blues - waterford united football club

BLUESWaterford United -v- Cobh Ramblers

Friday 9th August 2013 - Kick Off 7.45pmAirtricity League - First Division

2013Season

OfficialProgramme

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Hello and welcome one and all to the RSC for tonight’s Airtricity League tie with Cobh Ramblers FC, and a special welcome to Barry Walsh, Dave Hill and the Ramblers players and supporters.

Welcome also to the officials of Waterford Bohemians, our special guests tonight, and thanks to them for their support during recent weeks. Bohs have also kindly provided the ballboys for tonight’s game.

I’d like to thank everybody who contacted me personally over the last couple of weeks for their support and good wishes. We’ve kept the club going for the last ten years, and will continue to do so. The ground and facilities here are second to none now in the League of Ireland. That’s what we’ve achieved, and it’s a credit to everyone on the committee. On a personal note I felt betrayed by what went on, but that’s part of life, and it’s a learning process for me as regards dealing with people. Personally I’ve always treated people well, and will continue to do so, though maybe with more caution in the future, but for now it’s time to put it all behind us and move forward.

Last Friday saw a great win up at Salthill Devon, a very good performance despite going behind early on, and a great comeback to score four goals, which I think is the most we’ve scored all season. We’re only five points behind now, with fully eight games left to go, and if we can keep winning and keep scoring like that then it is very much all to play for still! A big thank you to the loyal band of fans that made the trip out to the wilds of a rain-lashed Drom for the game, your support in the most trying of conditions was hugely appreciated once again. This is my first chance to welcome Danny Furlong and Rob McLarney to the RSC, we hope they enjoy their time with us, and wish them all the best for the season ahead.

I’d like to say a big thank you to everyone who made it possible to host the Crystal Palace friendly here at the RSC last Saturday. It’s a pity that the place was not more than about half full for the game, but it was a worthwhile event, and from all we have heard afterwards a great night was had by all. Hopefully some

of those fans will be back out here at the RSC again before the end of the season, and maybe here tonight! Thank you to all those who helped prepare the stadium in the lead-up to the game, and to all who helped sell tickets at the RSC, at John Roberts Square, and John Ryan’s on Patrick Street. Thank you to the Blues Supporters Club members for all of their hard work and assistance, and everyone else who volunteered their time and efforts in any capacity.

We hope you all can attend the BSC barbecue night at Jack Meade’s tomorrow evening. It would be great to see a big

turn out on the night, which will be a real social event for all connected with the Blues. Full details can be found in Julieanne’s Supporters Club Notes on page 9.

On behalf of all at the club I would like to say farewell and a big thank you to Seamus Long, who is sadly moving on

after tonight’s game, to take up a job in the UK. It seems like a very, very quick four and a half years since Shammy signed for us out in the Crystal Centre after training one evening, but in that time he has been an outstanding and loyal servant to the club, and a huge addition to the team on the pitch. Still a young player at only 27, hopefully one day we might see Shammy back at the RSC in some capacity. We all wish him all the very best in his future career.

The Blues Under 19s kick off next weekend when they host Salthill Devon here on the main pitch at the RSC on Saturday at 2pm. Tommy and his backroom team have assembled another top class squad over the last few weeks, and they have played a number of pre-season warm-up games already, against Southend, Villa and Wexford Youths, and are all set for the upcoming season. We will have news of the young Blues in this programme, and you can keep up to date on the club website.

All that remains is to ask everyone to get behind the Blues and inspire them to a big performance and all three points tonight as we drive onwards and upwards to the Premier Division!

Best of luck Blues!

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A section of the colourful crowd at the Crystal Palace game last weekend (photo: Paul Elliot/Waterford Soccer Monthly)

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Last weekend was a very successful one for our club, both on and off the pitch, with a great result up at Salthill Devon, followed by the successful staging of the visit of English Premier League outfit Crystal Palace to the RSC the following night.

The result in Salthill was a most important one, because it shows that within this group of players we have the will to continue to bring the battle to Athlone Town and Longford Town, and push them all the

way in the title race. We are the form team and will take advantage of any little slips from the top two.

Crystal Palace came to the RSC on Saturday evening and we played out a very enteraining game with them. Their movement off the ball, and willingness to close us down quickly when we had possession, caused us problems but again we will have learned a lot from that game which I think we can use to further improve as we close in on the top two of Athlone and Longford.

Tonight we welcome Dave Hill, his players and staff and all connected with Cobh Ramblers. Cobh have a group of players that on their day can match any of the top teams, and they got an excellent result against Mervue last week, and two weeks ago beat Longford 4-3 having come back from three nil down!

So perhaps it is their consistency that lets them down a little, but we know that they are a very dangerous team,

with some gifted individual young players, such as Kynan Rocks who has come through their U19 set up. Again we will not only have to match their workrate tonight, but surpass it, if we are to get a result.

A great American Football coach, George Allen, once said “Desire, dedication and enthusiasm are the things that dominate in life, whether it be in sport or the business world.” I think in the past two weeks we have seen all of these three qualities come together from our club, and

I do not mean just from the players. We have seen it from the board, but more importantly from you our fans.

The challenge for our players now is to maintain those qualities. Believe me, I have seen them in training all week, and they are making the sacrifices,

to supply the enthusiasm and desire to be the best that they can be. We will again give 100% tonight to maintain our challenge for Premier Division status. It is not an option for us to give anything less. In my opinion we will only fail if we stop trying, and I can guarantee that will not happen with this group.

It is the team that succeeds , not the individual, and you our fans are very much part of our team. Get behind the lads tonight we will do all we can to give you

a performance to be proud of. Enjoy the game!

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Celebrations as Conor Whittle grabs the fourth goal against Salthill (photo: Paul Elliot/Waterford Soccer Monthly)

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Last week’s signing of young US midfielder Robbie McLarney continues a burgeoning tradition of American imports at the Blues. The highly recommended 23-year-old has moved to Waterford for a year after graduating college, having played in the NCAA Div 1 with Quinnipiac University Bobcats, and the North Eastern section of the National Premier Soccer League with Seacoast United Phantoms.

Robbie joins compatriot Chip Sanders in the current Blues squad, the Georgia native signed since just before the start of this season from Davidson College in North Carolina, who is currently battling Craig Hyland for the number one jersey. Chip is the third in a recent series of American netminders to wear the Blue shirt, four if you include Ben Spicer in 2008, who was born in New York but does consider himself a Corkman! Another Corkonian actually born in the Big Apple, who is more than likely here tonight, is Cobh defender Craig Burns, himself also late of this parish.

While there must be any amount of players born across the pond, but considering themselves Irish, or British for that matter, who ended up playing for the Blues, below we look at some of the bone fide Yanks who’ve fetched up here, apart from the first named, who very much was not one, but arguably contributed more than most to the red, white and blue history of the game.

