Rearcross Football Club became an affiliate of the Football Association of Ireland in August 1983, when the Club entered a team in the North Tipperary and District League, however the origins of soccer in Rearcross go back to 1966. The following "trip down memory lane" was compiled by Johnny Gleeson who was one of the founding members of Rearcross F.C. and indeed a true stalwart of the Club's inception and organisation in the early days.
"We
can now look back with some amusement on the early years of soccer in Rearcross,
though at the time those events were anything but amusing. Until Radio Teilifis
Eireann(RTE) television began broadcasting in 1961 it is safe to say nobody
in Rearcross had any interest in, or knowledge of the game. Few would have
seen it played, especially at a higher level, except for emigrants across
the water or those living in Dublin. Following R.T.E.'s opening, occasional
brief footages from the English and Scottish leagues were screened. Local
youngsters who took more than a passing interest in Association Football after
witnessing, albeit briefly, the sports top exponents and teams, and accompanying
atmosphere on T.V., would regularly tune in to BBC Radio on Saturday afternoons
from 1963 onwards, when the second half of a prominent fixture would be broadcast
live. Those years, from 1963 to 1970, marked local youngsters introduction
to names such as George Best, Johnny Giles, Billy Bremer, Geoff Hurst, Norman
Hunter, Shay Brennan & Tony Dunne, the list is endless. In 1966 R.T.E. gave
extensive television coverage to the World Cup, which didn't please everyone
in the country, especially the womenfolk. With just a single channel operating,
and only for five or six hours a day, the decision to postpone or cancel regular
programmes to accommodate Football's blue riband event was not made easily.
Somehow the station managed to find a middle ground, screening as much as
possible of the films, soaps etc, whilst also transmitting vital World Cup
matches, and later highlights. I think they may have gotten permission to
extend somewhat their usual broadcasting hours of those years. It was then
soccer really began to catch the imagination of the youth of Rearcross, and
Ireland as a whole. The concrete yard behind the creamery was where all the
action began, twenty or more boys would gather there every summer's evening
from 1966 to 1971. Kick off would be around 7 o'clock, and the only times
our faces took on a sad appearance was when the sun began to disappear behind
Dinny Kennedy's hill. John Duggan (R.I.P.) and Pius Armshaw(R.I.P.) were amongst
the stars of those encounters. John ("The Doug") Duggan would begin work at
8-00AM each morning and arrive for play immediately after work, and continue
to be fresh and full of life after up to four hours of football action.
After a few years on concrete, the local lads decided that they were ready
for some real action, and needed to display their skills on grass. Unfortunately,
grass was in short supply for aspiring local soccer stars then. The time had
definitely arrived for them to go out on grass, and it had to be achieved
by hook or by crook. Eventually it happened, by crook. In 1971(July) a challenge
was arranged against Urlingford. The Kilkenny outfit arrived expected to be
greeted by a well organised and oiled local machine, as they had been led
to expect. Instead they found their hosts had no field, and only a battered
plastic football which had spent most of it's useful life being unceremoniously
blasted against cement walls by sturdy feet equipped with hobnail boots and
other non-designer footwear.
We eventually invaded a local farmer's field when the owner had departed on
a day outing. It was a "jumpers for goalposts' affair. At the start is was
just 8 or 9 aside, but players of all shapes, sizes, and ages, kept appearing
as if from nowhere. The action continued for almost three hours, with at least
forty players on the field at the end. Some of those who participated in that
game lacked even the most basic of soccer knowledge.
One thing was clear though; the appetite for the game was mushrooming. In
June 1972 a meeting was called for the purpose of getting an organised Club
into operation. It was held at Ryan's Bar, and attracted a large attendance.
A committee was elected, we were now organised partially at least. In 1971
and 1972 Tipperary hurling was on a high, so in a way, many were surprised
that soccer was so popular, not alone in Rearcross, but also in neighbouring
areas. I suppose the answer lies in the fact that all the young men were true
sportsmen. History or politics never entered in to it. They wanted to play
sport and they did. Many members of Rearcross F.C. divided their loyalties
with Sean Treacy's G.A.A. Club. One of Rearcross F.C.'s founder members, PJ
Caplis once played a soccer game, a hurling match and a gaelic football encounter
in the space of 24 hours. That epitomised the commitment to sport of Reacross
F.C. members right to the present day. In 1973 we impulsively entered the
Tipperary league, no North Tipperary & District League existed then. The league
was for the entire county, though the vast majority of the teams were from
the South Riding. Our first and only game was against Nenagh Town.
