Favourite Players of the Seventies

It really wouldn't be fair of me to name one player in particular, they were all good. Players like Graham Fox, Chris Rutherford, Alan Patterson, Tony Stenson, Tony Fagan. All top class players that gave very good service to Sligo Rovers. Of course Paul McGee was one of our star players at that time. Paul is a local. I remember Paul at Summerhill College as a student, he was one of my students. He was a top player in the college.

In 1970 Summerhill College won the All Ireland Secondary Schools Championship and we were in Europe where we

played in Switzerland, in Beirne. Paul was the captain. We had very good players, John O' Gara, Fergus Hopper, Aidan Mannion and James from Screen. But after that Paul came to the Showgrounds and he gave very good service to Sligo Rovers. He was an excellent player and I remember his goal for QPR on his debut. The match highlights were on television next day and Paul's goal got goal of the day.

Another great player of the seventies was Tom Lally who played in goal. He played for us for a couple of seasons and we then sold him to Celtic. Another player I remember back then is Eamon Deacy from Galway. I remember Tom Clancy, our Chairman, and I went to Eamon when he signed the form for us and played for Sligo Rovers. He was an exceptionally good player and after that he signed for Aston Villa.

1981 Cup Final

After our defeat in the 1981 final people started to think that there was a jinx on Sligo Rovers.
We had now lost in five finals and the prize we most cherished seemed never to be destined for the Showgrounds. The eighties were particularly hard years but we got through. We always looked on the bright side of things. You always hope that there will come an opportunity in the coming years when luck will favour us, along with ability and lack of injuries. We hoped.

1983

In 1983 our luck was to change. I remember that day in Dalymount, the day was so bad with rain. I was sitting in the stand when Tony Stenson scored that great goal and Harry's goal. I remember how the crowd went mad. It was such a bad day, but only with rain. The pitch was full of Sligo Rovers supporters, red and white was all round. We had won the cup. It was worth watching the crowd as I sat in Dalymount.

We stayed in the Spa Hotel that night and in the morning we set out for Sligo. We received a great welcome, everyone wanted to see the Cup. We had waited so long, it was worth the wait. When we reached Carrowroe we couldn't believe the crowd. There was a motorcade all the way into the Town Hall. It was like something you would expect if we had won the European Championship and the people were all waiting to see the cup on that day.

On that day I stood up and I said my dream has been fulfilled, because I always said no matter what happens Sligo Rovers will Shine and Shine forever in the years to come.

Johnny's Poem

Even if the wind stops to blow
Even if the sea ceases to flow
Even if the sun ceases to rise
The name of Sligo Rovers, will shine.
And shine forever like the morning star
Glittering in the sky

1983 was what we had all hoped for, what we had all worked for. It made all the hard times worthwhile. This cup win was the realisation of my dreams, mine and every supporter of Sligo Rovers. Still I was devoted and dedicated to the Sligo Rovers even if things were going wrong, but I would not leave them in the lurch and I will stand by them financially, morally and physically. I've played my part in helping the club. I feel proud that I did it and I'm proud today that whatever I could do I did it and whatever I'll be able to do in the future I'll do it.

1983 Another European Venture

We were once again Irish football's Representatives in Europe. This time we were off to Finland to play Haka. I remember I went over to that game. For me it was a tremendous honour to represent Sligo Rovers outside of this country. Especially me being non-Irish it made me even more proud. We were treated very well over there, but the result wasn't very encouraging. It was the dream of my life to carry the flag of Sligo Rovers and it was a matter of great pride for me to fulfil that dream.

Being non-Irish and representing an Irish club was a bit of a novelty yes, but it was more so a matter of pride, it was very enjoyable. But above all what we are seeing today, a bit of discrimination, I would say emphatically, that I am here in Ireland since 1953 and I've never heard nor ever seen anyone discriminating against me. People accept me as their own and treated me as one of their own. So I would say that much for the people of Ireland. That me nor any member of my family has never, ever experienced discrimination.

Rovers Best Manager

In my time I've seen a lot of managers. As a member of the Management Committee, number one you have to show respect to the manager. When a manager is appointed you have to show him respect. You have to give him co-operation and work with him. You may differ policy wise but he's the man in charge and we always follow one policy - non-interference with the manager.
People like the ones I mentioned, Charlie Courtney, Tom Clancy, Tommy Fallon, we had a unanimous policy on non-interference because we had enough on our own plate looking after the financial aspect of the club. So there were so many wonderful managers, Tony Bartley, Willie McStay, Billy Sinclair, Gerry Mitchell and Davy Pugh. They all played their own parts and they did their best for the club. It would be very hard for me to single out one, I'll give the credit to them all, they did their best, but I wouldn't single out anyone.

The Structure of the Club Today

At the moment since Don O' Riordan was appointed manager we have concentrated more on youth. One of the greatest weaknesses we've had down through the years is that we never had an U21 team, we never developed the local talent. Now we are very lucky to have Don O' Riordan. Today along with his own senior team he's also developing the local talents for the U21's and U16's, and it's a great achievement for Sligo Rovers and the whole Area to see these youngsters coming from schools or in their schools taking an interest in the soccer. He is keenly interested in developing the youth and bringing them along to U21's to feed them up to the senior team whenever it is possible. It is a great achievement for the town of Sligo and all the soccer loving people of the area.

Returning to the Good Times

Where's there's a will there's a hope. All we have to do is keep working hard, keep the flag flying and I'm quite confident that another day will come which will be memorable and momentous when we will win some trophy in the future. I'm quite hopeful.

Looking Back over the Forty Years

Low Point
When I see the club not being able to meet the commitments. That's the saddest part.
The most important thing for the Management Committee is to look after the players. The day that we are not able to fulfil that commitment we are doomed to desperation and failure.

High Point
1976/77 and 1983
Even though we didn't achieve that much in so many years, it was always my pride to go to the Showgrounds and see as long as the people go home happy. As long as there has been a good display whether we lose or win. As long as the people have been satisfied and they go home in a jubilant mood. I think I enjoy that day.

The Glittering Star

Some days the clouds cover those stars, but the clouds don't last too long. After the rain the sun will shine again and it will shine again in the future for Sligo Rovers.

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