Eddie McIlvennyThough born in Grennock, Scotland in 1924, Eddie McIlvenny will always be remembered as captain of the USA side that humbled the might of England with a single goal victory in Belo Horizonte during the 1950 World Cup. The “Yank from the Tail of the Bank”, as the English press dubbed him, was selected for the US squad by virtue of a stated intent to become a citizen, which in the end never happened. Matt Busby brought him to Old Trafford, but he only played twice for United before joining the Blues as an inside left in 1951. Taking over the helm as player manager, he steered Waterford to a second place finish in his final season, then returned to England in 1955 where he set up a football school. He passed away in 1989 aged just 64.

Scott GarlickOne of the best keepers ever to ‘backstop’ the Blues, and one who saw arguably the most success afterwards, Scott signed from San Diego University in 1994, and spent two seasons at the RSC before returning home with hopes of making it in the MLS. After a short stint with A-League Carolina Dynamo, the Arizona native was snapped up by DC United in early 1997, and went on to win the MLS Cup that year. In an impressive career Scott went on to play for Tampa Bay Mutiny, Colorado Rapids, Dallas Burn and Real Salt Lake before hanging up the gloves in 2007 to go into commercial real estate in Florida.

Mario Longo, Roger Kennedy, Seth LilburnJimmy McGeough brought in quite a few players from abroad

during the 2002/03 season, the most successful no doubt the Argentine Gus di Lella, but also Emmanuel Danso from DR Congo, and Panamanian Alex Dixon, signed from the New York/New Jersey Metrostars. There were also three US players, none of whom could be said to have enjoyed a large degree of success.

Midfielder Mario Longo arrived from the States after spells at Columbus Crew in the MLS and Carolina Dynamo, Scott Garlich’s old side, and after only half a season here his next port of call was to be Puerto Rico, but a pre-season injury curtailed his career. He now manages his family’s Italian restaurant in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Compatriot Roger Kennedy didn’t leave a blazing mark on the League either, but football did bring him on another foreign

jaunt, to Venezuela with FC Caracas, and he is still very much active in football, last year appointed assistant coach to the St Leo University Lions in Florida.

His former Connecticut Wolves team-mate Seth Lilburn managed a goal at least (though in fairness he tended to be deployed more often in defence than

midfield) before returning home to the New Hampshire Phantoms, not to be confused with Robbie McLarney’s Seacoast United Phantoms, although both compete in the US fourth tier, and both are based in New Hampshire!

Ryan PurtellThe young American centre back was brought in on trial by Mike Kerley in February 2006, but released within the month, despite generating some positive reports. Another Arizona native, Ryan returned to the US and a reasonably successful career in indoor football with the Las Vegas Knights. He

currently plays with Doxa Italia in South California.

Chris KonopkaThe New Jersey native signed for the start of the 2010 season, after previously winning the double in 2008 with Bohemians, and a second FAI Cup the following year, with Sporting Fingal. He lost his place to Kevin Burns midway through the 2010 season, and left mid-way through 2011 when he didn’t really look like regaining it. After flirting with a move to Poland he returned to the States, initially serving as an emergency keeper in the MLS centralized player pool, being called on by Columbus Crew as back up, and later making his debut with New York Red Bulls, lining out behind Thierry Henry among others. Last year he signed a permanent deal with Philadelphia Union, where his team mates include former Man Utd player Kleberson.

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Nottingham-born midfielder Dave Hill played over 300 League games for a handful of English clubs in the ‘80s and early ‘90s before relocating to Cork City in 1995. He won an FAI and a League Cup in his five years on Leeside, but despite a couple of near misses, a League winners medal eluded him until he signed for Roddy

Collins’ double-winning Bohemians side of 2000/01. He joined Cobh as player/manager in 2002, but left after two seasons to act as assistant to Damian Richardson at Cork. He returned to take over the helm at Ramblers in 2009, and guided the club through four seasons of ‘A’ Championship and U19s football until their long-awaited return to the big time this year.

If Conor Meade’s early-season goalscoring exploits made him Cobh’s main man, then a candidate for his replacement in that role would certainly be midfielder Martin Deady. The left winger has been a thorn in many a defence’s side already this year, with seven goals to his name, as well as setting up many of his colleague’s goals with his superb crossing and dead ball striking abilities. Another who is back at Ramblers for a third spell, Martin made his senior debut in the League Cup against the Blues in 2007, and has also spent two seasons with Limerick FC, and one with Pike Rovers.

As well as an outstanding name, striker Kynan Rocks earlier this year completed an outstanding season for Cobh’s U19s in the Elite Division, including scoring twice against Tommy Griffin’s side in a 2-2 draw back in October. Since then the nippy youngster, who only turns 18 in September, has taken to the Airtricity League like a duck

to water, and he has recently found his scoring touch, notching a late equaliser at Finn Harps

last month, and an impressive first goal in the 3-2 home win over Mervue last weekend. He made the U18 Ireland squad for this season’s Centenary Shield campaign, alongside our own Kevin O’Connor, Pat Fitzgerald and Jack Doherty.

Though more familiar from his time at Shamrock Rovers, and as Gareth Cronin’s assistant manager up to 2008, Sean Francis has become something of a cult figure at St Coleman’s in his three stints there. The striker began at his hometown club Birmingham City, and was loaned to Ramblers for his first spell, scoring against UCD on his debut in October 1991. After a year or so back in the lower reaches in England, he signed for Cobh in 1993 for two seasons, scoring 14 league goals in 60 appearances. He moved on to his most prolific spell of seven seasons with Rovers, but even that included a season-long loan back at St Coleman’s. He finished his playing career at Longford, where he won an FAI Cup winners medal in 2002, and Kildare County, with whom he fittingly scored his last league goal at Cobh in May 2005.

Cork-born Alan Carey came through the ranks at Turner’s Cross, but found first team chances limited, and joined United in 2004, reaching the FAI Cup final. He moved to Cobh for four seasons, deployed mainly as a right midfielder, winning promotion and a place on the Team of the Season in 2007, but returned to the RSC for two years in 2009, back to his accustomed right back slot. Tall, strong, and solid at the back, very good going forward, with an excellent delivery from open play and from the dead ball, he quickly became a firm fans’ favourite, and made the Team of the Season again for both 2009 and 2010. To complete the symmetry, he moved back to Cork the following year, but soon left by agreement. He has since played with Avondale United, though he was not involved in the Munster Senior Cup final this summer.

LEAGUE GAMES PLAYED - 27Won 18, Drawn 7, Lost 2Scored 46, Conceded 22

BIGGEST WIN3:0 - 1996/97 RSC

BIGGEST DEFEAT0:4 – 1988/89 Kilcohan Park

LAST SIX GAMESCobh 0-2 Blues – 15th Jun 2013Blues 0-0 Cobh – 19th Apr 2013Blues 2-1 Cobh – 19th Mar 2013Blues 2-2 Cobh – 17th Feb 2008Cobh 2-1 Blues – 8th May 2007Cobh 2-0 Blues – 3rd Apr 2006

THE MANAGER

DAVE HILL

KEY PLAYERMARTIN DEADY

ONE TO WATCH

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LEGENDSEAN FRANCIS

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On a busy weekend for the Blues, Adrian Flanagan caught up with two figures at the centre of the action, as new signing Danny Furlong made his debut at Salthill last Friday, and the next day Ian Holloway brought his Premiership Eagles to the RSC.

