Rathcoole Rovers at Cooney Park
Rathcoole Rovers connects its 1978 Cork roots, Cooney Park home and inclusive football pathway with senior and schoolboys teams.
Cooney Park and Rathcoole identity
Rathcoole Rovers AFC is a Cork football club founded in 1978 with Cooney Park named as its home ground. The crest carries Rathcoole Rovers, Football Club, Cooney Park and Est. 1978 around the red, blue and cream ram badge.
The club sits in the Rathcool area of County Cork and has grown from a local senior club into a programme that includes schoolboys football, senior men, Football For All and summer football activity.
| Club | Rathcoole Rovers AFC |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1978 |
| Home | Cooney Park |
| Address | Rathcool, Co. Cork |
| Identity | Red, blue and cream ram crest |
Founded by Alfie Cooney
Rathcoole Rovers was founded in 1978 by Alfie Cooney. His name still runs through the club: Cooney Park is the home ground and Alfie Cooney is named as chairperson in current club contacts.
That continuity gives the club a strong family and community feel. The present Rathcoole story is not just a team list, it is a Cork football club built around people who have kept the name active for decades.
| Founder | Alfie Cooney |
|---|---|
| Foundation year | 1978 |
| Named ground | Cooney Park |
| Current role | Alfie Cooney, chairperson |
| Email contact | alfiecooney@gmail.com |
West Cork, Kerry and Cork AUL pathway
Rathcoole Rovers helped shape regional grassroots football as a founding member of the West Cork League. The club then built early momentum in the Kerry District League before later joining the Cork AUL.
That route explains why the honours story crosses county and league lines. Rathcoole is a Cork club today, but its football memory includes West Cork, Kerry District League, Munster Cup and Cork AUL chapters.
| Early role | Founding member of the West Cork League |
|---|---|
| Early success | Kerry District League football |
| Cup context | Munster Cup representation |
| Later move | Cork AUL |
| Current adult setting | Murphy’s Stout League 1 Division |
Current teams and football routes
The current club structure names senior men, U13, U15 and Football For All, with younger Cork Schoolboys League activity also forming part of the wider youth picture. That gives families several entry points rather than a single adult team.
Parents should ask by player year of birth, then confirm the correct coach, training time, squad space and whether the session is at Cooney Park or another active venue.
| Senior route | Men’s senior team |
|---|---|
| Schoolboys | U13 and U15 named by the club |
| Connected youth | U11 and U14 youth activity |
| Inclusive route | Football For All |
| Parent question | Player year of birth and squad space |
Football For All
Rathcoole launched Football For All in 2024 for primary school aged children. The aim is a welcoming space where children can experience the game, build confidence and take part at a pace that suits them.
The club also uses Soccer 4 All wording for Banteer Astro updates, so families should confirm the venue for each session before travelling. The important point is that inclusive football is now part of the Rathcoole identity.
| Launch year | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Age focus | Primary school aged children |
| Programme | Football For All |
| Additional wording | Soccer 4 All updates at Banteer Astro |
| Before travel | Confirm session venue with the club |
Honours across eras
Rathcoole’s roll of honour starts with Kerry Youth Cup and League wins in 1982. The under 17 boys won a cup in 2004, and the adult side won the Corinthians Cup and AUL Division 1 in 2007.
The ladies team won league and cup honours in 2008, St Michael’s Cup followed in 2022, and the under 12 and U14 groups were named Division 7 and 8 league winners in 2025.
| 1982 | Kerry Youth Cup and League winners |
|---|---|
| 2004 | Under 17 boys cup winners |
| 2007 | Corinthians Cup and AUL Division 1 winners |
| 2008 | Ladies League and Cup winners |
| 2022 and 2025 | St Michael’s Cup; under 12 and U14 Division 7 and 8 league titles |
Ladies and youth milestones
The 2008 ladies league and cup double gives Rathcoole a women’s football milestone within the club story. The underage honours in 2004 and 2025 show that younger players have also carried the Rathcoole colours successfully.
