Bohemians

When the final whistle was blown in Derry at the end of last season a banner was displayed by Bohemian FC supporters which read, “This isn't the end." 

 

A message was being sent out that our club, which is older than Real Madrid, Ajax, Liverpool, Bayern Munich and even older than the most famous members-owned club in the world and current European Champions, Barcelona, was not going to give up the unique space that it occupies in Irish and world football history.  

 

I was asked recently why did I choose Bohemians as my team.  I said the first match I went to was in the RDS on the 30th January 1994 when Bohs played Shamrock Rovers.  Even though Shamrock Rovers scored first that day and despite the colourful language directed at the Bohs players from the stands my standout memory is of the Bohs players refusing to give up.  

 

They kept going and went on to win the game 2-1. I decided at the game that Bohemians, in their red and black stripe jerseys, was the team for me.  It is that same never-give-up belief the Bohs players displayed that day in the RDS, and then displayed on a banner at the end of the season in Derry, which means my team having never been relegated will now play another season in the Airtricity League Premier Division in 2012.

 

My favourite moments from last season were the nine-game unbeaten run we went on which included five straight wins in September and an FAI Cup quarter-final reply win against Dundalk.  It was very exciting because we looked like maybe finishing in the top three at that stage and having a cup final day out.  

 

The 100% commitment given by the younger players in the squad was impressive, in particular Chris Forrester and Keith Buckley deserving a lot of praise. Doing a league double away to Sligo, winning 2-1 on both occasions, was a joy and Glen Cronin’s equaliser in the 1-1 draw in Tallaght in October put a smile on my face for a week.  

 

However, for me there was a worst moment and it was Jason McGuinness scoring the winner in Dalymount Park in the FAI Cup semi final for the eventual winners of the cup Sligo Rovers.

 

At the moment the board of the club has secured the continuing use of the home of Irish football in Dalymount Park for another season and for that they deserve praise. The great supporters of Bohemian FC have worked very hard as well to raise money from various fundraisers and deserve congratulations for that.  

 

I am very excited that Aaron Callaghan has been appointed as manager and that players from last season and new players will be signing.  The club is also hoping to secure a new kit sponsor soon and also increase the number of new members and season ticket holders.  

 

Perhaps if somebody is reading this that hasn’t already chosen a team in our league to support and like me when I went to my first match back in 1994. There is a unique aspect to my club and all the other clubs in our league and it doesn’t matter where you are from, what language you speak, what the colour of your skin is or what your job is because everybody is free to go, support and watch whatever football team you want and because of that you are very welcome to come to Dalymount Park in 2012 and join the supporters and watch the Bohemian FC team that will never give up.