Furlong has always been a favourite here even when he played with local rivals Wexford Youths, and certainly his move to the RSC has been widely welcomed by all involved with the club as they continue their push for promotion to the Premier Division. After leaving Ferrycarrig Park for Turner’s Cross, the talented centre forward failed to cement a place in Tommy Dunne’s first team side and his loan move to the Blues until the end of the season will give him the chance to get football under his belt.

Speaking after coming on against Salthill Devon on Friday night last at Drom, Furlong said, “It’s a great win. In fairness I came in and I knew a good few of the lads so that helps and I’m delighted to get on the field. It’s a good win but hopefully now we can push on for the game next week against Cobh Ramblers and get another three points.

“The move came out of the blue to be honest. It was a last minute thing. I was pulled into the office on Wednesday and was told. I just jumped at the chance to play with the club because I want to help push for promotion.

“I was looking in the dressing room there and there are some fantastic footballers with this club to be honest. Please God now we can push for promotion to get Waterford into the Premier Division and back where they belong.

“I thought it would be a lot harder just to come in and settle in but in fairness I knew a lot of players with the club since my time with Wexford Youths. I know David Breen as well and he has made it very easy for me in fairness.

“I think that the ambition here now is to bring Waterford back to the Premier Division because that’s where they belong and hopefully I can play apart in that,” said Furlong.

THE charismatic character that is Crystal Palace manager Ian Holloway came out into the RSC limelight on Saturday evening as a real hero of the game that has won the hearts, and the plaudits, of everyone connected with Waterford United FC. Players and fans alike sought autographs and photos with the Eagles boss before, during and after the friendly game but the man himself was full of praise and very humble in his words for the people of Waterford after the special friendly clash.

“It’s a wonderful day for everyone connected with this occasion. We’ve met some brilliant people. As my dad said to me a very long time ago, “You’ve got to like football because you’re going to be meeting some brilliant people.”

“Because of this fantastic game of ours, I’ve come over here to Waterford, met some super people and some fantastic fans. It’s an absolute honour to be here. I would like to thank them for how they welcomed us, and hopefully we’ll be back again. “The game is the game isn’t it? It was a fitness exercise for us and the important thing is that we don’t have any injuries. It was great for our lads to get those minutes under their belts and I’ve got a big job to do in securing more players for the Premier League to bolster our chances.

“I think that I have to take the pressure off and get a couple of goalscorers. I was delighted that Dwight (Gayle) got his goal because it’s a weight lifted off his shoulders. I need to

get these players to be enjoying their football and to make sure that I put a smile on their faces.”

On the performance of their hosts, Holloway was impressed. “I thought that they played fantastically well on the back of a game the night before where they had a brilliant win in their bid for promotion.

“I was impressed with a number of the performances of their players to be honest with you. They made it very difficult for us during stages of the game but they have made us very welcome. All I can say is thanks very much and wish them the very best of luck for the rest of the season.

“I know that they are only a few points off the top of their

league and I’m hoping now that they go on and win the league or promotion to the top division. They were just wonderful people from the minute we got here.”

Holloway, who signed numerous autographs before and after the game, also heaped praise on the RSC surface. “Everything about this occasion has been first class. I was lucky to come to a couple of grounds in Ireland when I was scout but nothing compares to Waterford. I am definitely going to come back to Waterford for a holiday – a beautiful place with some wonderful people and I love the accent.

“The people have been so generous, so warm and so genuine. That’s the word - genuine. I’ve loved it and hopefully Crystal Palace will be back here.”

Danny Furlong made his welcome debut at Salthill Devon last Friday (photo: Paul Elliot/WSM)

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Well done to all those who made the trip to Salthill Devon last weekend. It wasn’t the nicest of evenings in the West, but to get to witness Speedy’s amazing goal was nearly worth the trip in itself! I’m sure the team appreciated the efforts made by the supporters to get there, and their support during the game.

I have to say a big thank you again to all the BSC committee for the hard work they put in once again at the Crystal Palace game, which made the night so enjoyable for all. Here’s hoping it’s not too long before we get Premier League opposition visiting the RSC again!

Congratulations as well to Kevin O’Connor, who was voted the Dungarvan Brewing Company Player of the Month for June, and who we hope to be presenting with his prize tonight. We will also be holding our Blues Supporters Club Members Draw tonight, again kindly sponsored by the Dungarvan Brewing Company.

We are also looking for applications from our Blues Supporters Club members tonight to nominate your child for a chance to be Matchday Mascot, and walk out with the Waterford United team kitted out in the Blues kit, free of charge! And if you’re only reading this at half time, it’s still not too late, you can come see us after the match as well to add your child’s name to the draw and get him or her the chance to be Mascot for a home game.

Our Matchday Mascot tonight is eight year old Odhran Colbert. Odhran is sponsored tonight by Andy Gahan Plumbers. Andy has been a great friend of the BSC this year for sponsoring our Matchday Mascot, so please support him, and all of our sponsors!

The Blues Supporters Club are holding a BBQ in Jack Meade’s tomorrow, Saturday August 10th, and we are taking this

opportunity to invite all supporters, players and management committee to attend this get-together. This event is not a fundraiser, but a gathering to bring all factions of the club together to enjoy a night of good food, music and company. Guests on the night will include Brian Gardner, Alan Reynolds, Jimmy Donnelly and other past and present players. We will be running a bus out to Jack Meade’s on the night for those who wish to avail of the service, leaving from outside the playground at Railway Square at 6.00pm, with a pick-up at the Maxol garage on the Dunmore Road. Tickets will be on sale from the club shop

tonight for €15, which will cover your food and bus on the night, €10 for just the BBQ and kids BBQ for €5.

The BSC are also running two exciting competitions to coincide with the start of the new Premier League Season. The Last Man Standing Competition is back, and entry forms can be picked up at

the club shop tonight. We are also running a Fantasy Football League competition online, for which you can give your entry fee to any BSC committee member. To enter your team please go to http://www.fantasypremierleague.com and use the code: 973570-228843. Entry fee for each of the competitions is €10, with half of the takings going to the BSC, and the other half in prize money. For more details on either competition please ask any member of the Blues Supporters Club committee.

If anyone is interested in travelling to Finn Harps next Friday, the Supporters Club are looking into running a bus to Ballybofey. If you are interested please contact Davy in the club

shop tonight, or on the travel hotline on 083 4033699 to get your name down. The bus will only run if the numbers are there, so please don’t leave to last minute!

