Post by Salem6 on Jan 5, 2004 12:18:29 GMT
Michael Foley
>From their comfy knitwear to the big hair, this is clearly a picture of its
time, and it tells a story most unlikely to be repeated. The memory of the
photo has stayed vividly in John Devine¹s mind, brilliantly enshrining the
most thrilling few weeks of his career.
A few weeks before Arsenal set off for an FA Cup final against West Ham and
a European Cup Winners¹ Cup final against Valencia, both of which they lost,
the seven Irish teammates gathered to capture the moment. In the squad for
Wembley, Jim Harvey would make it eight. Six of them would start against
West Ham, with Sammy Nelson replacing Devine during the game.
All of them apart from Pat Jennings were teenagers when they arrived at
Highbury. It was a remarkable bounty for Irish football to see so many
top-class players emerge from one club, and considering the freedom of
movement in today¹s game and the high cost of nurturing young talent, it is
a yield probably never to be seen again. It certainly hasn¹t escaped Liam
Brady¹s attention, as Arsenal¹s head of youth development, that he can
hardly get a single player through to the first team now, given the Arsenal
manager¹s power to find instant solutions to any team crisis on the
continental transfer market. Ashley Cole is a rare exception, while talented
Irish prospects such as Graham Barrett have had to move to lower leagues for
first-team football.
³Those days are gone for good now,² says Devine. ³You don¹t find that kind
of commitment and loyalty to one club anymore. It¹s very unusual to see it.
That was a great time then. Great crack. We were a very close-knit bunch.
Off the pitch we were all fairly close to each other. We¹d go golfing, play
snooker, get into all the other bad habits footballers do after training.²
While David O¹Leary¹s 772 games continues to constitute a record for
appearances in an Arsenal shirt, between them these seven players
contributed a staggering 1,932 league appearances to the Highbury team, and
created an Irish legacy not expected to be matched at any club again. A
remarkable time. A remarkable group [The numbers refer to a photograph,
which is not published on the website.]
1 David O¹Leary
Born in London in 1958, returned from Dublin in 1972 with Frank Stapleton
and became an Arsenal legend. He won 68 caps for the Republic of Ireland
over three decades, despite enduring a testy relationship with Jack
Charlton, which saw him exiled from the international game for two and a
half years. Redemption arrived when he scored the penalty against Romania
that saw Ireland through to the World Cup quarter-finals in 1990. Seen as an
unlikely manager, but he succeeded George Graham at Leeds United in October
1998. Took them to the Champions League semi-final, but was sacked in May
2002. Now rebuilding his reputation at Aston Villa
2 Frank Stapleton
Born in Dublin in 1956, Stapleton won 71 caps, scored a then record 20 goals
and was part of the squad at the 1990 World Cup. He moved from Arsenal to
Manchester United in 1981 for a whopping £900,000 after nine years at
Highbury and after much success at Old Trafford joined Ajax Amsterdam in
1987. Also had spells with Le Havre, Blackburn Rovers, Derby County and
Huddersfield Town. Joined Bradford City as a player and became manager in
the early 1990s. Had a brief spell as manager at the New England Revolution
in the US in 1996 and now coaches the strikers at Bolton as well as being a
pundit
3 Pat Jennings
Born in Newry in 1945, the goalkeeping great won 119 caps with Northern
Ireland and played in two World Cups, retiring after their final World Cup
game against Brazil in Mexico in 1986 on his 41st birthday. He joined
Arsenal from Tottenham in 1977, staying there until 1985 and making 237
League appearances. Eventually became the first player in Britain to top
1,000 league games. His son, Pat, plays for UCD in the Eircom league, while
Jennings himself is the goalkeeping coach at Tottenham
4 Sammy Nelson
One of the game¹s great characters, with a biting ability to throw attackers
off their stride. Setting out from left-back, he developed a brilliant
relationship with Liam Brady, the pair frequently acting as the inspiration
behind Arsenal¹s attacks. Born in Belfast in 1949, Nelson won 51 caps for
Northern Ireland between 1970 and 1982. He joined Arsenal as a teenager in
