1890 2020 Summer 2020 Special Edition Vol. 72 No. 5 Matchday Free To All Programme Bohemian FC 1890 - 2020 Celebrating 130 Years

Dr. Kevin O’Flanagan

The distinguished all-round sportsman, in the mid-40s where he became a very O’Flanagan made 148 appearances for popular and respected player. Bohemians during two spells at the club, A medical doctor, he was Bohemians from 1936 to 1952, falling just below the 100- Honorary Medical Ofcer in the 1960s and goal mark with 97 in all. ‘70s and this also ofciated at the Olympic A strictly amateur sportsman, he won full Games and was a sports medicine specialist international caps in football and rugby, was setting Irish athletic records in sprinting with the Irish Olympic Committee for 16 and the long jump in his early days (which years until 1976. garnered praise from none other than Kevin’s remarkable story is told in full General Eoin O’Dufy) while also excelling at elsewhere in this special edition of your Gaelic football and rugby. He joined Arsenal match programme. editorial The Difcult Second Album is a phrase all musicians and music lovers know so well. It’s self explanatory really for those who are unfamiliar with the term; a band releases a superb debut album and such is the hype surrounding a follow up, writers block, doubts and the feeling of an inability to capitalise on the inital euphoria enter the fray. When we sent the frst special editon online programme out through the WiFi dominated ether we were bowled over by the response not just from all involved with Bohemians but also from other clubs, of whom at Premier Division least a few were reported as utering ‘why didn’t we think of that?!’ 1923/24, 1927/28, 1929/30, So as the weeks passed and with the League of Ireland retaining it’s 1933/34, 1935/36, 1974/75, limbo status I raised the idea with the programme team of doing another 1977/78, 2000/01, 2002/03, one. There was stll some material in line to be used in our regular printed 2008, 2009 editons so it would be unfair to leave it sitng in my computer unused. The trick was though, to try and make it as interestng and enjoyable as the FAI Cup original and I think we have more than succeeded this tme round. We have 1927/28, 1934/35, 1969/70, also managed to produce the biggest match programme in my tme, with 1975/76, 1991/1992, this 48-page helping clogging your inbox now! So what’s next? 2000/01, 2008 As we go to virtual print news broke of a potental 31 July return to acton which would be most welcome. Just how that will afect atendance League Cup remains to be seen but either way it is our intenton to produce a match 1974/75, 1978/79, 2009 programme, be they virtual or printed. Without knowing any possible schedule it is hard to make any determinaton on how that should be Setanta Cup done but we will of course see how this plan evolves and make a decision 2010 based on that. One thing we will certainly do though is produce a printed programme for our Europa League game, be it a home or away match. Leinster Cup With the te reduced to a one legged afair and the potental of been drawn 1895/95 - 2016: away, we will stll be producing a match programme; there’s no way we can A record 32 ttles let our frst European involvement in eight years pass us by! LoI Shield For the moment, enjoy your second special editon programme, stay safe and we’ll all be back in Dalymount soon. 1923/24, 1927/28, 1928/29, Alan Bird, Editor 1933/34, 1938/39, 1939/40 Irish FA Cup 1907/08 Contact: [email protected] Editor/Producton: Alan Bird Dublin City Cup Contributors: Tony Magner, Stephen Burke, Robert McDonald, Dan McSwiney, 1935/36 Ryan Clarke, Aidan Fitzmaurice, Jule Marks, Paul Walsh, Keith Long, Gerard Farrell Photos: Stephen Burke, Eddie Lennon, Peter O’Doherty, Martn Doherty, Conor Ryan, Dublin & Belfast Sportsfle Sales: Gerry Juhel, Ray Larkin, Killian Molloy, Timothy Boland, Joe Collins, Inter City Cup Cormac Hurrell, Oran Tully RIP 1944/45 Printed by: Just-Print. Tel: 01 494 0222. E: [email protected] Top Four Cup Views expressed in this programme are solely those of the contributors and not of 1971/72 Bohemian FC or the commitee unless indicated. All ideas, opinions and contributons are welcome. All contributons published at editor’s discreton. Acieries D’Angleur 1928/29 Tournois de Pentecôte 1932/33 President’s Cup 12 ttles from the dugout

‘Our players have felt safe and secure and have been excited to be able to increase the level of intensity of training as we build up to a resumpton of league and European football...’

