Other Sports

Talking with soccer Legend Liam Brady as he visits Listowel

August 12th, 2008
by Weeshie Fogarty

 The amount of voluntary work that continues to go into the various sporting clubs in this county never ceases to amaze me. All the news, and quite rightly so during the last month has been the participation of our three heroic Olympic oarsmen in Beijing. And while they are now full time participants at that sport the truth of the matter is, without the efforts and dedication and facilities provided by the army of voluntary workers at the now world renowned Muckross rowing club they would not have achieved this momentous and historic sporting milestone. The same applies for all the other sporting clubs in Kerry. Voluntary workers are the life line and the foundation of sport in this county and indeed in this country. A perfect example of community effort is the Rioch Athletic club in Castleisland which is one of the best sporting facilities in these islands and a credit to the men and women who saw their life long dream come to fruition. And all this magnificent voluntary effort and dedication was brought home to me in the most tangible way of all when I attended the Listowel Celtic soccer clubs awards evening last Tuesday at the invitation of the club committee. It was a superbly organized event in which close to four hundred boys and girls of this North Kerry club were honored for their exploits during the past season.

The assembly hall of St Michaels College was packed to capacity as the clubs exemplary young chairman Aidan o Connor got proceedings under way. This is a club which is young, vibrant, exciting, and full of ideas and more fordward thinking than many I have come across. They field 34 teams including all age groups, boys and girls and the under age and adult sections are completely separate with dedicated workers, men and women toiling away season after season. As Chairman Aidan o Connor explained it has been an incredible year for the club. "We hosted the first ever soccer international in Kerry back in April when Ireland played Germany in our magnificent complex Pat Kennedy Park. One of our players Paudie Quinn has signed for Fulham; he also played for Ireland as did David Cullinane and Brian Murphy.  And indeed Brian went on to play six times for his country in the Foyle Cup netting five goals and he is currently on trial with Wrexham". Then he reminded me that they won national club of the month in June, a massive tribute to one and all. Yet again another indication of Listowel Celtic's exalted standing in the Irish soccer world when it was announced at the awards presentation that the internationally renowned sports gear giants Umbro were to sponsor them for three years for playing gear worth 5,000 Euro yearly. And it was Umbro who approached the Kerry club anxious to be associated with their name in the Kingdom.

But the icing on the cake in relation to this memorable evening was the presence of the legendary soccer great Liam Brady who presented all the awards. He received rapturous applause from the massive crowd and in a long and wide ranging interview I conducted with him before the festivities began he talked about his involvement as assistant manager with the Irish team and his honour laden career both in England with Arsenal and later in Italy with Juventus, Inter Milan, Sampdoria and Ascoli. Effectionaly known as "Chippy" he informed me that when he arrived at the marble halls of Arsenal as a raw fifteen year old in 1970 his mother informed manager Bertie Mee that her son ate nothing only fish and chips. Thus the name "Chippy" was born. He played on 72 occasions for Ireland but expressed disappointed at having never played in the finals of the European or World Cups. When I put it to him that both he and Jack Charlton, the Irish manager did not see eye to eye he discounted it out of hand. "We are the best of friends" he replied, "and that is completely untrue". A fascinating little snippet that came to light during my interview with Liam was the fact that the young Tralee soccer star Darren Dennehy who has just made his debut for Cardiff City following his transfer from Everton had been strongly recommended to him for Arsenal but Everton moved first and snatched him from under his nose. That exclusive lengthy interview will be aired on Radio Kerry's Terrace Talk within the coming weeks. So well done to the men and women of Listowel Celtic. Led by their dynamic chairmen Aidan o Connor further and greater glory days lay ahead. Our county is fortunate to have such dedicated voluntary people guiding our youth.

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