Did Phil Babb ever play under-age football for either England or Ireland?

**holteender** · 03/10/2005, 1:08 PM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

Plastic paddy with 3 Lions on his shirt. Now that would have been a good photo.

Babb made his first "appearance" for Ireland in some weird friendly or even testimonial against Hungary I think. Everyone except me thought he was much that day. I thought he was OK.

Wasnt it O'Learys testimonial against Hungary?

**Stuttgart88** · 03/10/2005, 1:09 PM

Yeah, that sounds right.

**TheJamaicanP.M.** · 03/10/2005, 2:52 PM

Originally Posted by holteender

Wasnt it O'Learys testimonial against Hungary?

Yeah, Phil Babb and Phil Hardy both played against Hungary that day. Think it was May 1993. Babb made his full debut against Russia the following year if my memory serves me correct. He hit the crossbar from a corner.

**macdermesser** · 04/10/2005, 7:28 AM

Sadly, my lasting memory of Phil Babb is of his performance against Scotland at Lansdowne in his last game .. awful. Played well enough in World Cup 94 .. though .. not a patch on Mc Grath though... goes without saying

**Junior** · 04/10/2005, 8:39 AM

Thats right, USA94 was the making (or possible breaking of him) he had 3 or 4 excellent games at the heart of defence (and who wouldn't , playing beside GOD himself?) Was also playing well for Coventry at the time..........may be he believed the hype, but it seemed to go downhill from there??

**tetsujin1979** · 04/10/2005, 8:57 AM

Originally Posted by macdermesser

Sadly, my lasting memory of Phil Babb is of his performance against Scotland at Lansdowne in his last game .. awful. Played well enough in World Cup 94 .. though .. not a patch on Mc Grath though... goes without saying

Wasn't the 4-2 loss away to Russia his last game?

**Junior** · 04/10/2005, 10:29 AM

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

Wasn't the 4-2 loss away to Russia his last game?

think you could be right? was he brought on as a sub? didn't he score an og?

**Stuttgart88** · 04/10/2005, 10:45 AM

Originally Posted by Junior

think you could be right? was he brought on as a sub? didn't he score an og?

Yes, though it was a bit unlucky. Mick went 3-5-2 for the last few minutes, they broke, Given saved it but the rebound went in off Babb. Up until that moment I still felt we'd get a draw. If they hadn't made it 3-1 as soon as we'd just scored I think we'd have done it.

**tetsujin1979** · 04/10/2005, 10:46 AM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

Yes, though it was a bit unlucky. Mick went 3-5-2 for the last few minutes, they broke, Given saved it but the rebound went in off Babb. Up until that moment I still felt we'd get a draw. If they hadn't made it 3-1 as soon as we'd just scored I think we'd have done it.

A lot of people gave him unjust grief for the final goal, it was just the worst luck.

**CollegeTillIDie** · 04/10/2005, 5:27 PM

tetsujin1979

I was in Moscow and thought Phil was unfairly hung out to dry in some quarters over that goal. At least he tried to keep the damn thing out of the net.

**youngirish** · 04/10/2005, 5:40 PM

Ah Ronaldo Babb as me and the lads used to call him. He was never quite sure if he was a defender or a world class deep sitting striker. Anyone remember his overhead kick from 20 yards against the Czech Republic a few years ago? Just went over the bar. Only a few players in the world at the time could have performed such a feat - Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Zidane, Figo and Phil Babb.

**CollegeTillIDie** · 04/10/2005, 6:33 PM

Originally Posted by youngirish

Ah Ronaldo Babb as me and the lads used to call him. He was never quite sure if he was a defender or a world class deep sitting striker. Anyone remember his overhead kick from 20 yards against the Czech Republic a few years ago? Just went over the bar. Only a few players in the world at the time could have performed such a feat - Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Zidane, Figo and Phil Babb.

Surely you mean Filipo InBabbi ?