1966, finally establishing himself at left-back in 1972. Seldom got forward
to score, but after infamously baring his bottom to the North Bank to
celebrate a rare goal against Coventry in 1979 he received a two-week
suspension and was fined two weeks¹ wages. Joined Brighton in 1981, retiring
the following year. Currently works in the financial sector
5 John Devine
Signed apprentice forms as a 16-year-old at Arsenal in 1974 and made his
full debut at right-back in 1978. Broke his leg at 17, snapped a cruciate
ligament at 19 and fought a difficult battle for a full-back spot with both
Nelson and Pat Rice in the following few years. He eventually moved on to
Norwich City in 1983, then to Stoke. The following year he broke his leg for
a second time at 27, which all but ended his career. Spells with IK Start in
Norway and the East Bengal Tigers in Calcutta preceded him coming home to
Shamrock Rovers in 1989. ³Never regretted a minute,² he says. ³Once you¹ve
played for Ireland once in the course of your career, you¹ve done all you
wanted to achieve and I did that.² Once married to former Miss Ireland
Michelle Rocca, Devine now runs Manchester United¹s Irish Academy
6 Pat Rice
With Bob Wilson, Rice holds the distinction of being the only person
involved in all three of Arsenal¹s Double wins, as a player in 1971, and on
the coaching staff in 1998 and 2002. Born in Belfast in 1949, joined Arsenal
in 1967. Made 521 appearances for Arsenal at right-back before moving to
Watford in 1981. Won 49 caps for Northern Ireland. Returned to Highbury on
the coaching staff in 1984 and now works as assistant manager to Arsène
Wenger
7 Liam Brady
Brady¹s mouthwatering skills came to the fore soon after he joined Arsenal
in 1971 as a 15-year-old, making his debut in 1973. Won just one FA Cup
medal as an Arsenal player, moving to Juventus in 1980 for £600,000. Shone
brightly throughout his time in Italy, including spells at Ascoli, Sampdoria
and Internazionale. Returned to play more than 100 games for West Ham, and
totalled 72 caps for Ireland. Retired in 1990 and coached at Brighton before
becoming manager at Celtic in 1992. Joined the Highbury staff in 1996, where
he is head of youth development
www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2094-950710,00.html
>From their comfy knitwear to the big hair, this is clearly a picture of its
time, and it tells a story most unlikely to be repeated. The memory of the
photo has stayed vividly in John Devine¹s mind, brilliantly enshrining the
most thrilling few weeks of his career.
A few weeks before Arsenal set off for an FA Cup final against West Ham and
a European Cup Winners¹ Cup final against Valencia, both of which they lost,
the seven Irish teammates gathered to capture the moment. In the squad for
Wembley, Jim Harvey would make it eight. Six of them would start against
West Ham, with Sammy Nelson replacing Devine during the game.
All of them apart from Pat Jennings were teenagers when they arrived at
Highbury. It was a remarkable bounty for Irish football to see so many
top-class players emerge from one club, and considering the freedom of
movement in today¹s game and the high cost of nurturing young talent, it is
a yield probably never to be seen again. It certainly hasn¹t escaped Liam
Brady¹s attention, as Arsenal¹s head of youth development, that he can
hardly get a single player through to the first team now, given the Arsenal
manager¹s power to find instant solutions to any team crisis on the
continental transfer market. Ashley Cole is a rare exception, while talented
Irish prospects such as Graham Barrett have had to move to lower leagues for
first-team football.
³Those days are gone for good now,² says Devine. ³You don¹t find that kind
of commitment and loyalty to one club anymore. It¹s very unusual to see it.
That was a great time then. Great crack. We were a very close-knit bunch.
Off the pitch we were all fairly close to each other. We¹d go golfing, play
snooker, get into all the other bad habits footballers do after training.²
While David O¹Leary¹s 772 games continues to constitute a record for
appearances in an Arsenal shirt, between them these seven players
contributed a staggering 1,932 league appearances to the Highbury team, and
created an Irish legacy not expected to be matched at any club again. A
remarkable time. A remarkable group [The numbers refer to a photograph,
which is not published on the website.]