Dear Bohemian, I hope you are all compettve and preparaton is their reputatons on getng the keeping safe and well. severely hampered with such League of Ireland up and running It is hard to believe that it has uncertainty. In efect it will be again. Yes they have inherited a now been ffeen weeks since we similar to the old traditonal season mess and I have no doubt they have went into the lockdown period and when teams are in pre-season with been working extremely hard to sixteen weeks since we were all last limited number of games played broker a deal. But the tme is now together at Dalymount Park. prior to competton. for them to deliver on their words As you are aware, over the past As much as our preparaton is and provide a viable fnancial plan two weeks we have been back geared towards Europe and we for footballs return. in training. The success of that feel the boys are in good conditon For many years we have heard phased return is due, in no small you cannot replicate games and we the phrase ‘football family’. part, to the preparaton and hard have a big challenge on our hands It’s a phrase I detest and in my work of so many people behind to prepare the team in advance of opinion should never be used the scenes here at the Club, most compettons. when referencing anything good notably our club doctor Dr. Fiona It should be remembered that about Irish Football. It should be Dennehy and Lynn O’Neill. As a while UEFA gave all natonal bodies consigned to the history books only result of that work and diligence, an advance payment of €3.4million to serve as reminder of our darkest we have smoothly moved through to deal with Covid 19 related costs, period in Irish football. each stage of the restart plan and that money was not available to Football in this country is we are looking ahead to a return to the FAI as the Delaney-era board disfunctonal and fractured. We compettve acton. had already spent it. In my view it have, power, control, alliances, Our players have felt safe and appears Irish football was abused ego, spin, self interest and self secure and have been excited to at every level under the previous preservaton at the core of all our be able to increase the level of regime and the volatlity of football problems. We operate in a toxic intensity of training, as we build in this country is a problem environment where self service and up to a resumpton of league and inherited by Gary Owens and Niall agendas always take precedence. European football. Of course there Quinn. It is arguable that the FAI is a are many hurdles to overcome and In the afermath of what went toxic brand and the organisaton as yet we don’t have a defnite on previously, we were assured needs to reboot and start again. return to league acton which is things would be diferent; things We look to other countries for hugely dispiritng for all football were going to be beter and that best practce and to provide us practtoners as it seems we will be the highest level of senior football with insightul ideas on how the last summer league in Europe in this country would be a central we can develop football in our without a date for restart. aspect of the FAI strategy. Gary country. We listen at length to European competton is hugely Owens and Niall Quinn have staked sports psychologists, podcasts and webinars about culture, identty destny and stop making excuses ‘There is such and leadership in other sports. and apologies. We need to stop talking and There is such potental in our potental in our game, looking at other countries, other game, we have many great people we have many great sports and develop our own that have been silenced for far too culture, our own identty that long. We have many great voices people that have been refects what’s unique about Irish that have not been heard or have silenced for far too football. Let’s create our own DNA not been listened to. We have many and stop feeling inferior. Let’s come great people whom we must try to long. We have many together as a football community restore their faith in Irish football great voices that have putng ‘the why’ at the centre to help us as an industry gain some of all conversatons. We need all self respect. We must not allow not been heard or have the stakeholders to act in the best football to contnue in this spiral of not been listened to...’. interest of Irish football and come demise. We owe it to our children, together for the common good. we owe it to ourselves, we are This sounds like a fowery beter than this. We, as a football statement but the future of community, are beter than this. football in this country, the future The tme is now. We have of internatonal football is at stake reached Ground Zero. We must here. I despair to think what the stop self service and put football future holds if we contnue on and only football at the top of our the path we are currently on. The list of ‘Why’. culture has got to change and it has My father brought me up to change now; radical, meaningful, loving football. He brought me to organisatonal change needs to games in Dalymount, Lansdowne, happen built on solid foundatons Milltown and in parks around the and not sand. city and country. He gave me a We have to stop having the same love for the game that has stayed conversatons we have been having with me and was instlled in me for decades about Irish football. from an early age. That’s my ‘why’. The game has been abused for far We cannot allow our game to be too long and we have regressed at dragged through the mud and to be every level. It is tme for football in lef derelict. Football in our country Ireland to take control of its own deserves so much more. New Bedding Showrooms Now Open

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Untitled-3 1 07/02/2020 14:18:45 president’s message

