Retired Players Thread

[tetsujin1979]

Chelsea's U16 team won the Under 16 Premier League Cup after beating Arsenal 5-2 yesterday, coached by former Ireland U21 player James Simmonds
Real blast from the past there

[Kingdom]

I still haven't finished Alan McLoughlin's book. Three chapters left I think for the past God knows how long. I've even read other books in that time frame which probably isn't a great sign of it.

I do remember finding some parts interesting enough, particular some Swindon stuff that happened just before I developed an interest in football, when they were promoted but not promoted, after he scored the winner in a playoff at Wembley.

The only other bits I remember was that he was Man Utd fan despite growing up across the street from Maine Road and that he seemed a bit whooped by his wife.

And obviously Windsor Park & his cancer scare/battle featured heavily.

His Wembley goal is here at 4:30-


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gobMS5_6OGE
Thanks for that Del. That was a corker of a game with some awful commentary, even worse shooting, but some fine goalkeeping. Have to say I’ve no recollection of that game at all.


There were all kinds of payment irregularities going on in Swindon at the time I think.

Yeah, didnt they get kicked out under hoddle a few seasons later too?


O’Connor set to make his MLS coaching/managerial debut on Saturday at the helm of Orlando City SC. The Dubliner was a bit of a journeyman who played plenty of matches in England’s 2nd and 3rd tiers before wrapping up his career in the U.S. — most recently managing Louisville City to a USL (U.S. 2nd tier) playoff championship win last season.

Good luck to him. Orlando has the resources to spend big by MLS standards (they had Kaka for a couple of seasons), so he will be given the tools to succeed although he likely won’t be given a lot of time to deliver results so will need to start strong.

James O’Connor was a very decent player who has a super career in league football. If it’s the same guy I’m sure he had a decent goal scoring record

[tetsujin1979]

Brian Barry-Murphy appointed Rochdale manager: https://www.rochdaleafc.co.uk/news/2019/april/manager-announcement/

Rochdale Football Club is delighted to announce that Brian Barry-Murphy has been appointed as the Club’s new first team manager on a two-year contract.


Barry-Murphy has taken charge of first team affairs since the departure of Keith Hill and Chris Beech last month, securing an impressive eight points from an available 12 whilst at the helm, with the team having won two and drawn two under his stewardship.

[tetsujin1979]

Excellent interview with Alan Moore on the42 today: https://www.the42.ie/alan-moore-ireland-middlesbrough-wigan-4646751-May2019/

[tetsujin1979]

RIP former Irish international Jimmy Conway, 73, passed away today in London

[SkStu]

RIP former Irish international Jimmy Conway, 73, passed away today in London

https://m.facebook.com/portlandtimbers/videos/2436045083166562/

[DeLorean]

European Cup winner, Tony Dunne, passes away, aged 78 - https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/52967677

[tetsujin1979]

RIP Theo Foley, aged 83. Won nine caps for his country

[livehead1]

Chelsea's U16 team won the Under 16 Premier League Cup after beating Arsenal 5-2 yesterday, coached by former Ireland U21 player James Simmonds
Real blast from the past there

I saw him come off the bench for Hemel Hempstead last year

[tetsujin1979]

Yesterday was Mickey Walsh's 65th birthday, he won 21 caps for Ireland and scored three goals
Reading his wikipedia page - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mickey_Walsh - I noticed this in his club career

He spent six years playing in Portugal with FC Porto, and appeared in their 2–1 defeat by Juventus in the 1984 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Final in Basel.
He came off the bench in the game in question, and I wondered - is he the only Irish player to a appear in a European Final for a non-British club?
Brady never did at Juventus or Inter, Aldridge and Babb never reached a final from their time abroad, so is there any other player who's managed it?

[DeLorean]

He came off the bench in the game in question, and I wondered - is he the only Irish player to a appear in a European Final for a non-British club?

