Fitting Tribute To John Murphy (RIP)

Wim VanWijnen (Committee), Frank Collins (Committee), Ray Houghton (Former Irish International), Anthony O'Donovan (Committee), Cathal Rasmussen (Chairman), John Coughlan (Secretary), Josie Ellard (Sister of late John Murphy, RIP), John Delaney (CEO FAI), Niall Abbott (Committee), Frank Donovan (Principal Carrignafoy Community College), Tony Fitzgerald (Vice President FAI).

For all involved, past and present, last Saturday was a special day for Springfield Ramblers Football Club as that was the day chosen to rename the VEC Grounds in memory of one who had given so much to both the school, as a teacher and the football club as a coach……John Murphy (RIP).  Carrignafoy and Springfield Ramblers came together along with special guests like former Irish International, Crystal Palace, Aston Villa and Liverpool player Ray Houghton and CEO of the FAI John Delaney to unveil a memorial and rename the grounds to John Murphy Memorial Park. Other guests included Frank Donovan (Principal of Carrignafoy College), Tony Keneally (Chairman of Cork Schoolboys League), Tony Fitzgerald (VP of FAI) and Mayor of Cobh Finbarr O’Driscoll.

Special guests John Delaney & Ray Houghton flanked by Cathal Rasmussen & John Coughlan walk the Springfield Ramblers Boy & Girls Guard Of Honour

The typical Irish weather didn’t keep people away and as it poured down with rain on the boys and girls from Springfield Ramblers who had formed a Guard Of Honour and waited patiently outside for the arrival of the special guests. Unable to attend due to his Son being involved in a Cork Schoolboys match, Willie O’Hanlon left the MC duties for the afternoon to Springfield Ramblers Treasurer, Kieran O’Callaghan who’s witty approach brightened up the day as began by reflecting on club chairman, Cathal Rasmussen’s telephone call at 1.30am one morning to go through his prepared speech.

When Cathal Rasmussen took to the podium thanks went to all in attendance ”It’s great to see so many people here today to help the club and the Community College celebrate this great facility. Eight years ago we had two schoolboys teams in Cobh, Springfield and Cobh Ramblers operating alongside each other . After a lot of discussion our new club was formed called Springfield Ramblers to facilitate all players and in an effort to pool all the resources together rather than to pull in opposite directions. I would like to pay tribute to the members of both clubs who had the foresight and drive to pave the way for the successes of today.

Frank Collins, Ray Houghton & Niall Abbott with members of the victorious U16 Team

”Very shortly after the  merger  we as club recognized that we needed to provide better and more facilities for our players and coaches if we really wanted to challenge the bigger clubs not only in cork but also in the country at large. This was the challenge facing us two years ago and I am proud to day that the club ,coaches , committee and families all rose to the challenge resulting in this new super facility that you see here today. We have worked very closely with the college here for the last few years and we are very grateful to Frank Donovan and the college board for allowing us the use of the pitch for matches . With this in mind it became obvious to us that the way forward was a joint venture with Carrignfoy College. We had a series of meeting with both Joan and Frank at the early stages and we were soon well on our way. I would like to thank Noreen Doyle and John Mulvihill for their support during this whole process.

John Coughlan, Ray Houghton & Cathal Rasmussen with some of this years silverware

”I now briefly need to mention Ollie Geasley and Adrian O’Donovan. Ollie has worked with the club for 10 years and actually retired this week. We would like to thank Ollie for all his dedicated work over the many years and wish him well .Adrian recently retired as supervisor of the Community Employment scheme and I wish him well in his retirement” Frank Collins, Chairman of Springfield Junior team made presentations to both Ollie and Adrian.

Back Row L to R: Kieran O'Callaghan (Treasurer), Wim VanWijnen (Committee), Anthony O'Donovan (Committee), Niall Abbott (Committee), Frank Collins (Committee), John Coughlan (Secretary). Front Row L to R: Veronica Foley (Committee), Ray Houghton (Former Irish International), Cathal Rasmussen (Chairman), John Delaney (CEO FAI), Maeve Griffin (Committee).

”Today is not all about the club or school but it also very much about the late John Murphy. John was a great coach ,mentor ,teacher and a friend of many people here before me today. Johns commitement  to schoolboy football  was second to none and we lost a great person when he died. John went above and beyond the call of duty when he was a coach with the club and did many deeds without recognition for many children in this town. My own brother was lucky enough to have John as his coach and he like many others speaks fondly of him. I always remember him saying that John was a coach before his years in that many of his ideas were new and different but ultimately ideas that later became the norm with all clubs. We as a club are delighted that the grounds and facilities are now  going to be called after the late John Murphy and I am delighted to  welcome the Murphy and Ellard family here today for this celebration. I am also delighted to see Claire O’Brien wife of the late Pat O’Brien former president of the FAI and a member of Springfield. Claire remarked to me recently that Pat would have being delighted with the naming of the grounds after John as they were great friends and both loved football”

Ray Houghton, Josie Ellard & John Delaney unveil the John Murphy Memorial

Received with great applause was the announcement by CEO of the FAI John Delaney he would be donating 100 tickets for the upcoming Republic Of Ireland match versus Slovakia and twenty for the press reception before the match.

After the ceremonies, and tea and sandwiches had concluded, the rain had eased off,  so it was outside to unveil an errected memorial dedicated to John Murphy and John’s sister, Josie Ellard later cut the ribbon to officially open the new all weather facility.