‘We are not standing stll during these To all Bohemian members, started back eight days later and, strange tmes. We are supporters and fans. again, everything is going to plan. I hope you and your family are There is no requirement for testng reviewing all areas keeping safe and well. for them at present and hopefully of the club and hope You will see from the list that will be the case for all senior to make them more elsewhere in the programme teams when other clubs start back. that we have lost a number of Presently, no League of Ireland efcient over tme. We the Bohemian Family over recent start dates have been agreed for are a victm of our own months and I ofer my sincere either mens or womens teams condolences to all the families and and we await further news on success in that the club friends who have lost someone when the underage teams will has grown very quickly during this pandemic. recommence training and games. There has been a lot happening We contnue to pay our and the structures that since our last free online players and staf and meet all are presently in place programme and it has been a busy our obligatons. I know I’ve said tme with various meetngs and this before but it is worth saying are not sufcient to calls. However, there is some light again, we can only do this thanks cope with this growth. at the end of the tunnel and at the to our members and season If you add the fact moment I am far more confdent tcket holders and all of you who that we will get football back, contnue to buy our merchandise. that we want to grow in some guise, than I was a few Speaking of merchandise, I would Bohemian FC further it weeks ago. like to say a huge thank you to We also have our date for Laura and Deirdre Cliford who is essental that certain Europe, 27 August, so we can work trelessly to send out all the things change...’ start preparing for that. As you purchases from the shop as quickly know, it will only be one leg so as possible. further it is essental that certain the draw is very important. While Again I must also thank our things change. the trip away might be nice, we sponsors who contnue to help us We’ll keep you informed of all would have a beter chance of get through these difcult tmes. events both on and of the pitch going through if the game was at As mentoned in my last notes, on an ongoing basis through our home. It’s stll too early to call but we are not standing stll during Club Update circulars. it will probably be played behind these strange tmes. We are Thanks again for all your closed doors, which is a shame for reviewing all areas of the club and support and stay safe. everyone. hope to make them more efcient Our frst team started back over tme. We are a victm of training on Monday 8 June and our own success in that the Club everything is going well. Everyone has grown very quickly and the has been regularly tested and structures that are presently in so far all the tests have been place are not sufcient to cope negatve. with this growth. If you add the Chris Brien, President Our Women’s senior team fact that we want to grow the Club Bohemian FC - Absent Friends - Bohemian Football Club would like to pay tribute to all those associated with the club who passed away recently

