Ray Tracey on Drivetime Sport

[geysir]

That is totally wrong about flying in 10 players any chance you get check what you write first ?
Ask your grandad for the exact details :)
Could have just just preceeded David Pugh's time. It was a definite sports news item. A load of short term professional contracts. Could well have been an entire team fielded of players English/Scottish. That all sorts team lost game after game as well.

It was unfortunate that the Giles era happened at a very bad time in LOI history. Probably 1977 was the worst time for the country as well, we had just come out of 4 years of Liam Cosgrave (Minister for Hardship) with Cooney and the Heavy Gang on the rampage, then plunged into an even deeper crisis by the succeeding government.
The LOI didn´t offer much relief.

[dcfcsteve]

I have flashbacks but no meaningful memories of being an infant in a packed out jungle in the late eighties with loads of fellas having those red bobble benny hats with 2 white stripes. I think my da still has his.



That was due to a clever bit of buying by the Manager of Dunnes Stores in the Richie Centre (before they moved to Foyleside).

He twigged that anything red n' white flew out of the shops in those days, so bought literally thousands of them-in dirt cheap from Taiwan to sell for a couple of quid a time. I don't believe any other Dunnes Stores in the countrey carried them as part of their range - it was just good business opportunism by the local branch.

Every male in the City pretty much had one - we'd at least 2 in our house.

[Boh_So_Good]

when you consider how popular Rovers and the league itself was back in the late 70s-early 80s.

A myth which has fostered among LOI supporters and alkie sports journalists in the years since. The league had far less support in them days than now. I should know, I was there.

In them halcyon days of yore:

think; 11-20 Bohs supporters in the shed at Dalyer for most matches.

think; 3000 tops for the "legendary" Bohs-Rover cup semis

think; Thurles Town bringing 2 supporters on most away trips

The real glory days of the LOI began about 6 years ago. Before that it was GAA-style event junkies showing up for finals and nothing else, hoofing and plastic schoolbags with Arsenal and Liverpool on them and NOBODY under the age of 40 at most LOI matches.

Don't believe the myth.

[Stuttgart88]

Around 93~94 Rovers drew Bohs in the FAI Cup and it went to a second if not third replay. Bohs won 1-0 I think but there was a very big crowd at Dalyer. Everyone around town was talking about the game and I even managed to get some of my mates - white collar accountant types who never went to live sport - to come along & actually get excited by it. Anyone remember the exact crowd?

[NY Hoop]

Around 93~94 Rovers drew Bohs in the FAI Cup and it went to a second if not third replay. Bohs won 1-0 I think but there was a very big crowd at Dalyer. Everyone around town was talking about the game and I even managed to get some of my mates - white collar accountant types who never went to live sport - to come along & actually get excited by it. Anyone remember the exact crowd?

The first game drew 10,000. Bad game but excellent occasion with Geoghegan scoring and jumping on the fence. Replay in the RDS on a wednesday afternoon drew about 7,000 roughly and the second replay drew about 8,000.

That was when we were allowed into the tramway end. We were also winning the league at the time.

Rogue havent a bog what obessising is but sligo flew in dozens of non entities for a few seasons in the 90s until, surprise surprise, it didnt work out.


KOH

KOH

[Dodge]

Of the team mentioned here (http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/1999/03/27/phead.htm) (Boswell, McLynn, Hutchison, Birks, Charles, Sheridan, Kennedy, Flannery, Hallows, Hoeks, Lynch. Sub: Oates ) in march 1999...

How many weren't flown in? Very few.

When hallows signed for Pats from Sligo, he was forced to move to Dublin after Sligo flew him in every week.

[red bellied]

Boswell lived in the town, last I heard playing with Stevenage
McLynn a local, think he is in America now.
Hutchinson is a Scot that settled in the town. Now manager of Rovers under twenty ones.
Birks is English, played with Rovers for four or five seasons and lived in the town.
Wesley is still a frequent visitor to the town, now playing with Galway.
Sheridan another local, now with Athlone.
Kennedy from Maugheraboy, probably playing Junior in Sligo/Leitrim.
Flannery has had countless stints with Rovers.
Hallows as above.
Hoeks was Dutch and based in the town.
Lynch from Cartron in town, used to be Gavin Dykes other half for a fair few seasons.
Oates from Maugheraboy.

[sligoman]

Hutchinson is a Scot that settled in the town. Now manager of Rovers under twenty ones.Not anymore, cos the set-up is a joke.

[red bellied]

Not anymore, cos the set-up is a joke.

Nothing official from the club about it.

[gustavo]

Boswell lived in the town, last I heard playing with Stevenage
McLynn a local, think he is in America now.
Hutchinson is a Scot that settled in the town. Now manager of Rovers under twenty ones.
Birks is English, played with Rovers for four or five seasons and lived in the town.
Wesley is still a frequent visitor to the town, now playing with Galway.
Sheridan another local, now with Athlone.
Kennedy from Maugheraboy, probably playing Junior in Sligo/Leitrim.
Flannery has had countless stints with Rovers.
Hallows as above.
Hoeks was Dutch and based in the town.
Lynch from Cartron in town, used to be Gavin Dykes other half for a fair few seasons.
Oates from Maugheraboy.
I thought Oates was from Limerick ?

[Ash]

Hoeks was Dutch and based in the town.