Yours in the Chair,

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Get Quizzical

1 Which country won this year’s Under-20 World Cup?2 Former Waterford player Daryl Kavanagh recently joined which club on loan?3 Which team were last season’s English League One Champions?4 Colombian Radamel Falcao recently joined which club?5 Which team was promoted via the playoffs to English League One for the new season?6 Who was recently sacked as manager of Bohemian FC?7 Which English club are nicknamed the Potters?8 What nationality is Southampton’s Victor Wanyama, a recent signing from Celtic?Answers Page 17

?

to get to witness

Speedy’s amazing

goal was nearly worth

the trip in itself!“ “


Name: Gavin KavanaghNickname: KavPosition: Centre BackHeight: 6ft 1inBorn: 22nd November 1987, DublinResides: CorkPrevious Sides: Nottingham Forest, Crumlin United, Cork City

What’s your favourite moment of your career so far? Probably winning the league with Cork, the First Division title, against Shelbourne in Tolka Park in 2011. The way we won it, with a goal from Graham Cum-mins in the very last minute, brilliant.

Your favourite thing about playing with the Blues? A lot of favourite things, a great bunch of lads in the team, the pitch at the RSC is excellent to play on, and the fans on a Friday night are really great, the buzz they generate and the way they really get behind the team.

Favourite place (other than the RSC of course) that you’ve played in? Turner’s Cross is great when there’s a full house, and it’s a very decent pitch there too. And Tallaght Stadium also always has a decent crowd and good atmosphere, and is another great pitch, so it would have to be one of those two.

You spent time a few years ago at Nottm Forest. What was that expe-rience like? The football side of things I en-joyed very much, and it went well. But outside of playing I didn’t really enjoy it over there, couldn’t settle at all, and came back.

What are your thoughts on the two friendlies just played against Eng-lish opposition? I didn’t play against the Manchester United side, but it was great to get to play against Crystal Palace. It’s always

good to be involved in games like that, and get the chance to test yourself against really good players, and of course both games were great occasions for the fans and good for the club as well.

You returned to Crumlin, where you’d started your career, in time for the Cup games with the Blues in

2009. What do you remember of those games? I remember the first game in Richmond well, a scoreless draw, and that was our chance to win the tie really as it was always going to be tough going down to the RSC for the replay. I don’t remember as much about that game, other than we were beaten fairly well [2-0], but we kind of blew our chance in the first game. I remember we beat Shelbourne in a replay as well, in the round before that, that was a good occasion and a big win for the club, they were a decent First Division side too.

You’ve also played several times for Cork City against the Blues, here

and at Turner’s Cross. Any of those stand out? Not really, just that they were proper derby games and they are always good to play in, you really want to win them more. I remember winning a couple of times here in the promotion year, though I missed the 3-2 win for Waterford at the Cross through suspension, not saying that was significant!

Your centre back partner Seamus Long has called time on his Blues career with a work-related move to the UK. What are your thoughts on this? Yeah we’ve been doing well together for the last while, so that’s a pity, but in this squad there’s always other players to step in and take over. Shammy will be a big loss, and we all wish him all the best, but we’ve just got to move on and try to finish out the season with promotion.

What were your favourite subjects at school? I was always interested in his-tory. That and PE as well, of course.

Favourite TV programmes growing up? Definitely The Simpsons, wouldn’t go a day without watching it!

What’s your favourite way to relax/switch off? Just chilling out watching foot-ball on the box, or a movie or whatever. I just relax and take it easy at home, really, nothing more than that.

Your favourite night out? I’m definitely more of a pub man, out for the football and a few drinks with the lads, a bit of craic. I would’nt really be one for the nightclubs.

And finally, who would play you in the film of your life? Haha, probably Denzel Washington for me as well, best actor out there sure!

““

Gavin Kavanagh

it was always going

to be tough going

down to the RSC

for the replay

twitter.com/waterfordunited14

“IT’S UP FOR GRABS NOW!”If you’re a Liverpool fan, stop reading now! If however you’re a Gooner – enjoy. Many young folk will point to Manchester City’s Houdini act in 2012 against QPR, as the greatest finish to a season. Close maybe, but it still doesn’t top the 26th of May 1989 and a certain night at Anfield.For a start Arsenal’s side weren’t a bunch of mercenaries put together by a board with more money

than sense. North London’s finest were moulded by a Scotsman hell-bent on strong arm defending and winning by the odd goal.If you met Tony Adams, Steve Bould, Nigel Winterburn & Lee Dixon in a dark alley (or in broad daylight) you’d probably run the other way, but the Londoners were a tight unit.To set the scene – Arsenal came to Anfield needing to win by 2 clear goals. Yes Arsenal have won a few times over the last decade there but this was a Liverpool side in their prime. One of the finest sides of the Anfield era. Barnes, McMahon, Aldridge, Whelan and so forth. The Gunners were wobbling having picking up just one point from home games against Derby County and Wimbledon, whereas the ‘Pool went into the game after hammering West Ham.With the score level at half-time everything was going to plan. This was a Reds side looking to complete the double to grab something from the horrible events of Hillsborough weeks earlier.Alan Smith’s goal (I still think two of his hairs just brushed the ball) put the Londoners ahead and it got more and tense until we entered injury time.....queue one Michael Thomas and the words of the late Brian Moore “It’s Up For Grabs Now” and the unlikely scenario of Arsenal winning 2-0 became a reality. The sight of Steve McMahon clapping every Liverpool players back and signalling ‘1 minute left’ is something I got to remind him off a few years back when his Blackpool side lost to Exeter City in the last minute. “That’s unlucky Steve...1 MINUTE...and you’d have been OK. He got the joke. He wasn’t impressed.

“AGUEROOOOOO”Coming a close second (this time if you support the Red half of Manchester look the other way) and City’s astonishing first league title since 1968 – won by not one but two incredible injury time goals. The reason it doesn’t top my list is because Arsenal went to Anfield....all City had to do was beat QPR, at home! Quite what the dismissal of Joey Barton done to the game will be mulled about for years. If he’d have stayed on would Alex Ferguson take the title gleefully after the best choke of all time? Well they almost did that! At the 90 minute mark, the London club were winning 2-1 and the City of Manchester Stadium resembled a morgue. Over in the Stadium of Light it was business as usual for Fergie, winning against Sunderland however when DZeko’s header made it 2-2 it was squeaky bum tie again. Then four of the five minutes of extra time had elapsed when Sergio Agüero found himself with the ball. He was inside the penalty area, on his right foot, and it was then that everything suddenly seemed to go into slow motion. This was the moment football blurred with pandemonium.

An astonishing end to a season which looked like being snatched from the Red half of Manchester until the last minute, and Sergio Aguero (as roared by Martin Tyler) has assured his name in Manchester & Premier League history.