We had great difficulty acquiring transport; we arrived at Islandbawn over
an hour late. We couldn't continue in the league due to the transport situation.
The first jerseys were bought at Nestors in Limerick, thirty pounds for twelve
good quality shirts. Nestors also supplied our first real football, the same
design as that was used in the 1970 World Cup. It was the first modern branded
ball. Up to 1970 all top games, games of all levels in fact had to make do
with the old fashioned models in use since early in the 20th Century.
. A few youth's games were played in 1972 and 1973, we played an under 15
match at Kilcommon cross against St. Anthony's Boy's club from Dublin, we
later took on Peake Villa in a youths league game. It was an occasion best
forgotten, but sadly refuses to leave then memories of those concerned. It
was the day of the horse-box, eleven young players crowded into a horsebox
attached to a blue Mercedes. On the journey the equine carrier decided to
become unattached on two occasions. Each time it was found safely with its
cargo, we managed to complete the journey and parked in Liberty Square. Everyone
tried to vacate their mode of transport at the same time hoping and praying
that no townie eyes would gaze in their direction. The situation was bad enough,
further torture would be totally unbearable, and more pain was to follow as
the slick Peake Villa trashed their traveling opponents. It was a sorrowful
bunch of lads who boarded that horse-box after the game, we urgently required
the sanctuary of home, thankfully the horse-box stayed secure. Going back
to the start again, our second competitive adult match was played against
Glosha in Caplis's field opposite Mary Hayes's house(now Quigleys).
A women's team was also formed in 1973, and their early games were against
Hollyford, Thurles, Killaloe, Pallasgreen, Cappamore, Garryowen, Toomevara,
and a team from Galway city. Over the years, players from Newport, Kilcommon
and Cappamore played with Rearcross. The best local ladies teams operated
from 1978 to 1985. The girl's community games team won the County award on
three occasions, and reached one Munster decider. In later years, many of
those players made a big impression in the Limerick Ladies League. The first
local woman to score a goal in a competitive fixture was Kathleen Coffey.
The top marksman for the men initially was Ger Duggan. The first local tournament
was held in June/July 1972 and was a huge success. At least twelve teams entered,
Crough Rovers and Murroe met in the final on a hot Sunday evening in July
before a crowd of over 200 people. The referee was the late Sammy Ryan of
Golden, who was to become one of the leading GAA referees in Tipperary. Sammy
continued to have a great love for soccer.
Murroe scored early in the game and retained the lead up to four minutes from
the end. Then Mossy Ryan(L) pounced with two goals in two minutes to send
the huge Crough following wild with delight. They celebrated long and hard
that night, and some of their supporters were making their way home at 6-00AM
on the Monday, singing as they went, on shanks mare and bicycles. The late
Fr. Tom Hayes P.P sponsored that tournament.
Some fundraising dances were held in 1972 and 1973 in the old hall in Rea,
and in Kilcommon hall. The Club tried to get their own disco started, Gerry
Quigley (now in Kilmallock) looked after the electrical work. The discos did
not succeed due primarily to the fact that young people at that time had very
little money for socialising.
The Club's first tour was in August 1972 to Ballybunion, Tralee and Killarney.
We arrived home at 6-00AM on the Monday; the bus cost thirty pounds and Matt
Treacy, Thurles was the driver. In 1973 the destination was Salthill and West
Clare was chosen in 1974.
The Western League was founded in Rearcross in 1973 to cater for all the teams
operating in the Slieve Felim Region then. Crough Rovers were the Manchester
United of the league and every effort, fair and sometimes foul, was used to
lower their banner. Referees were known to assist Crough's opponents. The
Western league only continued for two years. Transport, finance, lack of referees
and playing fields, all conspired to halt the league.
Three soccer club members formed a ballad group in 1972, John Duggan(R.I.P.)
on vocals, and Seamus O'Toole and John Ryan(musicians), they got a number
of bookings lounges in the region. They called themselves "Stage Three". There
was a wonderful atmosphere the Rearcross soccer scene from the start, which
I believe is now more in evidence than ever. Things have certainly changed
dramatically from the days of no field, burst footballs, horseboxes, no referees
and referees without whistles!!"
Rearcross F.C. Team 1973
Back Row (L to R): Liam Armshaw, Billy Berkery, Patsy O'Brien(RIP), Martin
Armshaw, Johnny Ryan, Pius Armshaw(RIP)
Front Row: (L to R): P.J. Caplis, Jerry O'Toole, Johnny Duggan(RIP), Gerry
Quigley, Johnny Barrett.