The
Iron ManThe
Iron Man
This piece was originally written for a Rovers match program back in January of this year. As the north west is paying tribute to the great man this weekend it is appropriate that we should reproduce the piece here.
The Iron Man
It
is a peculiar Irish trait that we seem to be so busy adopting the heroes of
other countries that we fail to fully appreciate our own. In this respect Sligo
is no better or worse than any other part of the country. And we have produced
our fair share of heroes too. But, as heroes go, you would travel a long way
before you found one to match the man known as "The Iron Man". Sean
Fallon was born in Sligo on July 31st 1922. He started his football career with
St .Mary's juniors and also played Gaelic football for Craobh Ruadh. He also
played for Mc Arthurs, Sligo Distillery and Longford Town before he arrived
at the Showgrounds in 1947 to play for Rovers. He then joined Glenavon in the
north before impressing Celtic with his performance for the Irish league against
the League of Ireland.
In typical fashion Sean Fallon's love of Celtic had a story attached to it. It started when the son of the Celtic legend Jimmy "Napoleon" Mc Menemy saved Fallon's sister, Lilly, from drowning at Lough Gill. Fallon invited Joe Mc Menemy back to his house and the Scot returned the compliment by sending Sean presents of a Celtic shirt and Willy Maley's book "The Story of the Celtic". He realised his ambition when he made his league debut for Celtic, away to Clyde, in the last game of the 1949/50 season. Fallon played at right full back for the Celts but he also filled in at centre forward. For the next 28 years he was to be a central figure in many of the greatest moments in the history of the club.
Within
a year of joining Celtic Sean Fallon collected his first Scottish cup winner's
medal when Celtic defeated Motherwell in the final of 1951. Describing his feelings
at the time he is quoted as saying "As I walked off the pitch at Hampden
Park I felt I had got everything out of life I ever wanted. I had become a member
of the famous Celtic FC and holder of a Scottish Cup badge all in the one year".
Two years later Sean would also have a cup final goal to celebrate as he scored
in the final as Celtic went on to defeat Aberdeen. A knee injury forced him
to retire in 1958 but not before he had helped Celtic to one of the most famous
victories in the history of the club. To this day the League Cup final of 1957
is celebrated in song and poetry by Celtic fans. When the dust settled Celtic
had inflicted a 7-1 defeat on their rivals from across Glasgow which still stands
as the biggest Old Firm victory in the World's greatest derby game.
His nickname was also well earned as he is remembered as one of the toughest individuals ever to play in Scottish football. His fearlessness in the tackle and the bravery of his defending was legendary. During one game against Hearts in 1953 Sean suffered a broken collar bone. In the days before substitutes were allowed he left the pitch for twenty minutes only to return with his arm in a sling and continued playing. When a journalist questioned him on it later he shrugged it off with the comment "Well it wasn't me leg that was broken". You wonder what he makes of the antics of some of today's players. As a player Sean Fallon made 254 appearances for Celtic and scored 14 goals. He was capped eight times by his country and scored against France at Dalymount Park in 1952. His contribution to Celtic as a player was impressive but after he retired his influence on the club increased dramatically. It was the most natural thing in the World for Sean Fallon to join the coaching staff at Celtic when he retired as a player. He has shown his leadership qualities as club captain during his playing career. Many felt he was passed over when the club appointed Jock Stein as manager in 1965 with Fallon as his assistant. Stein had been vice-captain as a player to the Iron Man. Typical of Sean Fallon he did not hold a grudge and the names Stein and Fallon were to become synonymous with the most successful period in the history of the club.
When Billy Mc Neill's last minute header clinched the Scottish cup in 1965 it was the start of the best of times for the club. The Championship followed the next year and an appearance in the semi-final of the European Cup Winners Cup. This was the start of a run which saw the Celts win 9 Championships in a row and equal what was then a World record.
Winning
the Championship also meant that Stein and Fallon would have a chance to pit
their wits against the best coaches in Europe in the European Cup. It was a
challenge they were "up" for in dramatic fashion.. In 1967 the only
names inscribed on the great trophy were the giant Latin clubs Real Madrid,
Benfica and the two Milan clubs. When Inter Milan faced Celtic in the final
of that year most, of the World though it was a foregone conclusion. Inter coach
Helenion Herrera had perfected a defensive style of play which became known
as the "Cataneccio". When Inter went in front they were rarely beaten
and a single goal was usually enough. So when Mazzola scored from the penalty
spot after just eight minutes there was a sense of the inevitable about the
occasion. But on the day the Glasgow team would not be denied and produced a
magnificent performance of attacking football which had the neutrals besotted.
Goals from Tommy Gemmill and Steve Chalmers wrote the names of Stein and Fallon
into the history books.
In the ten years this duo managed Celtic they won 9 League Championships, 8 Scottish Cups and six League Cups. The club lost a second European Cup final in 1970 against Feyenoord and appeared in four semi-finals. While Stein was the motivator at the club Sean Fallon's contribution to the success of Celtic during this period had been described as "incalculable" by the clubs historians. Part of his job was to recruit players and he was so good at his job that the Celtic reserve team at the time was regarded as the second best team in Britain. They earned themselves the nickname of "The Quality Street kids" and it was easy to see why with names like Kenny Dalglish, Lou Macari, George Connolly, David Hay, Danny Mc Grain. All of whom went on to be household names and later he brought a young Packie Bonnar to the club.
Sean Fallon is far too modest a man to consider himself a
hero. He once assessed his own talents as a player by saying -"I was just
an ordinary player with a big heart and a fighting spirit to recommend me".
Yeah, but what a heart ! These were magnificent achievements by any standards.
That they came from a man born in our little town should make us all feel extremely
proud. Sean will be 80 years old in July.