby Tambling Celtic won their only League of Ireland title under Manager and former player Paul O'Donovan. Tambling, a former Chelsea player and England international had initially moved to Ireland to work as a Jehovah's Witness missionary. He scored 7 league goals in his first season as he helped Celtic win the title.
In subsequent seasons Celtic attracted several other notable players. On the back of League success in 1974, Manager Paul O'Donovan signed George Best and then Geoff Hurst. In December 1975 George Best had a brief spell with Celtic in between equally brief spells at Stockport County and Los Angeles Aztecs. He played only three league games, against Drogheda United, Bohemians and Shelbourne, but despite attracting big crowds he failed to score or impress. [3] In 1976 Geoff Hurst spent a month with Celtic, scoring three goals during his brief stay. Uwe Seeler also played one game for Celtic during the 1977-78 season and scored twice in a 6-2 defeat to Shamrock Rovers. [4] [5] [6]
Opponents:
| Season | Competition | Country | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964-65 | European Cup Winners' Cup | Slavia Sofia | |
| 1974-75 | European Cup | Omonia Nicosia | |
| 1974-75 | European Cup | Ararat Yerevan | |
| Season | Position |
|---|---|
| 1978/79 | 16th |
| 1977/78 | 14th |
| 1976/77 | 9th |
| 1975/76 | 8th |
| 1974/75 | 7th |
| 1973/74 | 1st |
| 1972/73 | 12th |
| 1971/72 | 8th |
| 1970/71 | 5th |
| 1969/70 | 9th |
| 1968/69 | 11th |
| 1967/68 | 3rd |
| 1966/67 | 11th |
| 1965/66 | 11th |
| 1964/65 | 8th |
| 1963/64 | 4th |
| 1962/63 | 4th |
| 1961/62 | 2nd |
| 1960/61 | 4th |
| 1959/60 | 2nd |