Longford Town in safe hands with Gough
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Over the years, Alan Gough has made a name for himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the League of Ireland. Clubs like Shelbourne, Derry City, Galway United, and most recently Bray Wanderers knew they were in safe hands while the Kildare man was between the posts.
Now manager of Longford Town, Gough will hope to make the headlines again along with his new club. The ex-keeper has been busy in the close season assembling a squad of players for the new season. Several young players will be given their chance to prove themselves this year and Gough believes this can only augur well for the future of Longford Town.
“We have a lot of young lads at the club this year. We have a budget but we also a responsibility to get the future of Longford Town in good hands. We want to try and produce good kids. I’ve already had meetings with Larry and Peter who are involved in the Youth team. I’ve just been on the phone to the U16 manager Shane Boylan. The youth structure is a massive way forward for this football club. We have got to attract players not just from Longford but Cavan, Roscommon, Leitrim, Westmeath, Monaghan, all the surrounding areas. Try and entice those kids to come and play for us.”
Re-structuring the youth system at the club may be one of Gough’s main aims but he also wants to bring the club back to its roots; have a base in Longford and give young talented local players a chance.
“When I got the job the first thing I said was ‘I want to be centred in Longford.’ I want us to train in Longford, evolve as part of the community and I think that’s the only way we can go forward by centring everyone here. I will get to as many U20s games and Youth games. I will get reports from the managers and I can only practice what I preach. We’ve already had Dean Clarke who has just gone 17 involved with the first team. Michael Lee, Shane O’Brien, and Eoin Hoare have been involved too. Young Brian Murtagh will also be involved with the first team this year. These are all local Longford lads. They’ll be part of what we are doing here. We have taken in 20-year-old Tom King from Castlebar and these are the future of the football club.”
Gough has brought in a new squad of players with just a few from last season’s panel remaining at the club. He believes the players that he has brought in will be committed to the club.
“We’ve got a set of lads that are committed and pull in the one direction. And we as a football club pulling in the one direction; we’ll give anyone a game. We’ve been back since the 24th of January and we’ve basically had a new squad of players with the exception of Andy Bermingham and Stephen Gough from last year. We’ve worked very hard in trying to gel them as a group and they are finally coming together now.
“I’m so happy with the squad that I got. I’ll take them anywhere; Sporting Fingal, Bohs, anywhere. It doesn’t frighten me. I’m delighted with the group that we've got.”
Tonight Longford Town will kick-off the new season with a home game against Monaghan Utd. The new boss is looking forward to the challenge that lies ahead for both him and his players. He has assured Longford Town supporters that his players will not be found wanting.
“Our aim is to be competitive in every game and give a good account of ourselves. Not only for myself and the players but so people of Longford can take great pride in the performance.
“There is a massive onus on ‘respect’. I had it as a player and my players will have it towards themselves and to our supporters. Wherever they go they will be applauded for their time, effort and spending their money to go to the game. Supporting the team will be appreciated by my team.”
Now manager of Longford Town, Gough will hope to make the headlines again along with his new club. The ex-keeper has been busy in the close season assembling a squad of players for the new season. Several young players will be given their chance to prove themselves this year and Gough believes this can only augur well for the future of Longford Town.
“We have a lot of young lads at the club this year. We have a budget but we also a responsibility to get the future of Longford Town in good hands. We want to try and produce good kids. I’ve already had meetings with Larry and Peter who are involved in the Youth team. I’ve just been on the phone to the U16 manager Shane Boylan. The youth structure is a massive way forward for this football club. We have got to attract players not just from Longford but Cavan, Roscommon, Leitrim, Westmeath, Monaghan, all the surrounding areas. Try and entice those kids to come and play for us.”
Re-structuring the youth system at the club may be one of Gough’s main aims but he also wants to bring the club back to its roots; have a base in Longford and give young talented local players a chance.
“When I got the job the first thing I said was ‘I want to be centred in Longford.’ I want us to train in Longford, evolve as part of the community and I think that’s the only way we can go forward by centring everyone here. I will get to as many U20s games and Youth games. I will get reports from the managers and I can only practice what I preach. We’ve already had Dean Clarke who has just gone 17 involved with the first team. Michael Lee, Shane O’Brien, and Eoin Hoare have been involved too. Young Brian Murtagh will also be involved with the first team this year. These are all local Longford lads. They’ll be part of what we are doing here. We have taken in 20-year-old Tom King from Castlebar and these are the future of the football club.”
Gough has brought in a new squad of players with just a few from last season’s panel remaining at the club. He believes the players that he has brought in will be committed to the club.
“We’ve got a set of lads that are committed and pull in the one direction. And we as a football club pulling in the one direction; we’ll give anyone a game. We’ve been back since the 24th of January and we’ve basically had a new squad of players with the exception of Andy Bermingham and Stephen Gough from last year. We’ve worked very hard in trying to gel them as a group and they are finally coming together now.
“I’m so happy with the squad that I got. I’ll take them anywhere; Sporting Fingal, Bohs, anywhere. It doesn’t frighten me. I’m delighted with the group that we've got.”
Tonight Longford Town will kick-off the new season with a home game against Monaghan Utd. The new boss is looking forward to the challenge that lies ahead for both him and his players. He has assured Longford Town supporters that his players will not be found wanting.
“Our aim is to be competitive in every game and give a good account of ourselves. Not only for myself and the players but so people of Longford can take great pride in the performance.
“There is a massive onus on ‘respect’. I had it as a player and my players will have it towards themselves and to our supporters. Wherever they go they will be applauded for their time, effort and spending their money to go to the game. Supporting the team will be appreciated by my team.”
