Jack brought 7 strikers I think. Absolute madness!
Folding my way into the big money!!!
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.
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.
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