Liam Corbett UCC FC RIP.

With great sadness, I learned of the passing of a true "Gentleman" of Cork Soccer, Liam Corbett of UCC, following his recent illness.

A genuine and unassuming character, his heart was totally immersed in his love of football and in particular the UCC Junior Team which he Managed over several years. Liam brought joy to all those who crossed his path within the game and many people did.

I have a few fond memories of Liam that will following me to my own grave, from the Friday evening he rang me at 4.30pm as I was due to referee their game away to Buttervant at 7.45pm, to offer me a spin on the bus as the weather was dreadful, with severe frost forecast and Liam was concerned about my safety driving back to Cork alone from Buttervant if the roads were icy, to the day last year I met him and innocently asked him where his “tash” was gone to him falling around laughing at me, whipped off his baseball hat and told me about his illness without feeling down.

It was also a joy to be the Referee in the Corinthians Cup Final last June when UCC beat Lakewood 2-1 to lift the Cup for Liam and to meet him as recently as a few weeks ago coaching UCC in an Inter Varsity game on a Wednesday afternoon in The Farm.

However the greatest story and testament to Liam, I found on the UCC website regarding his last major victory last year, before he was honoured by UCC, with “The Kieran Dowd Perpetual Award”

This year’s Special Achievement Award known as “The Kieran Dowd Perpetual Award” will be presented to Mr Liam Corbett, UCC Soccer Club in recognition of his years of service to the soccer club. Liam coaches the UCC 2^nd Juniors who compete in the local leagues on a weekly basis. Liam gives selflessly of his time to the club and this team and he brought silverware to the club this year when his team won the Crowley Cup at the intevarsities recently. Liam’s team only participated because UCC put in 2 teams to make up an even amount of teams for the competition. They were there “to make up numbers” but nobody told Liam & his players that and they defied the odds and defeated QUB 1-0 in the final....

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam

Liam with Kieran Dowd at the UCC Sports Awards.