Harris reflects on time in Ireland
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Jamie Harris chats to ExtraTime about the Welshman's Irish links, his time at St Pat's and how he can see this season turning out with Drogheda United.
How did you end up in Bohemians? Back in 1999, a coach in Wales recommended me to a friend of his, Roddy Collins, at Bohemians . I spent a season at Dalymount before signing for St.Pat’s for the first of my two spells at Inchicore.
You seem to be well settled in Ireland? Well I’m here ten years now and hope to take the next step by getting hitched this year! I’m getting married to an Irish girl from Malahide. Nowadays I look at Ireland as my home, though I do get back to visit family in Wales quite often.
Another connection with Ireland is that your grandfather played for the Republic? Yeah, his name was Rory Keane and he left Limerick to sign for Swansea City in the old First Division. He actually played for both the Republic and Northern Ireland.
You won three league titles with Shelbourne. You must have some fantastic memories of playing in Europe with Shels and also with Pat’s? I’ve been really lucky to have played so often in Europe since I’ve come to Ireland. I have kept all the jerseys from every game! I played 28 times in Europe and highlights would have to be playing against Deportivo (marking Walter Pandiani) in the Riazor Stadium & Landsdowne Road, holding Steau Bucharest to a 0-0 draw and then leading out St.Pat’s in the Olympic Stadium against Hertha Berlin.
You’ve also played under many of the top managers of the game. Yeah, some of the managers I played under were brilliant. At Shelbourne Pat Fenlon was outstanding, not just tactically but also his man-management skills. He knew how to get the best out of players, whether they needed an arm round the shoulder or a kick up the backside! Although I’m with Drogheda only a short time, I can already see the hunger the players have , to do well for Alan Matthews. Alan is very much "hands on" with the players, which is a great basis for getting the very best out of a team.
How much, do you think, has the league improved since your arrival? You only have to look at how well Irish clubs have been doing in Europe to see how much the standards have improved- clubs such as Shelbourne, Drogheda & Pat’s have shown that Irish teams can compete at a much higher level. Ex-LOI players who have transferred to top Premier League clubs have adapted very well. Players like Kevin Doyle, Seamus Coleman and Keith Fahey have proven to be very much at home at the highest level.
You played with Fahey when you were at St.Pat’s. He’s doing really well with Birmingham City, were you surprised that he didn’t make the Ireland squad for this week’s friendly with Brazil? Keith has an abundance of talent and has really matured with his success in England. He’s a very level-headed guy and I think it’s only a matter of time before he gets the call-up. I’d be delighted for him as he thoroughly deserves a shout from Trapattoni.
How would you look back on your time with St. Pat’s? When I was there, the team were always on the edge of achieving something great, but really only showed our true potential in the big European games.
Do you keep in touch with any other League of Ireland players from your time with other clubs? Darragh Maguire is someone I meet quite often, while Damian Lynch is another good friend who lives round the corner. I’d also be in touch with Ryan Guy, Keith Fahey and Mark Quigley.
You were captain for the two years at St. Pat’s. Were you happy in that role? Yes it’s always a great honour to captain a team and to lead out St. Pat’s in such a magnificent setting as the Olympic Stadium in Berlin, would be a career highlight for me.
Alan McNally will continue as captain this season at United Park, but you wore the armband in a few friendlies already. How do you feel about stepping in as captain from time to time? Well Alan is an excellent captain and is a natural leader. I enjoyed being captain of St. Pat’s and would be delighted if called upon, but Brendan McGill and Paul Crowley are others that could also do a good job.
How did you end up in Bohemians? Back in 1999, a coach in Wales recommended me to a friend of his, Roddy Collins, at Bohemians . I spent a season at Dalymount before signing for St.Pat’s for the first of my two spells at Inchicore.
You seem to be well settled in Ireland? Well I’m here ten years now and hope to take the next step by getting hitched this year! I’m getting married to an Irish girl from Malahide. Nowadays I look at Ireland as my home, though I do get back to visit family in Wales quite often.
Another connection with Ireland is that your grandfather played for the Republic? Yeah, his name was Rory Keane and he left Limerick to sign for Swansea City in the old First Division. He actually played for both the Republic and Northern Ireland.
You won three league titles with Shelbourne. You must have some fantastic memories of playing in Europe with Shels and also with Pat’s? I’ve been really lucky to have played so often in Europe since I’ve come to Ireland. I have kept all the jerseys from every game! I played 28 times in Europe and highlights would have to be playing against Deportivo (marking Walter Pandiani) in the Riazor Stadium & Landsdowne Road, holding Steau Bucharest to a 0-0 draw and then leading out St.Pat’s in the Olympic Stadium against Hertha Berlin.
You’ve also played under many of the top managers of the game. Yeah, some of the managers I played under were brilliant. At Shelbourne Pat Fenlon was outstanding, not just tactically but also his man-management skills. He knew how to get the best out of players, whether they needed an arm round the shoulder or a kick up the backside! Although I’m with Drogheda only a short time, I can already see the hunger the players have , to do well for Alan Matthews. Alan is very much "hands on" with the players, which is a great basis for getting the very best out of a team.
How much, do you think, has the league improved since your arrival? You only have to look at how well Irish clubs have been doing in Europe to see how much the standards have improved- clubs such as Shelbourne, Drogheda & Pat’s have shown that Irish teams can compete at a much higher level. Ex-LOI players who have transferred to top Premier League clubs have adapted very well. Players like Kevin Doyle, Seamus Coleman and Keith Fahey have proven to be very much at home at the highest level.
You played with Fahey when you were at St.Pat’s. He’s doing really well with Birmingham City, were you surprised that he didn’t make the Ireland squad for this week’s friendly with Brazil? Keith has an abundance of talent and has really matured with his success in England. He’s a very level-headed guy and I think it’s only a matter of time before he gets the call-up. I’d be delighted for him as he thoroughly deserves a shout from Trapattoni.
How would you look back on your time with St. Pat’s? When I was there, the team were always on the edge of achieving something great, but really only showed our true potential in the big European games.
Do you keep in touch with any other League of Ireland players from your time with other clubs? Darragh Maguire is someone I meet quite often, while Damian Lynch is another good friend who lives round the corner. I’d also be in touch with Ryan Guy, Keith Fahey and Mark Quigley.
You were captain for the two years at St. Pat’s. Were you happy in that role? Yes it’s always a great honour to captain a team and to lead out St. Pat’s in such a magnificent setting as the Olympic Stadium in Berlin, would be a career highlight for me.
Alan McNally will continue as captain this season at United Park, but you wore the armband in a few friendlies already. How do you feel about stepping in as captain from time to time? Well Alan is an excellent captain and is a natural leader. I enjoyed being captain of St. Pat’s and would be delighted if called upon, but Brendan McGill and Paul Crowley are others that could also do a good job.
About Paul Holland
Paul Holland has been the Half-Time Co-ordinator at Drogheda United for the past five years and has produced two DVDs for the club in 2006 and 2007. Paul is also the Meath & Leinster Co-ordinator … View Full Profile