Daniel Byrne Father of Donal Byrne, former commitee member Ray Byrne Father of Ann Ball, a club volunteer Noel Crowther Brother of Donal Crowther, former Honored Secretary of Bohemian FC Monica Dunphy • A caricature of Thomas Hutchinson as drawn by ‘Pyke’ Mother of member Rachel Devaney and Image provided by Paul Hutchinson mother-in-law of Mat Devaney, former Club President Francis Flynn CanadaBohs There’s certainly truth in the adage that you can go Club member nowhere without meetng a Bohemian! Margaret Hammond The Bohs Store received a mail recently from a Mother of David Hammond, Canadian called Paul Hutchinson inquiring about shirts. former commitee member As it turned out, Paul’s interest in Bohemians stemmed form more than just buying a jersey... Colm & Evelyn Harpur Father & mother of member Bobby Harpur I wanted to buy a couple of items from the store, but wondered if you had a sizing guide for shirts. I live in Sid Kavanagh Canada and don’t want to get the wrong size. Club member My parents are from Dublin and I found out my grandfather was very involved with the Bohemians in Rita O’Neill the 40s, Tommy Hutchinson. Attached is a cartoon of Mother of club member Ciaran O’Neill and him as sportsman of the year around that time. mother-in-law of Lynn O Neill Regards Melanie Rutherford Paul Hutchinson Wife of former player Mark Rutherford Thomas Hutchinson was the Bohemian member of Oliver Ward the FAI selecton commitee and who was tasked with Former Treasure of Bohemian FC a late, late draf of Gypsy Mick O’Flanagan in 1946 into the side that would be the frst Irish side since the FAI & Brian Whooley IFA split to play England in a full internatonal! Club member How late was the draf? Thomas rang Mick at the Ar dheis Dé go raibh a n-anamacha pub he ran, the Confession Box, at 2pm. The match was to kick of at 5.30! Mick lined out with brother Kevin and played well in a 0-1 defeat. Our most wonderful Bohemian - Oliver Ward - What a man. To sum him up in words, that’s pretty pioneered. impossible, but here goes. His enthusiasm was infectious. He got people to do The frst thing to come to mind is that he was, in things and it was very hard not to fnd yourself suddenly Bohemian FC circles, nothing short of a revolutionary. ‘volunteered’ for something or other. Un-volunteering Before being elected to the club’s management was trickier! committee in 1987 he’d been agitating for change, He made a few enemies, but that was only natural; he asking all the right questions from the back of St Peter’s was in the business of shaking up the place, changing Hall. Once he was on the committee, he was able to things, getting things done. Yes, he was eccentric, but make things happen. Two years later he was Honorary all the best people are, aren’t they? Treasurer and we were somewhere new. He’d already As if he hadn’t done enough, to top it all he opened the club up information-wise, the annual persuaded Tony O’Connell to become President in report suddenly full of details and reports from the 1993, one of the most signifcant moments in the Club’s individual sub-committees, no longer just an exercise in history. Now Bohemians really had a chance. accounting. That sort of thing made a huge difference. I remember walking out of Oriel Park back then, He was behind, well, everything, including all downhearted naturally – having just seen us ‘robbed’ sorts of fundraisers. Crucially, he brought new people of the title – only to fnd Oliver already working on forward and encouraged them. Suddenly a younger every member he could see to lift them with the news of generation the club had tended to take for granted as “O’Connell for President!” ‘just supporters’ were now actually able to get involved. What an amazing, amazing man, and what a mind he And he did so much of the hard graft himself, had, yes, pretty unfathomable it was at times! tackling problems, lots of them, head on, fearlessly. He He was an inspiration, he always will be. We were did little things, he did big things, and they all made a lucky to have him, to know him, to see him in action difference. Oliver Ward, our most wonderful Bohemian from His whole family were members: his wife, Vivienne, Castlepollard. and daughters Monica and Melanie, and of course his On the morning of his funeral scores of Bohemians son, Michael and grandson, Killian. Vivienne, Monica lined the North Circular Road along Dalymount as his and Melanie were three of the frst seven women to cortege passed, the reverence and applause from those become full members. This was all pretty much unheard gathered truly worth of one of our greats. May he rest of until then. Indeed, changing the club’s articles so in peace. that women could join was one of the frst things Oliver - Stephen Burke #BOHSBUS

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Untitled-3 1 10/02/2020 13:17:17 ‘Just like that it was gone...’

been cocooning. I try get over How are you keeping yourself every day to see them and I occupied during lockdown? think secretly they are sick Unfortunately I don’t have a routne when all good advice of the sight of me. Before is to have one. I usually lockdown, I would probably wake early though, which see them once a week, can be a bit of a pain. I’ve now it’s practcally every wasted a lot of tme on day. They allowed the my phone checking social over 70s out for a walk media which is ridiculous on 5 May having been of course and not very cocooned for a few weeks, good for your mental health, so both of them were very so I am trying to curb it a excited. litle. Also, it happened to I bring the dogs for a walk so be me Ma’s birthday so she I can get a bit of exercise and in thought that this was a great my head it justfes eatng loads of present, to be able to go for a walk. chocolate. The family have been As luck would have it, 20 minutes great, nobody has had a meltdown. The recent months into her frst walk, she tripped over Yet. I try pop over to my folks most a path, fell and broke her arm. She days as they are cocooning and have taken a toll on us had to have surgery, but is now in have a socially distant cuppa in all and our lives have fying form again and the plaster the garden with them. Other than is of. that, it’s Netlix, Playstaton and changed almost beyond watching old matches to get my recogniton. Eric Lalor Has your work-load has taken a football fx. hit? spoke to Alan Bird and Yeah, being a stand-up comedian What went through your mind told us what and an actor, all my work was just when the reality of Covid 19 and wiped out. I’ve done the odd online the lockdown hit? it meant for him gig here and there, but it’s not It was an eerie tme. It was the same. Stand-up comedy as a fear of the unknown. We saw the feeling was the need to keep my medium needs that connectvity reports coming from China and loved ones safe and do what I can with a live audience, but look, it Italy and it was coming to our to make it a less stressful tme. was something to do and those gigs shores and it was a bit unsetling. were as good as they could be. I thought maybe it would last How has your family being I did shoot a script about the for a few weeks, but as the weeks managing, parents, kids etc. lockdown and an Irish family’s rolled on, we became more As mentoned, the kids have reacton to the pandemic via the educated about it and realise that been great, not a bother to them. means of a WhatsApp video family this isn’t going away any tme soon, They missed a lot of school, but group. That meant we had to shoot so we’ve got learn how to live with I don’t think they were overly our own shots. It’s all done and it now. I thought about all the work disappointed about that. dusted and we are very proud of it. I would lose, but the overriding My folks are over 70 so have Rumour has it that it’ll be coming to a TV screen near you in the not ‘I follow most of the Bohs players on Instagram, too distant future, but you didn’t hear that from me. but watching Keith Ward drink coffee isn’t quite the same as watching him work his magic How are you coping without Bohs? This has been one of the hardest at Dalymount...’ things about this whole pandemic for me. I achingly miss going to Happier days in Dalymount watch Bohs on a Friday with my for Eric and pal PJ Gallagher son, my brother, my nephew and as they celebrate one of our my mate PJ (Gallagher). We had ten goals in last August’s such a long of season that we were match against UCD! chomping at the bit to get back Photo courtesy of Eric’s and rejoiced when the new season twiter account came along. And then, just like that, it was gone again. I adore the club, its ethos, the togetherness, the passion and without it, I feel a litle empty, I can’t deny that. I follow most of the Bohs players on Instagram, but watching Keith Ward drink cofee isn’t quite the same as watching him work his magic at Dalymount. I realise it’s a tough tme for all clubs in our league with zero revenue coming in from match days, so I’ve done my best to support the club via buying merchandise from the online store or virtual tckets for matches etc. I’m living for our return to acton, it can’t come quick enough.

