An Interview with Neale Fenn

London born, but representing the Republic of Ireland at underage and B levels, Neale Fenn was also fortunate enough to play for his boyhood idols Tottenham Hotspur before a trophy-laden career in the League of Ireland. ExtraTime.ie recently caught up with Neale to discuss his club career, international memories and coaching.

Neale begins by explaining his Irish background and why he chose a country other than his native one: “My mum is from Bere Island in Cork. I used to go there every summer, growing up. It was an easy decision when Ireland asked me to play for the U15s.”

Not every youngster gets to sign for the club they support, but Fenn confesses that it was only later in life he realised what a privilege it was to be at Spurs: “You don’t appreciate it at the time, but looking back, it was exactly what I wanted. I was there at 12, went through the youth system and then the first team. Managerial changes didn’t help and I didn’t get as much of a chance as I would have liked.”

While at Tottenham, the young striker was loaned to Leyton Orient, Norwich City, Swindon Town and Lincoln City, until eventually signing for Barry Fry’s Peterborough United. So in 2003, how did Neale end up in the LOI?

At Peterborough, Barry came up to me and said: ‘You’ll be playing less. What do you want to do?’ I didn’t want to sit on the bench, so we came to an agreement and I got released. I was looking around and Dan Connor, the goalkeeper at Peterborough, phoned me. He mentioned Waterford and if I fancied it, could try that, so I went over for a few months. Then Pat Dolan from Cork City came in and offered me a three-year contract.”

During Fenn’s second year on Leeside, he contributed significantly towards securing the 2005 Premier Division, but made just a brief appearance in that season’s title-deciding victory over Derry City: “I only played five minutes. It was the first time I’d pulled my hamstring … That’s for players who run (laughs).

“Not the best team I’ve played in, but the best individuals. We were relying on players to pull something out of the bag ... There were better teams around then.”

A rare double awaited against Drogheda United in the FAI Cup Final and the former forward muses on why Cork City didn’t achieve that particular feat: “Nothing changed going into the cup final. Had we said: ‘Look, let’s knuckle down’ or whatever, but that wasn’t us. The pitch didn’t suit us and the women’s cup final was before us, but no discredit to Drogheda because they were strong on the day.”

While also with Cork City, Neale excelled during the club’s numerous unforgettable European ties: “I loved the European games. They were calmer and not ‘kick, b*ll*ck and bite’.  It was about keeping the ball, which suited me.”

With his contract expired in 2006, Fenn became new Bohemians manager Sean Connor’s first signing, but failed to score during his maiden season at Dalymount Park: “There were a lot of new players, but I can’t make excuses, it was a bad season … I didn’t play well and there was plenty of disgruntlement at the club.”

The following year Pat Fenlon replaced Connor and transformed The Gypsies, capturing two Premier Division titles as well as the FAI and League Cups. Neale assesses why Fenlon was so successful.

“It was organisation and getting the best out of players. Training was professional and involved a lot of fitness work ... He got us raring to go.”

After a triumphant few years with Bohemians, the London native expresses his dejection on release from the club: “At the end of the contract, you’re told and you are in limbo, but that’s what happens in Ireland. Decisions are left to the last minute sometimes and there’s nothing you can do.”

Fenn joined Dundalk in early 2010, but that July announced his retirement from LOI football. It’s been well documented he signed for Shamrock Rovers four days later, but he’s adamant that nothing underhand occurred.

“As much as you tell people, you can’t try to convince everybody. Football in Ireland is a small environment. Had something gone on, it would have come out. Was it the right decision? You can argue that.”

On return to Oriel Park, Neale’s new manager Michael O’Neill selected him, despite the inevitable hostile reception: “He told me I was going to start and it shouldn’t bother me. After the result (Dundalk won 5-1), perhaps he shouldn’t have.”

Fenn earned Republic of Ireland caps from U15 to B level, including being a part of Brian Kerr’s 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship bronze-medal winning squad in Malaysia and describes why they did so well during that tournament: “There were better players there, but we had a great team spirit. You can talk tactics and formations, but if you don’t have that, you’ll struggle … We also had ‘Duffer’ (Damian Duff), who was a game changer.”

In 2013 Neale expressed strong views about the standard of LOI youth development, but has there been any progress since? “Some young players aren’t properly coached at their clubs, so it hasn’t improved. However, making a pathway to the first team does fill a purpose.”

As a current director/coach with Path2Pro Soccer Academy, Fenn concludes by sharing their ethos and the satisfaction gained from working in the training camps: “We’re trying to give lads opportunities to go to England on trials and when they do, it’s a good feeling.”