Johnny Hoeks was a legend :p
The abuse we use to give him when he'd be in Equinox trying to chat
up any woman who'd listen with his "I'm a professional footballer" line!

He'd be in the chipper afterwards trying to get free food saying Rovers
pay for his meals!

Spent most of his time cycling up and down JFK Parade if memory serves me

[red bellied]

I thought Oates was from Limerick ?

He lived across the road from me in Maugheraboy.

[jimhacker]

think; Thurles Town bringing 2 supporters on most away trips



.


Please, please get your facts right. They always had support in double figures!

But - you're right. The so called good old days were a total myth.

[jimhacker]

.
Hutchinson is a Scot that settled in the town. Now manager of Rovers under twenty ones.
.


And a damm good player he was too!

[sligoman]

Nothing official from the club about it.Yeah, and we all know they're first to come out with stuff going on in the club:rolleyes:. He's gone, Cook has taken over for the rest of the season.

[red bellied]

Perhaps the most notorious of all Cup confrontations between the sides was the 1978 final, a game so loaded with controversy that it has earned an indelible place in the folklore of Sligo soccer.

Even now, twenty-two years on, the sense of injustice over a penalty award which settled the tie in favour of the Dublin club is the subject of much heated debate in Sligo football circles.

The outrage centres on an incident three minutes into injury time at the end of the first half. With the game scoreless, Shams winger, Steve Lynex, who had been at Sligo for a brief spell earlier in the season, was challenged by Rovers full-back, Paul Fielding. As the ball broke free, Lynex went sprawling to the ground. Most observers felt he had lost his balance and tumbled over but referee, John Carpenter, adjudged that Fielding had tripped his opponent and awarded a penalty. Ray Treacy put away the spot kick and Shams lifted the trophy.

Fury raged in Sligo for weeks after the game and the episode had a controversial sequel some years later when a book on the history of the FAI Cup made reference to an alleged threat on Lynex.

The player claimed that during his time in Sligo, he had a gun thrust into his side and informed bluntly: "we don't want your kind here". Rovers challenged the authenticity of the story, claiming that such an incident never took place. In any event, it was another twist to the extraordinary saga of Cup confrontations between the two Rovers

http://www.sligochampion.ie/sport/soccer/echoes-of-famous-cup-campaigns-as-old-rivals-prepare-to-meet-again-942588.html

[Boh_So_Good]

Please, please get your facts right. They always had support in double figures!

But - you're right. The so called good old days were a total myth.


I Know! I am always amazed at this idea of huge crowds in the LOI before the 1980's Absolute rubbish.

Sure Milltown could hold 24,000 - IF CELTIC CAME TO TOWN. Otherwise it was the usual 1,200 or so for most matches and they were the biggest club in the league in the 70's and 80's. I recall one time Rovers were playing Dundalk in the Cup in the mid 70's and the guy on RTE radio announced something about "the great old days of the LOI are back with a train from Connolly with up to 500 Rovers supporters going to Dundalk!" - so even in the old days, they had this myth that crowds were huge in the old days before that...

As for the huge crowds for finals - well this is true. But if you look at it realistically, it was classic GAA event junkie-ism from counties such as Donegal, Waterford, Limerick, Sligo who all had limited success (if any at all) with GAA. So this was the nearest thing to them to a Croker trip and they would all go "for the craic!". And like the GAA none of them would be around for league matches when the season restarted.

The "Sports Mad Country" notion has always been a load of hyperbole based on fuzzy memory and wishful thinking.

[NY Hoop]

Perhaps the most notorious of all Cup confrontations between the sides was the 1978 final, a game so loaded with controversy that it has earned an indelible place in the folklore of Sligo soccer.

Even now, twenty-two years on, the sense of injustice over a penalty award which settled the tie in favour of the Dublin club is the subject of much heated debate in Sligo football circles.

The outrage centres on an incident three minutes into injury time at the end of the first half. With the game scoreless, Rovers winger, Steve Lynex, who had been at Sligo for a brief spell earlier in the season, was challenged by Sligo full-back, Paul Fielding. As the ball broke free, Lynex went sprawling to the ground. Most observers felt he had lost his balance and tumbled over but referee, John Carpenter, adjudged that Fielding had tripped his opponent and awarded a penalty. Ray Treacy put away the spot kick and Rovers lifted the trophy.

Fury raged in Sligo for weeks after the game and the episode had a controversial sequel some years later when a book on the history of the FAI Cup made reference to an alleged threat on Lynex.

The player claimed that during his time in Sligo, he had a gun thrust into his side and informed bluntly: "we don't want your kind here". Rovers challenged the authenticity of the story, claiming that such an incident never took place. In any event, it was another twist to the extraordinary saga of Cup confrontations between the two Rovers

http://www.sligochampion.ie/sport/soccer/echoes-of-famous-cup-campaigns-as-old-rivals-prepare-to-meet-again-942588.html


Sounds like you never got over it as this is your second post on it. Eh its nearly 30 years ago.

Would well believe the gun story though.


KOH

[red bellied]

Sounds like you never got over it as this is your second post on it. Eh its nearly 30 years ago.

Would well believe the gun story though.


KOH

Actually only posted the article from the Champion because of the Lynex gun tale. This has been doing the rounds for years. Its down to Lynex's credibility really, do you believe him or not?

[gustavo]

He lived across the road from me in Maugheraboy.

My mistake dunno where i got that from