Foreign born but were only ever going to play for Ireland

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Fixer82

Correct.

And apparently a lot of the squad weren?t happy at Waddock being replaced at the 11th hour.
McLoughlin felt the vibes.

I guess coming on against England and being involved in the goal probably helped his cause

---

Jack regretted taking Stapleton - in hindsight would have taken Waddock & McLoughlin.

Jack brought 7 strikers I think. Absolute madness!

Looking back it seems strange that arch pragmatist Jack didn't leave one of those forwards out in favour of an extra midfielder - especially when Houghton and Whelan were injury doubts.

I've previously read that Birmingham-born Gerry Peyton turned down an approach from Don Revie to play for England U-21 in favour of playing for Ireland, so he's another one who can be added to the list.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Trequartista20

Looking back it seems strange that arch pragmatist Jack didn't leave one of those forwards out in favour of an extra midfielder - especially when Houghton and Whelan were injury doubts.

I've previously read that Birmingham-born Gerry Peyton turned down an approach from Don Revie to play for England U-21 in favour of playing for Ireland, so he's another one who can be added to the list.

---

Was that a pragmatic decision or a decision from the heart though? I'm happy to add him to the list though. What are we at now? 7?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Trequartista20

Looking back it seems strange that arch pragmatist Jack didn't leave one of those forwards out in favour of an extra midfielder - especially when Houghton and Whelan were injury doubts.

I've previously read that Birmingham-born Gerry Peyton turned down an approach from Don Revie to play for England U-21 in favour of playing for Ireland, so he's another one who can be added to the list.

---

I don't think that's true. I think he was first approached by us when at Burnley and initially turned us down hoping for an England call-up. It was several years later, when it was clear that he was not going to be selected by England ( and I think playing at a lower level) that he accepted the Irish call-up. This is al from memory, so far from infallible.

Made his Irish debut at 20, no? So the several years later part seems a bit unlikely anway.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by sadloserkid

Made his Irish debut at 20, no? So the several years later part seems a bit unlikely anway.

---

If that?s the case I?m wrong. Where did you find that about him making debut when he was 20?

This would appear to support it. Made his debut in February 1977 - a friendly against Spain; competitive debut in October 77. Spanish game would have him at 20 years old.

https://www.transfermarkt.us/gerry-p...verein_id/3509

I couldn't find the article I originally referred to, but I was going through the Times archive last night and it confirms that Peyton was called up to the England U-21 squad in December 1976 and turned down the opportunity in order to persue his ambition to play for Ireland.

He was called up by Giles two months later.

It's a long time ago, but so strange that my recollection of the sequence was completely the other way round. I guess that's what aging does to you.