Irish players Christian names

[eirebhoy]

A bit of a nothing post but I noticed we have a fair amount of players who's most widely used name for them aren't their Christian name.

Steve Finnan
Kenny Cunningham
Andy O'Brien
Andy Reid
Matt Holland
Robbie Keane
Willo Flood
Richie ____
Paddy Kenny

Wes Brown and Chris Kirkland are the only English players I can think of which don't use their Christian names. No doubt if the following were Irish they'd be known as follows :
Micky Owen
Jimmy Beattie
Steve Gerrard
Dave Beckham
Jon Woodgate
Dave James



Sorry for wasting your time on a worthless read, bored stiff here trying to make myself tired. Seriously though, why is it that we have to make our names as short as possible?

[Green Tribe]

A bit of a nothing post but I noticed we have a fair amount of players who's most widely used name for them aren't their Christian name.

Steve Finnan
Kenny Cunningham
Andy O'Brien
Andy Reid
Matt Holland
Robbie Keane
Willo Flood
Richie ____
Paddy Kenny

Wes Brown and Chris Kirkland are the only English players I can think of which don't use their Christian names. No doubt if the following were Irish they'd be known as follows :
Micky Owen
Jimmy Beattie
Steve Gerrard
Dave Beckham
Jon Woodgate
Dave James



Sorry for wasting your time on a worthless read, bored stiff here trying to make myself tired. Seriously though, why is it that we have to make our names as short as possible?

no worries eirebhoy, quite interesting actually, where are the sociologists and psychologists???? The only thing i can think of is that we shorten our names as a friendly gesture. Someone u know well u would call them Pat/Paddy or Mike/Mick, all my relatives are all uncle pat, uncle packie, auntie katie, my family shorten my name too Julie-Juls. And then it just sticks, from childhood to adulthood. It would seem strange calling a loved one, friend, relative etc Michael/Jonathon etc. i also think in Ireland nicknames are more popular too
Whereas i think in england i think they would keep the full Christian name( as they all do in the family of my brother's girlfriend.) i dunno, does this make sense??

[blobbyblob]

Seriously though, why is it that we have to make our names as short as possible?

Play it to feet Kenneth...
Switch it Roy Maurice
Try and beat the keeper Robert

[crc]

I'm not trying to disprove the theory, just thinking of instances in English football where a shortenned name is used.

Jimmy Greaves
Bobby Charlton
Jackie Charlton
Andy Cole (though he prefers 'Andrew')
Muzzy Izzet
Robert Pirez (didn't Thiery call him 'Bobby' in the 'va va voom' ad?)
Alex Ferguson (is Alex short for something in this instance?)
Wes Brown

[holidaysong]

Alex Ferguson (is Alex short for something in this instance?)

Alexander

[Ruairi]

I suppose when you think about it, Gary Neville is always shortened to "that cnut"...

[Closed Account 2]

A bit of a nothing post but I noticed we have a fair amount of players who's most widely used name for them aren't their Christian name.

Steve Finnan
Kenny Cunningham
Andy O'Brien
Andy Reid
Matt Holland
Robbie Keane
Willo Flood
Richie ____
Paddy Kenny

Wes Brown and Chris Kirkland are the only English players I can think of which don't use their Christian names. No doubt if the following were Irish they'd be known as follows :
Micky Owen
Jimmy Beattie
Steve Gerrard
Dave Beckham
Jon Woodgate
Dave James



Sorry for wasting your time on a worthless read, bored stiff here trying to make myself tired. Seriously though, why is it that we have to make our names as short as possible?

To be fair I think its more to do with the name rather than the nationality.

eg English players also had short names instead of long when those names were the same as the Irish ones youve listed

Eg Kenny Samson, Kenny Cunningham
-- Robbie Blake, Robbie Keane
-- Andy Todd, Andy Ried
-- Steve/Steven is a bit more interchangable eg Steve Harkness/Steven Gerrard, Steve Finnan/Steven Reid.

[blobbyblob]

What about players that could have shortened their name but didnt....now thats a head scratcher

Andrew Cole would probably be the most memorable

[GavinZac]

What about players that could have shortened their name but didnt....now thats a head scratcher

Andrew Cole would probably be the most memorable

peter schmeical?

[Troy.McClure]

The lad who plays in goal for Bolton? Jussi Jaaskelainen! Say that in one go!

[Éanna]

The lad who plays in goal for Bolton? Jussi Jaaskelainen! Say that in one go!

then have a feed of pints and try it again

It is an interesting point though- also there's a difference between Cork and Dublin (possibly other places too, I dunno) in HOW names are shortened. e.g. Declan: Deccie in Cork, Deco in Dublin. any other variations ideas on this?

[Green Tribe]

i have never heard declan being shortened apart from that knob in ant and dec

[blobbyblob]

then have a feed of pints and try it again

It is an interesting point though- also there's a difference between Cork and Dublin (possibly other places too, I dunno) in HOW names are shortened. e.g. Declan: Deccie in Cork, Deco in Dublin. any other variations ideas on this?

Is there a county in the middle that has to use both versions to aid in the transition as you move down the country. Kilkenny is Deccie anyway.

[Bosco]

Have a friend called Declan,used to be called deccie(thought it sounded a bit gay),changed to calling him deco,didnt like it so now i call him dec

[Troy.McClure]

there's a difference between Cork and Dublin (possibly other places too, I dunno) in HOW names are shortened. e.g. Declan: Deccie in Cork, Deco in Dublin. any other variations ideas on this?

Ya but you'd probably say Robbie (similar to Deccie) in Dublin, but not in Cork
.
.
.
Anthony: Tony (Cork) Anto (Dublin)

[Aberdonian Stu]

It's only Anto in some parts of Dublin, I'd say Tony.

I await the wonderfully intelligent D4 (even though I'm Co Dublin) and Southsider remarks.