Good piece if trivia. Decided to do the research and unsurprisingly the answer is yes, he is the only one.
Full list if ROI player involvement in European finals here (started the match(es) unless otherwise stated):


1968 Shay Brennan, Tony Dunne (Man Utd EC winners)

1971 John Dempsey, Paddy Mulligan *came on as sub in first game, unused sub in replay (Chelsea ECWC winners)

1972 Joe Kinnear (Tottenham UEFA Cup winners)

1973 Steve Heighway (Liverpool UEFA Cup winners)

1975 Johnny Giles (Leeds Utd EC runners-up)

1976 Steve Heighway (Liverpool UEFA Cup winners)

1977 Steve Heighway (Liverpool EC winners)

1978 Steve Heighway *came on as sub (Liverpool EC winners)

1980 David O'Leary, Liam Brady *missed in shoot-out, Frank Stapleton *scored in shoot-out (Arsenal ECWC runners-up)

1984 Mark Lawrenson, Ronnie Whelan, Michael Robinson *came on as sub (Liverpool EC winners)
1984 Chris Hughton, Tony Galvin (Tottenham UEFA Cup winners)
1984 Mickey Walsh (FC Porto ECWC runners-up)

1985 Jim Beglin, Mark Lawrenson, Ronnie Whelan (Liverpool EC runners-up)
1985 Kevin Sheedy (Everton ECWC winners)

1991 Denis Irwin (Man Utd ECWC winners)

1994 Eddie McGoldrick *came on as sub (Arsenal ECWC winners)

1995 Eddie McGoldrick *unused sub (Arsenal ECWC runners-up)

1999 Denis Irwin (Man Utd CL winners)

2005 Steve Finnan (Liverpool CL winners)

2007 Steve Finnan (Liverpool CL runners-up)

2008 John O'Shea *unused sub (Man Utd CL winners)

2009 John O'Shea (Man Utd CL runners-up)

2010 Damien Duff (Fulham EL runners-up)

2019 Caoimhín Kelleher *unused sub (Liverpool CL winners)


Useless info:
We've never had players on opposing sides in a European final
1984 was our bumper year, with six player involvements across the three competitions)

[tetsujin1979]

Useless info:
We've never had a European final goalscorer (Frank Stapleton scored in the shoot-out in 1980)
We've never had players on opposing sides in a European final
1984 was our bumper year, with six player involvements across the three competitions)

John Dempsey scored for Chelsea in the replay of the Cup Winners Cup Final in 1971: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1971_European_Cup_Winners%27_Cup_Final#Replay

[DeLorean]

Okay, scratch that.

[CraftyToePoke]

Okay, scratch that.

I'm leaving the thanks on it, still commendable effort there on the Google front God bless you.

[Stuttgart88]

I'm leaving the thanks on it, still commendable effort there on the Google front God bless you.And I'm adding mine.

Never heard of John Dempsey. More Geysir's era :)

[Stuttgart88]

John Dempsey scored for Chelsea in the replay of the Cup Winners Cup Final in 1971: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1971_European_Cup_Winners%27_Cup_Final#ReplayDid Kevin Sheedy not score in Everton's 3-1 win over Rapid Vienna in 1985?

Everton would have had a great shout at winning the big one had Liverpool not got English clubs banned.

[tetsujin1979]

Did Kevin Sheedy not score in Everton's 3-1 win over Rapid Vienna in 1985?

Everton would have had a great shout at winning the big one had Liverpool not got English clubs banned.

yep, the third in a 3-1 win: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1985_European_Cup_Winners%27_Cup_Final
I thought Dempsey was the only one.

[DeLorean]

You're only human Tetsa, can easily happen.

[Kingdom]

Excrutiating interview with Paul McGrath on Marian Finucane right now. She's scarcely even asking him questions. More like making nonsensical statements and expecting him to comment upon them.

This is a very interesting observation LR, I can't recall it, but A LOT of big Paul's interviews have been like that (well, any that I've heard, including the recent one on his HoF award with that arsehole Dervan). I know that speaking isn't his thing, particularly when there's a camera on him, but for god sake, you'd think that one of the proper sports journos could do a decent interview with him, that would allow him to speak without resorting to clichés, but also to put functional, interesting questions to him that would be of interest to football fans.

I always want to hear more from McGrath, as much now as ever, given he's in what could be described as as good a place as hes ever been.

[Stuttgart88]

Anyone ever listen to Jarlath Regan's podcast? A very capable and empathetic interviewer.

[Kingdom]

Possibly, but correlation does not imply causation. People get tumours without ever having played football.

People get tumours without having a brain.

[Kingdom]

And I'm adding mine.

Never heard of John Dempsey. More Geysir's era :)

Oh here we go, the bloody thanks brigade are out in force.

FFS.

Oh, scratch that, I'm cheerleader for the thanks brigade :-)

[DeLorean]

John Dempsey scored for Chelsea in the replay of the Cup Winners Cup Final in 1971


Did Kevin Sheedy not score in Everton's 3-1 win over Rapid Vienna in 1985?

Two excellent goals actually.

