Legend Stan back on home ground
Credit:
On the 23rd of July (kick off 3.30pm) Oriel Park will host a legends game between great names from the past of Liverpool and Dundalk. To launch the build up to the event Steve “Stan” Staunton, Ian Foster, Tom McNulty and Tommy McConville were wheeled out before the awaiting press.
There can be a tendency for these legends events to herald a display of footballing talent that can fall short of legendary status. However the array of stars that will represent Liverpool will bring back many a fond memory for football fans regardless of which club they followed.
Taking to the Oriel pitch will be Irish internationals Phil Babb, Jason McAteer, Ronnie Whelan, Steve Staunton and John Aldridge. Add to that Scottish internationals, Gary Gillespie and Gary McAllister along with former English internationals Paul Walsh, Rob Jones and Michael Thomas. They will also have their regular legends goalkeeper and one time understudy to Bruce Grobbelaar, Bob Bolder between the sticks. Completing the team will be ex Liverpool apprentice and current Dundalk manager Ian Foster.
Stan spoke of his delight at being home and paid tribute to Ian Fosters attempts to encourage young talent. “Its always an honour and a privilege to come back to Oriel Park, great place to be, great place for football, I used to watch these two play (McNulty and McConville). I love coming home, it’s great to see what Fozzy’s (Ian Foster) doing in bringing young home grown talent through. I think it’s a credit to him, Martin Connolly and Ciaran Bond that these young players are coming through now and hopefully we can get more.”
Stan, of course, left Dundalk to sign for Liverpool and is looking forward to hooking up with some of his old teammates “Liverpool and Dundalk have always had close connections and I’m sure there is going to be a big turn out on the day. There are some good characters there, it will be a fun day. They’ll enjoy it but at the same time they’ll want to put on a show for the supporters that come. They may be lacking in legs but not lacking in talent, Tommy will have a good team out and it should be a decent game.”
Steve Staunton at the Press Conference today. Photo taken by David Caldwell
LOI clubs are blooding players at a younger age as they seek to keep down costs and develop from within. Stan would like to see more players stay here to learn their trade before taking the short boat ride over the water. “I hear of players coming out of the town and going on trial here and there, lets get them to try and stay and learn the game and they’ll have a better chance of making it then.”
“If you look at what’s happening now with young lads coming through in England, they aren’t really coming to the fore until they are 21 or 22 because its physically a lot more demanding. People don’t realise what the physical side of it takes out of you. Its not just the running, the sheer strength of these guys now, they are like rugby union players and it’s very tough on young players.”
Can Stan see a viable model for the professional game in Ireland? “It has to be realistic, everybody has to be realistic about what you have to do within your own club. What is the point in changing the manager every two minutes? You’ve got to develop what’s in and around your own area and if you can do that and sell one or two (players) off every now and again, soon you’ll build the club back up to where it should be but every one wants success immediately.”
Turning to the national team and his successor, Giovanni Trapattoni, Stan had nothing but praise. “I think they’re doing well, I think they’ve won their last four games, great form going into the last few games with a big month coming up for us with nothing to fear at all.”
With reference to some of his old sparring partners in the Irish media, Stan had harsher words. “They have no realism what so ever, what do they expect? The man (Trap) is doing a great job, just let him get on with it and try and support him, that’s what its all supposed to be about. And I know that the supporters do. I had the same, the supporters were fine but if they (the media) keep driving the nail in hard enough it turns people. We’re all in it together we all want the same thing.”
One final bit of praise from Stan came for one of his old players from his last managerial stint, present day Lilywhites captain Simon Madden. “Great lad, good footballer, I’m surprised that no other club in England took him when he left Darlington, it doesn’t surprise me that he’s doing well here.”
So if you want to roll back the years and see the silky skills of the legends of past years the only place to be is Oriel Park on the 23rd of July. Full details are available on the club website www.dundalkfc.com.
There can be a tendency for these legends events to herald a display of footballing talent that can fall short of legendary status. However the array of stars that will represent Liverpool will bring back many a fond memory for football fans regardless of which club they followed.
Taking to the Oriel pitch will be Irish internationals Phil Babb, Jason McAteer, Ronnie Whelan, Steve Staunton and John Aldridge. Add to that Scottish internationals, Gary Gillespie and Gary McAllister along with former English internationals Paul Walsh, Rob Jones and Michael Thomas. They will also have their regular legends goalkeeper and one time understudy to Bruce Grobbelaar, Bob Bolder between the sticks. Completing the team will be ex Liverpool apprentice and current Dundalk manager Ian Foster.
Stan spoke of his delight at being home and paid tribute to Ian Fosters attempts to encourage young talent. “Its always an honour and a privilege to come back to Oriel Park, great place to be, great place for football, I used to watch these two play (McNulty and McConville). I love coming home, it’s great to see what Fozzy’s (Ian Foster) doing in bringing young home grown talent through. I think it’s a credit to him, Martin Connolly and Ciaran Bond that these young players are coming through now and hopefully we can get more.”
Stan, of course, left Dundalk to sign for Liverpool and is looking forward to hooking up with some of his old teammates “Liverpool and Dundalk have always had close connections and I’m sure there is going to be a big turn out on the day. There are some good characters there, it will be a fun day. They’ll enjoy it but at the same time they’ll want to put on a show for the supporters that come. They may be lacking in legs but not lacking in talent, Tommy will have a good team out and it should be a decent game.”
Steve Staunton at the Press Conference today. Photo taken by David Caldwell
LOI clubs are blooding players at a younger age as they seek to keep down costs and develop from within. Stan would like to see more players stay here to learn their trade before taking the short boat ride over the water. “I hear of players coming out of the town and going on trial here and there, lets get them to try and stay and learn the game and they’ll have a better chance of making it then.”
“If you look at what’s happening now with young lads coming through in England, they aren’t really coming to the fore until they are 21 or 22 because its physically a lot more demanding. People don’t realise what the physical side of it takes out of you. Its not just the running, the sheer strength of these guys now, they are like rugby union players and it’s very tough on young players.”
Can Stan see a viable model for the professional game in Ireland? “It has to be realistic, everybody has to be realistic about what you have to do within your own club. What is the point in changing the manager every two minutes? You’ve got to develop what’s in and around your own area and if you can do that and sell one or two (players) off every now and again, soon you’ll build the club back up to where it should be but every one wants success immediately.”
Turning to the national team and his successor, Giovanni Trapattoni, Stan had nothing but praise. “I think they’re doing well, I think they’ve won their last four games, great form going into the last few games with a big month coming up for us with nothing to fear at all.”
With reference to some of his old sparring partners in the Irish media, Stan had harsher words. “They have no realism what so ever, what do they expect? The man (Trap) is doing a great job, just let him get on with it and try and support him, that’s what its all supposed to be about. And I know that the supporters do. I had the same, the supporters were fine but if they (the media) keep driving the nail in hard enough it turns people. We’re all in it together we all want the same thing.”
One final bit of praise from Stan came for one of his old players from his last managerial stint, present day Lilywhites captain Simon Madden. “Great lad, good footballer, I’m surprised that no other club in England took him when he left Darlington, it doesn’t surprise me that he’s doing well here.”
So if you want to roll back the years and see the silky skills of the legends of past years the only place to be is Oriel Park on the 23rd of July. Full details are available on the club website www.dundalkfc.com.