HEARTS FAILUREThe 1980’s were an exciting time for Scottish football. For a start their clubs could win a few games in Europe and teams like Aberdeen began to challenge the Old Firm dominance of years gone by. So too were Hearts. In their 1985/86 season the Edinburgh went on an extraordinary run of 31 league games without defeat – surely enough to take the title? Hmmm, not just. Despite this fact, going into the last game of the Scottish Premier League season, Hearts played away to Dundee but hadn’t shook off the remorseless pursuit of Celtic, who were at St. Mirren. The 3rd of May 1986 came a day of infamy for the ‘Jam Tarts’. With Celtic 3 points behind they also needed a 4 goal cushion if Hearts lost. Celtic were ahead 4-0 at Half-time but Hearts were comfortable at Dens Park. Then, two late goals by a little known substitute called Albert Kidd put Dundee 2-0 up and Hearts were a broken team. To make matters worse the ‘Jam Tarts’

dragged themselves into the Scottish Cup Final only to be battered by Aberdeen. It still remains the most infamous collapse in Scottish Football.

COVENTRY STAY UP.....AGAIN!!!This is a real curiosity. Today all matches have to be completed by the end of the season but that wasn’t the case in the eighties! Indeed Coventry had a fixture backlog in 1985 so bad

that they had to play three games AFTER the final Saturday. Trailing Norwich by 8 points, they had to win all three games. Norwich had won the Milk Cup and weren’t bothered by the equation however when Coventry scrapped a late 1-0 win v Stoke (Stuart Pearce penalty) and followed it with another late show against Luton by the same scoreline – everybody at Carrow Road were wide awake ...and praying!But if Norwich were pinning their hopes on champions Everton they were screwed! Everton had long since put the ribbons on the trophy and

were in party mood. Coventry went on to hammer them 4-1, stay up and send a disbelieving Norwich down!

“I’D LOVE IT!”Poor Newcastle. Poor poor Newcastle. You had to have a heart of stone (or a red devil pinned to your chest) not to feel bad for Mr Kevin Keegan. Tearing away with the title until a snowbound Columbian and a 13 point lead evaporated. The twists were many during this 1995/96 season. Cantona’s winner at St James’ , the glorious game at Anfield that ended 4-3 but perhaps the defining moment came off the field and a Keggan interview that has gone down in history.Richard Keys was accidentally turned into Jeremy Paxman after increasingly maniac responses from Keegan about Alex Ferguson’s now legendary mind games. The pressure got to Kev and was released in ‘I’d Love it..” (you know the rest.) As it turned out United cruised to victory over Middlesbrough (my Newcastle supporting friend still maintains it was helped by the fact Bryan Robson was in charge of ‘Boro and Newcastle had to be content with the role of Bridesmaid.Fi

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“Sergio Agüero’s incredible League-winning golden goal may never be outdone


Between now and our next home game, my attention will be drawn to one of the great sporting competitions, as it resumes with some of the cream of the world’s athletes lining up with their teams, dreaming of glory in spite of overwhelming probability stacked against all but a few.

Yes, it’s cycling’s Vuelta a España, the Tour of Spain. Three weeks of hard labour will have my focus over

other distractions. Man and machine struggling over mountains and tearing along the plains, hour after hour, day after day. Last year’s course was over 3,360km long, and – time trials excepted – winner Alberto Contador spent nearly 4½ hours in the saddle for 19 of the 21 days. Tennis aside, there is no greater exertion in modern sport. Even to finish last, surviving three weeks with only two days’ rest is unparalleled in competition.

Sadly, the shadow of doping lingers. Testing began in the ‘60s, but exploded in 1998 after the Festina scandal, and again in 2006 with Operacion Puerto, where 50 cyclists were caught banking blood for illegal purposes. Cycling is an endurance sport, and as such can be easily enhanced, much like athletics, baseball, or swimming. The risk of falling behind and slipping out of the sport means incentives to dope are as great for the lowest end as for the top.

The attitude has always been that this is not a problem in football. One argument is that the game is more about decisions than athleticism – in later years, Paul McGrath’s knees gave up, but he was a still fine centre-half: strength is not the key to success. While still partly true, the 15 years since McGrath retired have seen the game become more athletic. We’ve all seen the video where Cristiano Ronaldo runs nearly 96m in 10 seconds: this was in the 70th minute of the match, and he didn’t look drained by it. Usain Bolt ran 9.63 in the Olympic final last year, and has to deny doping. Not to accuse CR of the same, but clearly defenders need more than decisions, or he’d score six or eight goals a game.

Athleticism is important, but it alone doesn’t necessarily mean drug-taking. Basketball is probably the American sport closest to football: decisions are generally more important than strength or speed. There’s concern about performance enhancing drugs (PEDs), particularly two – EPO, which boosts stamina; and testosterone, which builds strength and aids recovery. In the NBA, if you miss games through injury or fatigue, someone as good is ready to take your place. Jeremy Lin, the sensation from 2012, was 4th choice guard for the New York Knicks when injuries gave him his chance. He excelled, and left the management with a selection conundrum. With such competition, you see why someone might take a risk to keep

their place and wage. Stamina and recovery matter in football too, particularly towards the season’s end. How often do much vaunted footballers disappear after injury?

Footballers punished for drugs are often perceived as recreational users (Maradona, Mutu, Bosnich), or accidental transgressors (Shane Grimes drinking Jack3d last year). Sometimes it’s a missed test, like Rio Ferdinand in 2003. There are a handful of genuine cases in lower leagues, but is this proof enough that PED abuse in football is not widespread?

Well, frankly, no. Peter Neururer accused the Schalke team he coached in the ‘80s of juicing. Jean-Jacques Eydelie of the 1993 Champions League winning Marseilles team, has said that he and team mates received injections prior to the final. In 1999/2000, only 32 of 3500 English league games had testers present, so eluding them was not hard. Even just five years ago, the FA was still placing more emphasis on banning recreational

drugs than PEDs. Yet some managers have agitated against increased drug testing; FIFA was the last major sports organization to ratify the World Anti Doping Agency.

Operacion Puerto in Spain chiefly uncovered blood doping – particularly blood transfusions from others or blood previously taken from

the athletes themselves. This works by increasing the red blood-cell count to improve endurance, and aerobic capacity. It probably started in the 1970s, but was only outlawed by the IOC in 1985, after US Olympic cyclists won nine medals after transfusions. The media focus of Puerto was on 50 cyclists, but perhaps 211 athletes may have been involved.

Doctor Eufemiano Fuentes, whose Madrid clinic was the centre of the scandal, was indignant that only cyclists were named, but tennis players and footballers were not. One cyclist said he’d seen prominent footballers visiting the clinic – presumably not for a check-up. When the case came to trial this year, Fuentes was told he was not obliged to reveal names; the trial concluded with the judge ordering the blood bags destroyed, removing any evidence of footballers’ or tennis players’ involvement.

With doping, the matter of money must come up. In 1967, when English cyclist Tom Simpson died during the Tour, he was paying £800 for a package – a sizeable portion of his wage – to try to get ahead. Today, the average pro-team cyclist makes €190,000 a year – John Terry “earns” more in eight days. With so much money at stake, gains and losses are greater in football. It is naïve to think it isn’t happening.

