THIS IS A short extract from Cork City veteran, Neal Horgan’s new book ‘Death Of A Football Club?‘.
As the Leesiders travel to Oriel Park this evening for a league decider with second-placed Dundalk, this is where they were not so long ago:
Friday, 29 August 2008
We’re away to Shamrock Rovers for a league game. On the bus to Dublin, brown envelopes enclosing our 30% wages are handed out. It’s probably a bad move. The lads are dejected enough already, given that last night on the radio we heard we’re being deducted ten points in the league due to examinership. Seeing in physical form the 70% decrease in our wages just adds to the misery.
The lads are all talking about their futures; people discuss who can move and where to. Denis is still on the way to Norway, apparently. A load of scouts are supposed to be at the game tonight, including a couple from Club Brugge and Notts County.
At the hotel after pre-match the Gaffer holds a meeting. He says he’s heard there’s an interested investor who has a brownfield site and wants to develop the club on this. Muzza’s not convinced, though: “It sounds like f***ing Arkaga all over again.”
We get to Tolka Park and in the dressing room the Gaffer’s on about bouncing back. Flynny (injured) and Murph (suspended) take the warm-up in place of assistant manager Skee McGee. It’s all very amateurish. Players are trying hard to gee each other up and concentrate on winning the game, but to me, at least, it feels a little too forced.
Despite this we start well and dominate for a while before they score against the run of play. Then in the second half Gamble gets sent off and they get a second, then a third. We’re all over the place. Pat Sullivan gets injured at the death and is stretchered off. It’s live on national TV; I’ve never before known the team or the club to be so exposed.
League of Ireland: Tolka Park, Dublin - Shamrock Rovers 3–0 Cork City
There’s a feeling of emptiness in the dressing room afterwards. On the bus on the way home the news is that Denis is definitely moving.
Saturday, 30 August
The next day’s headlines all agree: it’s been the worst week in the history of the club. And it’s hard to argue with that. This morning our recovery is in a different hotel, in the northside of the city. We’re told the usual hotel is no longer available to us as they haven’t been paid.