That mix matters for families because it shows a club with adult, youth and inclusive football threads rather than one narrow competitive lane.
| Ladies milestone | League and cup winners in 2008 |
|---|---|
| Youth cup | Under 17 boys cup in 2004 |
| Recent youth | Under 12 and U14 league titles in 2025 |
| Player pathway | Youth, inclusive football and adult teams |
| Club theme | A broader community football base |
Fees and subscriptions
Rathcoole publishes 2025 training fees for Football For All, U10, youth and adult players. Each fee is 160 euro in full, with an eight month option of 20 euro per month.
A separate 25 euro training subscription is listed to help cover rental costs for players. Families should confirm the correct category, season and payment timing with the club before paying.
| FFA training | 160 euro or 8 monthly instalments of 20 euro |
|---|---|
| U10 training | 160 euro or 8 monthly instalments of 20 euro |
| Youth training | 160 euro or 8 monthly instalments of 20 euro |
| Adult training | 160 euro or 8 monthly instalments of 20 euro |
| Training subscription | 25 euro |
Club contacts
The club email is rathcoolerovers1978@gmail.com. Alfie Cooney is named as chairperson, and Christopher John Tarrant is named as secretary and men’s head coach.
For a first enquiry, include the player name, year of birth, the team or programme you are asking about, and whether the question is about joining, training, Football For All, senior football or a visiting match.
| Club email | rathcoolerovers1978@gmail.com |
|---|---|
| Chairperson | Alfie Cooney |
| Chairperson email | alfiecooney@gmail.com |
| Secretary and men’s head coach | Christopher John Tarrant |
| Secretary email | tarrantc138@gmail.com |
Football camps and summer activity
Rathcoole announced three football camps for summer 2026. Camps give the club another practical route for children who may be trying football, building confidence or getting more touches outside regular team training.
Parents should confirm dates, age bands, venue, what to bring and whether places are still open before making plans. Boots, shin guards, water, lunch and weather gear are the usual first questions for a camp day.
| Summer activity | Three football camps announced for 2026 |
|---|---|
| Player value | Extra touches and confidence building |
| Parent checks | Dates, age bands, venue and places |
| Bring | Boots, shin guards, water and weather gear |
| Before attending | Confirm the current camp details with the club |
First visit checklist
A first visit to Rathcoole should start with the correct meeting point. Use Cooney Park as the club anchor, then confirm whether the session is at Cooney Park, Banteer Astro or another venue for that team.
Players should bring boots, shin guards, water and weather gear. Parents should confirm the coach, age group, registration position and whether the session is training, a trial, Football For All or match day.
| Ground anchor | Cooney Park |
|---|---|
| Venue check | Cooney Park, Banteer Astro or another active venue |
| Bring | Boots, shin guards, water and weather gear |
| Confirm | Coach, group and meeting point |
| Session type | Training, trial, Football For All or match day |
Away team guide
Visiting teams should confirm the active Rathcoole venue before leaving, because the club has Cooney Park as its home ground and also uses Banteer Astro wording for inclusive football activity.
Agree kick off time, entrance, parking, warm up area, dressing access and kit colours. Keep the home contact close in case weather, pitch use or the meeting point changes.
| Travel anchor | Cooney Park, Rathcool, Co. Cork |
|---|---|
| Confirm | Active venue and entrance |
| Ask about | Parking, warm up and dressing |
| Kit | Agree colours before travel |
| Contact | Keep the home number or email available |
What defines Rathcoole Rovers
Rathcoole Rovers is defined by its 1978 foundation, Alfie Cooney’s role, Cooney Park, red and blue colours, West Cork and Kerry roots, Cork AUL football, schoolboys football and inclusive Football For All work.
The strongest picture is a North Cork community club with a long memory and a current pathway that gives senior players, schoolboys and children in inclusive football a place in the game.
| Identity | Rathcoole, Cooney Park and Est. 1978 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Alfie Cooney |
| Adult football | Cork AUL |
| Youth football | Cork Schoolboys League |
| Inclusive route | Football For All |
