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| Title: | Celt Notefile |
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| Moderator: | TALLIS::DARCY |
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| Created: | Wed Feb 19 1986 |
| Last Modified: | Tue Jun 03 1997 |
| Last Successful Update: | Fri Jun 06 1997 |
| Number of topics: | 1632 |
| Total number of notes: | 20523 |
1582.0. "Anyone remember Dave Langan?" by SIOG::SGRIFFIN () Tue Jun 11 1996 13:35
Hello,
I'm usually just a reader in here (and very entertaing it can be, too!)
but here goes anyway....
I listened to an item on the radio (RTE Radio 1) this morning which I
thought was very sad. It was an interview with David Langan, a former
Irish soccer international with 25 caps, most of them won before Jack
Charlton took over (under Eoin Hand?). He broke his leg while
playing in an international match against France in Paris. He played
on for some time but this injury ultimately ended his career (with Derby
County, I think), and led to his having to give-up the game completely.
Now aged 39, he lives somewhere in England, is officially classed as
'disabled' and is still having operations on his leg. The National
Health in the U.K. pay for these operations, as his means are now quite
meagre. He contacted former Irish international captain Tony Grealish,
who is an administrator of the Players Trust Fund, with a request for
some financial support. They promised to 'get back' to him. That was
18 months ago....
He also contacted the FAI who said they would 'look into it' - again, they
never got back to him. In the week when Mick McCarthy, having arguably
earned a large portion of his now considerable wealth as a direct result
of his involvement with the Irish soccer team, will get approximately �300,000
from his testimonial game, the Dave Langan story leaves a very sour taste
in my mouth. Don't get me wrong, I'm not begrudging Mick his payday, but
I think it highlights once again what a spineless, heartless, and self-serving
organisation the FAI have become and how screwed-up their priorities are.
When the FAI were contacted for comment, the person who answered the
phone said that there was 'nobody available to take the call as they are
all in America'!
I didn't hear the full interview, so I dont know if he received compenation,
insurance payouts, etc. and maybe there's more to this story than meets
the eye, but on the surface, it seems like a sad day for Irish soccer when
a former (recent) international is reduced to virually begging for support,
given the huge amounts of money which are being paid to players and officials
(well, FAI officials anyway) today!
Any former members of Jacks Army out there with a view - or more info - on
this?
Sean.
| T.R | Title | User | Personal
Name | Date | Lines |
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| 1582.1 | FAI: decent skins in caps | NEMAIL::HANLY | | Wed Jun 12 1996 14:07 | 18 |
| Unfortunately, I bet there are a few more cases like this. As you may
remember, before Irish football (soccer) became succesful, the Irish
soccer team was a bit of a joke. We only gained some respect when
players like Don Givens were on song. Most of the games were in
Dalymount and only the faithful showed up. Starting in the 80s, we got
better, tapped into the "diaspora" (as Mary Robinson calls them/us) and
produced a good team. I bet you that the FAI want to help out, but
they are under the cosh for mismanagement of money. It is sad, because
the FAI must still be sitting on a gold mine. However, no-one wants to
just hand out money within a lot of approvals and documentation.
Hoefully, when the boys return from the USA (where they lost 2.1 to US
in a game that had a great second half but only 25,000 showed up),
something might be done. Trouble is where do you draw the line? How
far back do you go? Does Terry Mancini, Don Givens, and all the others
want money if Dave Langan gets some? I hop ethe FAI does somthing, but
I wouldn't bet on it.
Regards, Ken Hanly
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| 1582.2 | | IAMOK::BARRY | | Wed Jun 12 1996 15:54 | 26 |
|
I know this note is not for a discussion of the game, but I've lost
track of where the game note is.
Some comments...
I've seen the US team play three times now, once four years ago against
Ireland at Landsdowne Road (Ireland @4, US 0) against Greece prior to
the '94 World Cup (2-2 draw) and this past weekend against Ireland
(2-1, US). This was the first time there were more Americans at the
match than followers of their opponents. (At Landsdowne, I was a
minority of @1, against Greece the 22,000 fans were split 21,500 to 500)
I was very surprised that this was the case.
Ireland did not bring their better players (Townsend, Irwin, Keane,
Staunton) but the one player I thought would do something (Quinn) was a
non-factor. He and Lalas went at it pretty good though.
I'm not sure what Eamonn Dunphy had to say about the game, but the US
could very well have had two more goals.
Anybody else watch the match?
Mike
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| 1582.3 | Langan crosses...Stapleton..Goalllll | ESSB::KILBANE | | Thu Jun 13 1996 05:37 | 18 |
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Re: Dave Langan.
Dave epitomised the spirit and heart of Irish football in the days
before the "Ole" bandwagon began to roll. A tenacious full back, whose
runs down the flank and pinpoint crosses will long be remember though
obviously not by the FAI. A fund for ex International players whose
careers were cut short by injury should have been set up when the money
was rolling in. Now that the well is drying up it's not looking too
good for Langan or other ex players in his prediciment.
Sad.
rgds
Des.
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