Stephen Folan - Going places

Stephen Folan has been signed by hometown club Galway United for the coming season. This move completes a circle that has taken eight years to complete and Folan is now in a good pace mentally and physically to make the best of this opportunity, writes Pete Kelly.

The last few seasons have been something of a roller coaster for the player, since he came back to play in Ireland with Limerick , during which time he has had to cope with fitness issues indifferent  form and the untimely loss of his dad, also Stephen, to whom he was very close.

The story starts however in 2008 when a fresh faced young lad signed for Newcastle United. At this point I have to position my personal interest in his career as I had the privilege of accompanying Folan to Newcastle in November 2007, where the Premier League side made him an offer to come join them in January when he would be sixteen.

Folan played with Salthill Devon at the time, I was director of football and John 'Jumbo' Brennan, head coach also made the trip where we spent several days at the academy and we were confident that he would have no problem fitting and competing at that level.

The Newcastle days were bitter sweet! Everything was going swimmingly until a series of injuries literally destroyed his chances of a second professional contract at Newcastle. Initially he had signed a two year 'scholars' contract and was one of the lucky ones to get offered a 'pro deal' at the end of that.

The Newcastle youth side reached the FA Youths Cup semi final in 2009/10, losing to Aston Villa - that season the defender played forty one games for both the youths and reserves where he debuted at 16. He was injury free and flying it - that would all change! When it came to injuries he did not do it by halves.

In the ensuing two years he would play only 10 games as first he dealt with a cartilage injury - 4 months, aggravated the same injury in training - further six months - followed by broken foot!

"I had a lot of growing up to do at this point," coping with multiple injuries and periods not playing are tough - coping alone at 19 in the narcissistic world of professional sport is a challenge for hardened pros and can be a nightmare for a youngster.

It was about this time, while injured that the now infamous 'night club' photo, with Stephen Ireland and Leon Best, circulated. Although all were on the injured list, club rules had been broken and consequences had to be suffered. Alan Pardew was manager – Folan says he was fined substantially, but he has a lot of time for Pardew.

He would not know it at the time but that photo and the litany of injuries would all stack up in the debit column and seriously jeopardise his future career. Professional football just loves to tag people and labels like in 'injury prone' and 'bad boy' are monikers you read every day in the tabloids and at this point Steve Folan was in danger of been classified as both.

Limerick would be his salvation. Stuart Taylor took a chance, signed him and he repaid in spades, playing 37 games for the Blues as he enjoyed an injury free run. At one home game with Bohemians, at Thomand Park, I spoke to Steve in the tunnel afterwards and he was buzzing to be injury free and enjoying his football - he was on the road back. His two year stay at Limerick was a purple patch - in his second season Noel King included him in the Ireland U21 squad, where ironically fellow Galwegian and former Salthill Devon team mate Daryl Horgan was also included.

"I felt that there was great potential at Limerick, but finance became an issue for the club and I was out of contract" so a move was on the cards.

Owen Heary had taken over at Sligo and brought Steve to the Showgrounds. However very little went right for Sligo. Heary was in dispute with the club almost from the 'get go', this tension soon transferred itself to the dressing with its consequential effect on the players and results.

The rollercoaster ride that is professional football would be about to hit another 'down spin' for Stephen Folan. Confidence is adrenalin like and when its dented performance suffers and personal well being can also be compromised.

2015 was a tough year. The meltdown at Sligo Rovers, the transfer window move to Cork City coincided with Steve's father being diagnosed with a terminal condition.  Steve readily admits that neither his head nor body was in a fit state to play professional football. His stint at Cork was somewhat compromised from the outset as he was cup tied and he would only start two games for the Leesiders.

Stephen Folan Senior passed away in September and coming to terms with the loss took a while. During that time football was far from his mind and while he was contracted to Cork for another season, he was not prepared to sit on the sidelines. "If I was not going to be a starter at Cork, I was not going to just take their money and play every now and again". "It was best to get a release."

Chatting with Steve, we chronicle the highs and lows of his career to date - me with my large coffee and him with his 2 litre bottle of water - he would run the four miles home after our meet.

The future starts here for Stephen Folan. Galway United's preseason starts next week. He is in a good place physically and mentally. He is now comfortable with playing part-time football while confident that the fulltime game may yet beckon him back.

As Steve said "I had a lot of growing up to do" - well it seems that he has done quite a lot of that. "I now want to play football and be happy.”

Dealing with adversity is a real test of character and Folan has crammed a fair amount of that into his young life. What is really impressive is that he has figured it out himself - he is looking forward - his attitude is positive.

Steve is going to combine his playing with Galway United alongside his work life. He has never had to balance football and work - "I never had a job before. It's great. A whole new experience." Lifestyle Sports in Galway is now his work place - he foraged that job out for himself, standing on his own two feet! He will combine his schedules - again forward thinking!

What happens now? what does the future hold? "I want to get back to the level I am capable of playing at. I am mentally and physically up for it.” Most of all "enjoy it"

Who knows what lies around the corner for any of us! As Steve Folan rounds a bend in the road at Deacy Park, he sees only positive vibes and good days ahead. Perhaps the fulltime professional game will beckon, perhaps he will embrace a return to education - maybe both! Wherever life brings this young man he will get stronger as he goes - he has negotiated some dark tunnels and benefited from the experience. The boy had grown into a man and his demeanour is impressive - impressive indeed!