1 David O¹Leary
Born in London in 1958, returned from Dublin in 1972 with Frank Stapleton
and became an Arsenal legend. He won 68 caps for the Republic of Ireland
over three decades, despite enduring a testy relationship with Jack
Charlton, which saw him exiled from the international game for two and a
half years. Redemption arrived when he scored the penalty against Romania
that saw Ireland through to the World Cup quarter-finals in 1990. Seen as an
unlikely manager, but he succeeded George Graham at Leeds United in October
1998. Took them to the Champions League semi-final, but was sacked in May
2002. Now rebuilding his reputation at Aston Villa
2 Frank Stapleton
Born in Dublin in 1956, Stapleton won 71 caps, scored a then record 20 goals
and was part of the squad at the 1990 World Cup. He moved from Arsenal to
Manchester United in 1981 for a whopping £900,000 after nine years at
Highbury and after much success at Old Trafford joined Ajax Amsterdam in
1987. Also had spells with Le Havre, Blackburn Rovers, Derby County and
Huddersfield Town. Joined Bradford City as a player and became manager in
the early 1990s. Had a brief spell as manager at the New England Revolution
in the US in 1996 and now coaches the strikers at Bolton as well as being a
pundit
3 Pat Jennings
Born in Newry in 1945, the goalkeeping great won 119 caps with Northern
Ireland and played in two World Cups, retiring after their final World Cup
game against Brazil in Mexico in 1986 on his 41st birthday. He joined
Arsenal from Tottenham in 1977, staying there until 1985 and making 237
League appearances. Eventually became the first player in Britain to top
1,000 league games. His son, Pat, plays for UCD in the Eircom league, while
Jennings himself is the goalkeeping coach at Tottenham
4 Sammy Nelson
One of the game¹s great characters, with a biting ability to throw attackers
off their stride. Setting out from left-back, he developed a brilliant
relationship with Liam Brady, the pair frequently acting as the inspiration
behind Arsenal¹s attacks. Born in Belfast in 1949, Nelson won 51 caps for
Northern Ireland between 1970 and 1982. He joined Arsenal as a teenager in
1966, finally establishing himself at left-back in 1972. Seldom got forward
to score, but after infamously baring his bottom to the North Bank to
celebrate a rare goal against Coventry in 1979 he received a two-week
suspension and was fined two weeks¹ wages. Joined Brighton in 1981, retiring
the following year. Currently works in the financial sector
5 John Devine
Signed apprentice forms as a 16-year-old at Arsenal in 1974 and made his
full debut at right-back in 1978. Broke his leg at 17, snapped a cruciate
ligament at 19 and fought a difficult battle for a full-back spot with both
Nelson and Pat Rice in the following few years. He eventually moved on to
Norwich City in 1983, then to Stoke. The following year he broke his leg for
a second time at 27, which all but ended his career. Spells with IK Start in
Norway and the East Bengal Tigers in Calcutta preceded him coming home to
Shamrock Rovers in 1989. ³Never regretted a minute,² he says. ³Once you¹ve
played for Ireland once in the course of your career, you¹ve done all you
wanted to achieve and I did that.² Once married to former Miss Ireland
Michelle Rocca, Devine now runs Manchester United¹s Irish Academy
6 Pat Rice
With Bob Wilson, Rice holds the distinction of being the only person
involved in all three of Arsenal¹s Double wins, as a player in 1971, and on
the coaching staff in 1998 and 2002. Born in Belfast in 1949, joined Arsenal
in 1967. Made 521 appearances for Arsenal at right-back before moving to
Watford in 1981. Won 49 caps for Northern Ireland. Returned to Highbury on
the coaching staff in 1984 and now works as assistant manager to Arsène
Wenger
7 Liam Brady
Brady¹s mouthwatering skills came to the fore soon after he joined Arsenal
in 1971 as a 15-year-old, making his debut in 1973. Won just one FA Cup
medal as an Arsenal player, moving to Juventus in 1980 for £600,000. Shone
brightly throughout his time in Italy, including spells at Ascoli, Sampdoria
and Internazionale. Returned to play more than 100 games for West Ham, and
totalled 72 caps for Ireland. Retired in 1990 and coached at Brighton before
becoming manager at Celtic in 1992. Joined the Highbury staff in 1996, where
he is head of youth development
www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2094-950710,00.html