Dempsey's first time volley...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGTds3sD22c

[DeLorean]

And Sheedy's quality finish...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7M563Rx2OE

[seanfhear]

Double Post.

[Eirambler]

Kevin Moran 65 today. I'm guessing he's the first Irish EPL player to reach pensionable age? Probably one of the first EPL players overall to reach 65.

Incidentally, I'm guessing this lad doesn't qualify for us, despite the name:

https://www.transfermarkt.com/kevin-moran/profil/spieler/669342

[tetsujin1979]

Kevin Moran 65 today. I'm guessing he's the first Irish EPL player to reach pensionable age? Probably one of the first EPL players overall to reach 65.

Incidentally, I'm guessing this lad doesn't qualify for us, despite the name:

https://www.transfermarkt.com/kevin-moran/profil/spieler/669342

Correct, any guesses on who the next Irish international to appear in the Premier League to be eligible for a pension is?
It's tough.

[Trequartista20]

Gerry Peyton?

[tetsujin1979]

Gerry Peyton?

number one with a bullet! well done

[SkStu]

Kevin Moran 65 today. I'm guessing he's the first Irish EPL player to reach pensionable age? Probably one of the first EPL players overall to reach 65.

Incidentally, I'm guessing this lad doesn't qualify for us, despite the name:

https://www.transfermarkt.com/kevin-moran/profil/spieler/669342

if you scroll down a bit, the "a" in Moran even has a fada!! ;) ours to lose!

Kevin Morán Blanco

[Eminence Grise]

I'm surprised that nugget of intel evaded our resident expert from Buenos Finglas.:D

[Eminence Grise]

I wouldn’t normally do this, but it came as a big surprise to hear that Kevin Moran is now officially a pensioner. There’s a photo of him in my home office, from ’85 – if you have to ask what game, you’re a whippersnapper – and he’s always been frozen in my mind as that young player I idolised since he was half the age I am now. And I was staring at the photo, with a choice between routine work or doing this so … this won out and work can wait, and happy birthday, Kevin Moran.

Hearing that Kevin Moran is Sixty-five

It’s a shock
to hear a boyhood hero
received his free bus pass today

when you recall
the colossus he was
a bus parked against speeding forwards

not quick or agile
but solid – a Routemaster
tipping bumpers on Porsches, or wing mirrors –

because you know
you know you’ll never see again the age
his engine cooled and livery passed to legend


(A nod to Pineapple Stu's greatest kits threads creeping in there, too!)

[Bielsa´s irish]

Kevin Moran is the best center back Ireland had produced alongside McGrath both were massive players. I think of him better than Dunne, O'Leary Oshea and Staunton Breen and Kenny Cunningham

In fact If you ask me best Ireland 11 from retired players I would choose the best that Ive seen,
-------------1---------------
-----------Given-------------
2---- 5-------4--------3
Irwin McGrath Moran Beglin
8-------6------10-----11
Ronnie Roy Brady Duff
9----------------- 7
Stapleton Robbie

[Diggs246]

Does kevin Moran qualify for us? The Argentine not the pensioner

[Diggs246]

Sorry I thought he was playing in the Bundesliga. He isnt even a pro

[Razors left peg]

I wouldn’t normally do this, but it came as a big surprise to hear that Kevin Moran is now officially a pensioner. There’s a photo of him in my home office, from ’85 – if you have to ask what game, you’re a whippersnapper – and he’s always been frozen in my mind as that young player I idolised since he was half the age I am now. And I was staring at the photo, with a choice between routine work or doing this so … this won out and work can wait, and happy birthday, Kevin Moran.

Hearing that Kevin Moran is Sixty-five

It’s a shock
to hear a boyhood hero
received his free bus pass today

when you recall
the colossus he was
a bus parked against speeding forwards

not quick or agile
but solid – a Routemaster
tipping bumpers on Porsches, or wing mirrors –

because you know
you know you’ll never see again the age
his engine cooled and livery passed to legend


(A nod to Pineapple Stu's greatest kits threads creeping in there, too!)

Met Moran going into the Sweden game at the Euros. Was queuing up at the turnstiles in front of us. The nicest fella, happy to take photos with anyone.

[Paddy Garcia]

Kevin Moran is the best center back Ireland had produced alongside McGrath both were massive players. I think of him better than Dunne, O'Leary Oshea and Staunton Breen and Kenny Cunningham

In fact If you ask me best Ireland 11 from retired players I would choose the best that Ive seen,
-------------1---------------
-----------Given-------------
2---- 5-------4--------3
Irwin McGrath Moran Beglin
8-------6------10-----11
Ronnie Roy Brady Duff
9----------------- 7
Stapleton Robbie

Lawrenson!