Adrian Mutu’s drugs ban was for recreational use, but how widespread is doping?H

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Total League FAI EA Sports Munster Cup Cup Senior CupBen Ryan 6 5 1 Vinny Sullivan 6 4 1 1Paudie Quinn 5 4 1Daragh Walshe 4 1 3Paul Quilty 3 3 Jack Doherty 2 1 1Philip Drohan 2 2 Conor Meade 2 2 David Breen 1 1 Marco Chindea 1 1 Michael Coady 1 1 Peter Higgins 1 1 Conor Whittle 1 1

TOTAL GOALS 35 26 0 3 6

The 2013 Blues Goalscorers

Starts Subs Total Mins. Goals Yellow Red Played Cards CardsCraig Hyland 19 0 19 1638 0 0 1Chip Sanders 7 1 8 731 0 0 0David Breen 11 1 12 1008 1 1 0Michael Coady 16 0 16 1363 1 2 0Jamie Cross 1 1 2 134 0 0 0John Frost 16 0 16 1314 0 4 0Gavin Kavanagh 23 0 23 2100 0 5 0Seamus Long 17 2 19 1566 0 4 2Dylan Mernagh 13 3 16 1277 0 1 0Gavin O’Donovan 0 1 1 13 0 0 0Conor Whittle 7 0 7 630 1 0 0Paddy Barrett 3 0 3 240 0 0 0Marco Chindea 3 1 4 267 1 0 0Conor Coad 7 5 12 649 0 0 0Jack Doherty 7 4 11 683 2 1 0Philip Drohan 6 1 7 441 2 0 0Peter Higgins 16 3 19 1407 1 2 0Aidan McGrath 8 3 11 674 0 2 0Rob McLarney 0 0 0 0 0 0 0Kevin O’Connor 11 7 18 1055 0 2 0Frances Rockett 6 3 9 543 0 1 0Ben Ryan 13 8 21 1286 6 1 0Peter White 19 1 20 1660 0 4 0Danny Furlong 0 1 1 30 0 0 0Conor Meade 4 0 4 330 2 1 0Paul Quilty 14 10 24 1260 3 0 0Padraic Quinn 13 2 15 1159 5 0 0Vinny Sullivan 15 4 19 1578 6 5 0Daragh Walshe 11 6 17 907 4 1 0All stats include first team matches

The 2013 Season So Far

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Philip Drohan doubled his Blues tally against Salthill Devon last week (photo: Paul Elliot/WSM)


24 Feb College Corinthians MSC A 2 008 Mar Finn Harps ALFD H 1 116 Mar Longford Town ALFD A 1 219 Mar Cobh Ramblers EASC H 2 123 Mar Mervue United ALFD H 0 429 Mar Wexford Youths ALFD A 1 205 Apr Athlone Town ALFD H 1 012 Apr Salthill Devon ALFD A 2 119 Apr Cobh Ramblers ALFD H 0 021 Apr Everton MSC A 1 026 Apr Finn Harps ALFD A 1 003 May Longford Town ALFD H 1 110 May Mervue United ALFD A 1 217 May Wexford Youths ALFD H 0 120 May Limerick* EASC A 1 124 May Athlone Town ALFD A 1 001 Jun Sligo Rovers FAIC H 0 208 Jun Salthill Devon ALFD H 3 212 Jun Avondale United MSC A 3 015 Jun Cobh Ramblers ALFD A 2 028 Jun Finn Harps ALFD H 3 006 Jul Longford Town ALFD A 1 212 Jul Mervue United ALFD H 0 019 Jul Wexford Youths ALFD A 2 026 Jul Athlone Town ALFD H 1 102 Aug Salthill Devon ALFD A 4 109 Aug Cobh Ramblers ALFD H 16 Aug Finn Harps ALFD A 30 Aug Longford Town ALFD H 08 Sep Mervue United ALFD A 20 Sep Wexford Youths ALFD H 27 Sep Athlone Town ALFD A 04 Oct Salthill Devon ALFD H 12 Oct Cobh Ramblers ALFD A

ALFD - AIRTRICITY LEAGUE FIRST DIVISIONMSC - MUNSTER SENIOR CUP

EASC - EA SPORTS CUPFAIC - FORD FAI CUP

* - LIMERICK WON ON PENALTIES

THIS WEEKEND’S OTHERAIRTRICITY LEAGUE

FIRST DIVISION FIXTURESFriday August 9th

Finn Harps v Salthill DevonMervue United v Wexford Youths

Saturday August 10thLongford Town v Athlone Town

QUIZ ANSWERS1 – France, 2 – St Patrick’s Athletic, 3 – Doncaster Rovers,

4 – Monaco, 5 – Bradford City, 6 – Aaron Callaghan,

7 – Stoke City, 8 – Kenyan

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BLUESFRIDAY 16TH AUGUST

7.45PM

AIRTRICITY LEAGUE

FIRST DIVISION

Next up for Blues is the long trip to Finn Harps

P W D L F A GD Pts

Athlone Town 20 10 7 3 30 15 15 37

Longford Town 20 10 5 5 37 26 11 35

Waterford United 20 9 5 6 26 20 6 32

Mervue United 20 8 6 6 33 26 7 30

Finn Harps 20 6 6 8 22 27 -5 24

Wexford Youths 20 7 2 11 19 33 -14 23

Cobh Ramblers 20 5 7 8 33 37 -4 22

Salthill Devon 20 4 4 12 22 38 -16 16

Where We Stand

David O’Sullivan Longford Town 17

Conor Meade Waterford United/Cobh Ramblers 14

Philip Gorman Athlone Town 12

Enda Curran Athlone Town/Salthill Devon 9

Ryan Manning Mervue United 8

Martin Deady Cobh Ramblers 7

Sean McCarron Finn Harps 7

Kevin McHugh Finn Harps 7

Davin O’Neill Cobh Ramblers 6

Ian Sweeney Athlone Town 6

Ben Ryan Waterford United 5

Gary Shanahan Mervue United 5

2013 Hotshots


The 1984/85 season kicked off with a flurry of high-profile friendlies, as first QPR (1-3, Mick Bennett with the Blues goal), then Southampton (0-5 after a second half collapse), and finally a then-second division Manchester City (1-4, Chris Jones with a stunning consolation for Waterford after another scoreless first half) came to visit Kilcohan Park. Celebrations around the town continued with a triumphant open-top bus parade for returning Olympic athletes John Treacy and Patricia Walsh, and the Blues kept the mood buoyant with a fine win over Limerick City in the League Cup, with goals from Bennett and Mock Reid.

United continued with a point from the newly formed Cork City at Flower Lodge, then a fine win at St Mel’s Park, inflicting Athlone’s heaviest home defeat in five years, as they went confidently about earning a place in the semi-finals. The opening games of the League were another matter, however. A late 2-1 defeat to St Pat’s at Kilcohan was followed by a 3-1 reverse at Flower Lodge, with the first point of the campaign coming on the last day of September with a fortunate scoreless draw at home to Galway United.

A Mick Fairclough hat-trick next inspired a 4-2 win for Drogheda at United Park, before a vastly improved Blues recorded their first win, as Eamon Coady and Greg Hayes put Home Farm to the sword. New blood in the form of Southampton youngsters Barry Blankley (right full) and Duncan Burns (midfield) couldn’t prevent league leaders Athlone’s single goal victory at St Mel’s, but the following week the Blues came from two down to draw with Shamrock Rovers, Mock Reid moving up front from full back to score both goals.

