Gerry Carr: 'It was a good feeling, giving that joy to all those fans after so many years'

Having been a player, assistant manager and coach at Sligo Rovers and also worked under Paul Cook in various roles at other clubs, Gerry Carr is no stranger to footballing loyalty, even though his priorities lie elsewhere at present.

Coventry born Gerry represented Ireland from under-16 level up to under-21, being eligible due to his mother's Mayo roots.

A first playing spell with Sligo Rovers reached a pinnacle in 1994, as the club won the First Division, First Division Shield and thanks to his headed winner against a highly fancied Derry City, that year's FAI Cup.

“Willie McStay had put those together who'd been at professional clubs in England and Scotland. We all felt we had a point to prove. Sligo, at the time was a full-time set-up. I think one of the only ones in the country, even though we were in the First Division. Willie left at the end of that season to go back to Celtic and Sanch (Lawrie Sanchez) took over.

“We more than held our own in the Premier Division that following season. At one stage, with nine or ten games to go, if we won all our remaining games, we could have won the league.

“Then, for one reason or another, lads went their separate ways. They're very fond memories and a lot of those people, I've stayed in touch with.”

A first ever League of Ireland Cup for the Bit O’Red, in 1998 preceded a return to the second tier. Carr's 2002 departure saw him turn up in the States and then England, only to be followed by a timely reappearance at the Showgrounds.

“From Sligo, I went straight to the US. I played in the USISL … It was like the second league in the MLS is now and where I caught the coaching bug.

“I got my B Licence and outstayed my welcome. I had good offers there, but had settled down by then. It was a good life experience.”

Upon hanging up his boots, Gerry went on to be a coach and assistant manager at Sligo. His long involvement with the Connacht club was rewarded handsomely, as he contributed to the club ending a 35-year gap between Premier Division titles, in 2012.

“Cookie (Paul Cook) had left towards the end of the previous season and they gave me the caretaker manager job. I took it for four games and we won all of those.

“I was really disappointed not to get the full-time position. I stayed for the year and helped Ian Baraclough out to the best of my abilities.

“It was a fantastic achievement, but we'd already put a team in place, Paul Cook and myself, that was all geared up to winning it.

“Ian brought a lot to the club as well, but it just culminated what was put in place two or three years previously winning FAI Cups and improving year after year.

“It was a good feeling, giving that joy to all those fans after so many years.”

With Baraclough seeking to bring in his own full-time assistant in time for the subsequent campaign, Carr was free to explore other options; “We more or less had an agreement because I had a year left on my contract when Ian got the job.

“He had his own ideas going forward after that season. It was more a mutual thing and towards the end, we were just going to be professional, get our heads down and try to win that league, which we achieved.

“We shook hands at the end of it and there was no dramas. He wanted to go down the road of having a full-time assistant, which probably wouldn't work at a club like Sligo, financially.

“They went on to win the FAI Cup again, the following season, but after that, key players were let go. Even now, I wish them all the best and will always be a fond supporter of the club.”

Reuniting with Paul Cook in England, Gerry is currently taking a well deserved step back from the game, but don't be surprised to see him take up another appointment at a future date; "I've done my Pro Licence some years ago with the FAI …

“In fact, we were the second batch to come through. I was involved with Cookie at Chesterfield and then with him at Portsmouth.

"It wasn't viable for me to stay in full-time football after I left as Academy Manager at Chesterfield. I've always been involved in construction … That's been my main thing.

"I've had a lot of offers to go abroad, but with my 12-year old daughter in Sligo and Rocco, who's moved over with me now, I've just felt it hasn't been the right time to go into something that's further afield.

"At the moment, I'm happy to be helping out with local grassroots stuff, but I'm still in touch with various people in the professional game.

"I certainly won't rule out going back into it. I'm keeping my licence maintained, trying to give a bit back to local youngsters and bringing them through with the bit of knowledge I've got."