[elatedscum]

Kevin Moran is the best center back Ireland had produced alongside McGrath both were massive players. I think of him better than Dunne, O'Leary Oshea and Staunton Breen and Kenny Cunningham

In fact If you ask me best Ireland 11 from retired players I would choose the best that Ive seen,
-------------1---------------
-----------Given-------------
2---- 5-------4--------3
Irwin McGrath Moran Beglin
8-------6------10-----11
Ronnie Roy Brady Duff
9----------------- 7
Stapleton Robbie

David O’Leary and Paul McGrath

[Snapshot]

Kevin Moran is the best center back Ireland had produced alongside McGrath both were massive players. I think of him better than Dunne, O'Leary Oshea and Staunton Breen and Kenny Cunningham

In fact If you ask me best Ireland 11 from retired players I would choose the best that Ive seen,
-------------1---------------
-----------Given-------------
2---- 5-------4--------3
Irwin McGrath Moran Beglin
8-------6------10-----11
Ronnie Roy Brady Duff
9----------------- 7
Stapleton Robbie

I'd put Lawrenson alongside Moran, drop Keane and put McGrath in midfield.

[tetsujin1979]

Goalkeeping coach Rene Gilmartin to join Swindon: https://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/news/2021/june/rene-gilmartin-appointed-assistant-manager-to-john-mcgreal/

[tetsujin1979]

Goalkeeping coach Rene Gilmartin to join Swindon: https://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/news/2021/june/rene-gilmartin-appointed-assistant-manager-to-john-mcgreal/
That didn't last long: https://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/news/2021/june/club-statement-john-mcgreal-and-rene-gilmartin/

Swindon Town Football Club can confirm that John McGreal and Rene Gilmartin have agreed to mutually terminate their contracts with the club.

[tetsujin1979]

Brian Barry Murphy stepped down at Rochdale, and is expected to take over the U23 side at Manchester City

[seanfhear]

Brian Barry Murphy stepped down at Rochdale, and is expected to take over the U23 side at Manchester City
That looks like a great move.

[tetsujin1979]

new head of the Elite Development Squad Brian Barry-Murphy interviewed ahead of the new Premier League 2 season: https://www.mancity.com/news/eds-academy/brian-barry-murphy-manchester-city-s-my-perfect-match-63764306

[tetsujin1979]

Former U21 cap Jay Tabb has been retraining as a jockey: https://www.the42.ie/jay-tabb-racing-5580314-Oct2021/

[tetsujin1979]

Coleman?

[Diggs246]

Former U21 cap Jay Tabb has been retraining as a jockey: https://www.the42.ie/jay-tabb-racing-5580314-Oct2021/
what a genius 👏! Fair play to him.

[Diggs246]

In fact If you ask me best Ireland 11 from retired players I would choose the best that Ive seen,
-----------------------1---------------
---------------------Given-------------
2---------------5----------4----------3--
Coleman--McGrath--Lawrenson-- Irwin

-------------6------ 8 ----- 7----------
----------Brady -- Roy--Townsend-----
-9--------------------------------------11-
Houghton-----------------------------Duff
---------------------10---------------------
------------------Robbie------------------

Agonising over whether to have Stapleton or Quinn up top instead of Townsend.
I'd have dunne, moran and mick McCarthy ahead of lawerenson ( taking out club form completely). id and I accept controversially Breen ahead of him

[Kingdom]

I'd have dunne, moran and mick McCarthy ahead of lawerenson ( taking out club form completely).

Fair enough. They're extremely tight calls to be fair, and perhaps even McGrath in midfield would be helpful. Only thing I'd say, is that if Lawrenson doesn't get injured early 1987, McCarthy doesn't go on to become captain fantastic. It's Lawrenson and Moran at CB.


id and I accept controversially Breen ahead of him
Ah heyor, leave it bleedin' ouw.

[SkStu]

Yeah, he's been superb for us. Far ahead of Carr, Kelly or Finnan as the only other options of my time (so 88-present). Of course, you could put Dinny there and play Staunton, but I'd rather not :-)

I'd go so far as to say I think it's one of the few uncontestable places. The options he's given us going forward. Generally been excellent in defence, and a goal threat as well. Hasn't had the competition (Doc excluded) that others had.

Didnt know Seamus had retired.