With Burns settling into the left back berth, November opened with two fine results on the road, a 1-1 draw at the Showgrounds, and a convincing 3-1 win at Oriel Park, but a freak goal gave UCD both points at Kilcohan. The league debut of former Blues legend Jackie Morley’s son Pat was one to remember, as he rattled in a hat-trick in a 4-1 demolition of Finn Harps at Ballybofey, and also making his bow was Ian Fitzgibbon, on a month’s trial from Dartford, as Blankley returned to try his luck again at Southampton.

Morley was on target again at Dalymount the following week, but a quick brace in first half injury time gave Bohemians the win. The patchy season continued with only United’s second home win, 2-0 against league newcomers Longford Town. A quagmire at Harold’s Cross forced the postponement of the Shelbourne tie, and the Christmas spirit was in the air as the Blues gifted Limerick a 3-2 come-from-behind win at Kilcohan. None of this might appear great preparation for a big cup match against Shamrock Rovers, but a superb performance from the young Blues, with goals from Reid and Pat Madigan and a David Flavin penalty save, put them into their first final

since 1980, and they finished the year unbeaten after a 1-1 draw at St Pat’s.

As the New Year dawned United were still in a perilous position, fourth last with four teams dropping to the new First Division next season, but the arrival of Paul McGee as player-coach paid instant dividends, with a livewire debut in a 2-1 win over Cork City. A frozen Terryland pitch ruled out play the following weekend, but a goal from McGee and a Morley brace inspired a 4-0 rout of Drogheda in a game which marked the arrival of another former Southampton player in Timmy Dixon. But the yo-yo season continued with defeat in the Tolka mud at Home Farm.

And it got worse as a second defeat on the trot, to Athlone at Kilcohan, plunged them back into relegation trouble. A 4-0 FAI Cup 1st round win over LSL side Hammond Lane proved only a

distraction, before a resurgent Hoops extracted revenge at Milltown with a 4-1 hammering that dropped the Blues to third last. A brace from Mick Bennett, and an impressive debut from new centre half Philip O’Regan against Sligo at home lifted hopes somewhat.

And the upturn in United’s form continued into March, as a 3-1 win over Dundalk, with

O’Regan and Dixon both getting off the mark. But three goals in seven first half minutes gave the Students full points at Belfield, and the Blues shipped another three as Limerick put them out of the Cup at Rathbane, but just a day later Alfie Hale’s young side came back from an Ian Arkwright free kick to beat Finn Harps 2-1 and lift the League Cup for the second time, Morley and Bennett with the goals. Six days later a repeat of the scoreline saw United beat the Donegalmen again, and a 2-2 draw at Terryland

and 1-1 at home to Bohemians capped a better month for the Blues

The final games of the season saw United steadily climb clear of the drop zone, away wins over Shelbourne at Harold’s Cross and Longford at Abbeycartron lifting the Blues into the top half of the table for the first time all season. Dixon was again on the mark in a home draw with Shelbourne, and though Limerick spoiled the unbeaten finish with a single goal win at Hogan Park, Waterford remained in comfortable mid-table safety, and indeed would stay in the top tier for the next four seasons. Mick Bennett and Pat Morley shared the goalscoring honours with a dozen apiece, the Corkman edging it with one more League goal.

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at Kilcohan“ “Blankley’s spell was cut short when he returned to Southampton


Ground Regulations

1 – Persons entering this ground are admitted only subject to the following Ground Regulations and the Rules & Regulations of the Airtricity League and the Football Association of Ireland. Entry to the ground shall be deemed to constitute unqualified acceptance of all these rules. 2 – Fireworks, smoke canisters, bottles, glasses, cans, flags, banners, poles, flares and other similar articles or containers, including anything which could or might be used as a weapon, are not permitted within the ground and any person in possession of such an article or container may be refused entry to or ejected from the ground. 3 – The consumption of alcohol in the ground is forbidden and spectators are not permitted to bring alcohol into the ground. 4 – The club management will not tolerate any form of threatening behaviour or racist abuse and racist or abusive chanting is strictly forbidden. 5 – Excessive noise, such as that from the use of radio sets or mobile devices and behaviour likely to cause confusion, annoyane or nuisance of any kind, including foul or abusive language is not permitted in any part of the ground. 6 – Standing in seated areas of the ground and / or the moving from one area of the ground to another without the permission of a steward, An Garda Síochána, or other authorised agent of club management, is strictly forbidden. 7 – Any person who obstructs and / or remains in an access gangway may be ejected from the ground. 8 – Under no circumstances is it permitted to throw an object on the pitch. 9 – unauthorised persons are not permitted to enter onto the field of play and shall be ejected from the ground and have their right of entry revoked. 10 – The climbing of walls, floodlight pylons, stands or other building and structures in the ground is forbidden. 11 – Any person who fails to comply with the instructions from a steward may be ejected from the ground. 12 – In general, the right of admission is reserved to the club management. 13 – The Club management reserves the right to refuse admission or to eject any person who refuses to be searched by member of An Garda Síochána. 14 – The club management reserves the right for its servants or agents to remove from the ground any person who does not comply with the ground regulations or whose presence in the ground could be reasonably construed as constituting a source of danger, nuisance or annoyance to other spectators. 15 – In the event of a match being postponed or abandoned, any refund of the admission charge will be at the discretion of the club management and this is subject to a time limitation, details of which are available from the club offices. (As issued by Club Management, March 2013).

MATCHDAY PROGRAMME PRODUCTIONDesign - Apples & Pears ([email protected])

Print - DVF Print & Graphic SolutionsEditor - John Kehoe

Copy Team - Ray Scott, John Kehoe, Ger McGinn, Michael Butler, Tom Flynn, Kevin Mullen, Brian Kennedy, Brendan White, Martin French, Shane Murphy

All copyright held by WUFC Operations Limited t/a Waterford United Football Club and the various contributors. Design concept copyright of Apples & Pears. Any personal views expressed herein are

the contributorsown and not necessarily the offical view of the club unless stated otherwise.

