An Interview with Raffaele Cretaro

A notable name in Sligo Rovers’ proud history, Raffaele Cretaro was instrumental to the westerners’ trophy haul of recent years. What keeps him going strong in his 17^th season of League of Ireland football? ExtraTime.ie caught up with Raffaele for a brief chat.

Cretaro’s brother Fabio has returned to the Sligo senior hurlers after a four-year absence. Under different circumstances, The Bit o’ Red’s loss could have led to the GAA’s considerable gain.

“I would have played county hurling up to U16 and Gaelic football to U19’s. When Sligo Rovers went full-time, I was in no doubt where I was going.”

Raffaele goes on to explain how he overcame a height disadvantage during his formative years on local soccer pitches: “As a young lad I was tenacious ... Size was never an issue. It didn’t matter how big they were, I was still going into tackles. A coach of mine at youth level, who is now my father-in-law, always preached about working with both feet. I’m now proud to say that I have two decent feet … I think I do, anyway (laughs).”

The Tubbercurry native earned a maiden appearance for Tommy Cassidy’s Sligo Rovers first team in 2000, scoring against Monaghan United at Gortakeegan as a 17-year old substitute: “I look back on my debut as if it was yesterday. It gave me the kick I needed to go on and do the things I’ve done.”

Following six years at The Showgrounds, the attack-minded player moved to Connaught rivals Galway United in 2006 for a single season in the First Division, with mixed fortunes: “We got promoted to the Premier Division, but I had a lengthy injury ... A broken jaw, which kept me out for six-eight weeks. Only for that, I enjoyed my time there.”

After a swift return to Sligo, it took until 2009 for Cretaro to score regularly, as he netted 21 league and cup goals. However, a 2-1 FAI Cup Final defeat to Sporting Fingal put a dampener on an otherwise productive year.

“Paul Cook had faith in me. I went into every game believing I was a good player and probably didn’t have that before.

Sporting Fingal was a First Division team with Premier Division players. We were 1-0 up, when I came off in the 75^th minute with a back muscle spasm. In the final moments they got a penalty and then sneaked it at the death. Maybe we required that to go on and win the trophies we won.”

2010 saw Raffaele make a surprise move to Bohemians. Did he find it challenging to shine amongst a group of players at their collective peak?

“No matter what team you go into, there’s pressure to perform. It was a talented, massive squad, who were defending champions. At the start of the season I notched a couple of goals, but then had an injury called compartment syndrome.”

When Bohemians experienced financial difficulties, Cretaro quit, linking up with Sligo for a third time. League runners-up to Shamrock Rovers, 2011 finished on a high, as he scored the clinching penalty against Shelbourne in that year’s FAI Cup Final. The subsequent season surpassed even that achievement, with Sligo capturing the Premier Division, bridging a 35-year gap.

“To win a league medal in front of your home crowd against St Patrick’s Athletic and score two goals was fantastic. The support we got for the final ten games was outstanding. The Showgrounds got a temporary stand put in for the run-in. 5-6,000 in the place … You couldn’t get a seat.”

In 2013, Sligo reached the FAI Cup Final without conceding, where they defeated Drogheda United 3-2 under dramatic circumstances: “On the day, we weren’t up to scratch. When Danny North came on for me, the game changed. We looked more of a threat with two up top. I think that Danny got ‘World Player of the Week’ for his 20-30 minutes’ contribution ... Two goals and an assist for Anthony Elding’s winner. It will probably go down in history as one of the best cup finals.”

2014 produced more silverware, but Raffaele resumed an exasperating battle with a familiar injury: “I had a recurrence of compartment syndrome. In pre-season I started getting the symptoms again. Tests showed it was back and there was a lengthy stint on the sidelines, with two operations to follow. I only played about 13 games, but we still won the Setanta Cup … Disappointing personally, but good in a club aspect.”

Owen Heary’s commendable job as Bohemians manager, resulted in him taking over the Sligo hot seat in 2015, but for one reason or another, couldn’t lead his new charges to their previous heights: “I don’t think that anyone can put their finger on why it didn’t work … Not just for him as manager, but for us as players.”

Last year Cretaro made his 500^th League of Ireland appearance and his 450^th for Sligo Rovers (only Tony Fagan now has more games for The Bit o’Red). He also holds the distinction of being his hometown club’s third highest goalscorer, but what emphasis, if any, does he place on these milestones?

“I don’t look a whole lot into them and only get notified if there’s a club Tweet or something on their website. I’m just trying to play at the highest level for as long as I can.”

To wrap up, the 34-year old reveals his future plans for both on and off the football pitch: “I’m going back to school, doing a three-year business degree in Sligo IT. When I was a young lad, people said: ‘get your education now.’... I should have listened to that advice. It’s daunting, having been out of it for 17 years, but I’m looking forward to it too. I still want to play football, but maybe not at a full-time level.”