LEAGUE OF IRELAND CHAMPIONS1965/66, 1967/68, 1968/69, 1969/70, 1971/72, 1972/73

FAI CUP WINNERS1937, 1980

LEAGUE CUP WINNERS1973/74, 1984/85

FIRST DIVISION CHAMPIONS1989/90, 1997/98, 2002/03

MUNSTER SENIOR CUP CHAMPIONS1935, 1946, 1948, 1956, 1957, 1966, 1967, 1976,

1981, 1986, 1987, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2013

Club Honours

Who’s Who At The BluesCONTACT DETAILS

Waterford Regional Sports Centre, Cork Road, Waterford T - 051 39203 F - 051 392035

[email protected] www.waterford-united.ie

BOARD OF MANAGEMENTHead of Governance - Chris Everett

Head of Finance - Tony BurkeHead of Communications & Community - Ray Scott

Head of Technical - Greg Pheasey

CLUB STRUCTUREChairman - John O’Sullivan

Directors- Chris Everett & Michael DrohanHon President - Bertie Rogers

Hon Vice-President - Dr Liam McCannHon Secretary - Ray Scott

General Manager - Michael DrohanFAI Representative - Paul Cooke

TEAM AFFAIRSManager - Tommy Griffin

Coaching Staff - Billy Hearne & David BreenClub Doctor - Dr Finnbar O’Leary, Physiotherapist - Ann Prendergast

Kitman - Michael Walsh

MATCHNIGHT EVENT MANAGEMENTEvent Controller - Mark Dunne

Event Manager - Sam WhiteSafety Officer - Padraig Dunne

Stadium Announcer - Michael Butler

The 1980 FAI Cup Winning Blues


Craig HYLAND [ ]

Chip SANDERS [ ]

Seán WHITTY [ ]

David BREEN [ ]

Gavin KAVANAGH [ ]

Dylan MERNAGH [ ]

John FROST [ ]

Séamus LONG [ ]

Michael COADY [ ]

Aidan McGRATH [ ]

Conor WHITTLE [ ]

Patrick FITZGERALD [ ]

Gavin O’DONOVAN [ ]

Paddy BARRETT [ ]

Rob McLARNEY [ ]

Ben RYAN [ ]

Peter HIGGINS [ ]

Peter WHITE [ ]

Francis ROCKETT [ ]

Conor COAD [ ]

Kevin O’CONNOR [ ]

Philip DROHAN [ ]

Marco CHINDEA [ ]

Paul QUILTY [ ]

Vinny SULLIVAN [ ]

Conor MEADE [ ]

Danny FURLONG [ ]

[ ] BIRDSALL Robert

[ ] HALLAHAN Shane

[ ] FITZGERALD Brian

[ ] BHANDARKAR Andrew

[ ] COLLINS Gary

[ ] FRAHILL Brendan

[ ] LONG Ian

[ ] THOMPSON Adam

[ ] SPILLANE Lloyd

[ ] BURNS Craig

[ ] O’DONNELL Anthony

[ ] O’DONOGHUE Adam

[ ] MEADE John

[ ] O’MAHONY Sean

[ ] DEADY Martin

[ ] KENNY Roy

[ ] CARSON James

[ ] BARRETT Shane

[ ] WATERS Robert

[ ] O’FLYNN Keith

[ ] McCARTHY Graham

[ ] SANTRY Daniel

[ ] O’NEILL Davin

[ ] ROCKS Kynan

[ ] SPILLANE Jonathan

[ ] O’FLYNN Alan

[ ] DONOGHUE Bobby

[ ] STANTON Ronan

MATCH OFFICIALSREFEREE

Conor FitzgeraldASSISTANTS

Trevor Conlon & Adam Tszample4TH OFFICIAL

Andrew Mullally

BALL BOYSWaterford Bohemians

THE BLUES’ MASCOTSPONSORED BYANDY GAHAN

HEATING & PLUMBING

Leading out the Blues tonight is 9 year old Odhran Colbert. Odhran goes to St Stephen’s Primary School in Waterford, plays in goal for Waterford Crystal Academy, and he is a big fan of Waterford United, Liverpool, Celtic, Barcelona and Werder Bremen. His favourite players are Craig Hyland, Steven Gerrard, Gary Hooper and Leo Messi. He also likes playing darts, watching wrestling on TV, and his favourite food is sausages & curry chips with ice cold water.

A big thank you to tonight’s Mascot sponsor, avid Blues fan and BTID United goalkeeper Andy Gahan. For all your plumbing and heating needs, and a 24/7 365-day emergency service, call Andy Gahan Heating & Plumbing on 086 783 9117.


Last weekend’s friendly match against Crystal Palace here at the RSC proved, among many things, that not all stereotypes are true. When we think of the professional football world, we think of big houses, flash cars and self-obsessed people who don’t want to have to interact with the star-struck fan looking for the autograph.

Ian Holloway and his team were a breath of fresh air on their three day visit. On arrival to their team hotel in Faithlegg, the players stopped for pictures and autographs without hesitation despite up to eight hours of travel behind them. And as manager Holloway arrived the next day, he too was welcoming to anybody he encountered in his path.

Rather than avoid fans, and people who wanted to see the Premiership side, they made time to meet everyone they could. As the team left for the match last Saturday, up to 20 kids were waiting outside their hotel to get a glimpse of the stars who will soon be facing up to Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and many more top quality teams.

These players reacted like normal, run of the mill people. They all stopped to talk. They all posed for pictures, they all signed autographs, all without hesitation. It was fantastic to see, and even better to see it continue at the RSC.

Manager Ian Holloway spent nearly 45 minutes with fans at the front of the old stand before the game, signing autographs and getting in many pictures with adults and kids alike, and, with a nice touch, also shook hands with everyone on the Blues bench before kick off.

The game itself was a great chance for the Blues players to test themselves against some international players. Whatever about facing the Manchester United players of the future, this allowed them to see top current players up close, players like Kevin Phillips, Damien Delaney, Owen Garvan, Julian Speroni and other internationals from around the world.

The Blues players weren’t overawed. They battled hard and kept themselves in the game until the last fifteen minutes when their previous night’s league game hit them, and

tiredness and maybe a bit of inexperience showed.

The openness and approachability of the visitors continued after the game as it had pre-match, with Ian Holloway staying behind for an hour to again sign autographs and pose for photographs. His players were no different, and it was nearly 45 minutes after the final whistle that Kevin Phillips finally entered the dressing room. Every call for a picture or an autograph was answered, and fans weren’t left disappointed.

It was fantastic to see. Kids who got to meet these professionals, and won’t forget the moment for the rest of their lives. This was one of those great moments for the

club and for those who got to meet one of the game’s real characters in Ian Holloway, which was arguably worth the entry price alone!

The game also allowed Danny Furlong and Robbie McLarney to make their home debuts and both looked ready to

add to the quality in the Blues squad. Furlong, while a little starved of possession at times, looked lively when involved and could make a huge difference come the end of the season. McLarney also impressed, with control and drive, and looking like he could be a big player over the next two or three months.

With just the final series of matches to go, and 21 points left to play for after tonight, the First Division really is anybody’s to win. With

all the top teams still to play each other, the two new signings could be important and the 4-1 win last weekend should go a long way to keeping the Blues squad in good form going into tonight’s match.

Cobh have always been a tough challenge, and showed last weekend what quality they have within their squad. In their last three games, they have beaten Longford Town and Mervue United in the league. Tonight’s game will be just as tough and a performance and a result are important to continue the Blues’ push for promotion.

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The Eagles boss meets Jake Burke and Craig Reidy before the game last Saturday (photo: Paul Elliot/WSM) St

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45 minutes after the

final whistle Kevin

Phillips finally entered

the dressingroom“

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