Have you cut your hair yet? No, I haven’t. I’m entering Guildford Four territory with my barnet right now. It’s beyond ridiculous. The fade is but a faded Stephen Kenny is coming in and I bring in much needed revenue memory now. am excited about his appointment for the clubs. In an ideal world, and also now that dates have been a vaccine will be found and we Any concerts, events (social as confrmed for a few internatonals can go back to roaring ourselves opposed to work) you had planned this year I’m looking forward to hoarse on a Friday evening down in but were cancelled? seeing them in acton again. Dalymount. I was supposed to be fying to Spain this month with the family, Should the league resume later Any Netlix recommendatons? but obviously that’s taken a hit. this year, what do you think the Sunderland ‘Till I Die is brilliant best opton for completon would as is The Last Dance. What do you think the immediate be? footballing future will look like? I’d love nothing more than the The high and low points of I think the immediate future is league resuming, but right now, Lockdown? bleak with regards to live football. that doesn’t look likely. The only Low point; losing all my work We can’t have packed grounds untl scenario that could possibly work for the foreseeable future. High a vaccine or a cure has been found. would be behind closed doors point; hearing our litle self shot For now, we have to make do with matches, but maybe charge fans a pandemic flm has been picked up behind closed door matches. With subscripton to watch the match, by TV and will be broadcast in the regards the internatonal future, like buying a match tcket. It could not too distant future. The Boy done Good... Here’s a good pub quiz one... We're Name the Bohs trialist who recently managed his team to promoton? Midfelder Dean Brennan (lef) played twice in the FAI Super Cup in 2000 and led his back... Wealstone side into the Natonal League having clinched the Natonal League South last week!

10 outta 10!

with Dan Casey • Favourite tv programme: Well Match of the Day but at the moment it’s The Stranger on Netlix. It’s really good. • Favourite music/musician: Drake. I like prety much everything he does. • If I wasn’t a footballer I’d be a... Doctor. But the brains situaton might face been a problem! • Team you support: Chelsea • Favourite holiday destnaton: Almost... Spain. Anywhere there’s with a beach. The Numbers Lotto is back since • Tayto or King? Tayto last Saturday but we’ll have to • Will an All Ireland league work? wait a bit longer for the Football Yes, it should • Will Dublin win six-in-a-row? Forecast as the new league Defnately schedule makes it difcult to run • Most embarrassing moment In the Yourh Cup for Sunderland. We at the moment were playing at Ipwich and I was a bit late completng my pre match warm up. I legged it A delira’ Jimmy will be in touch in to get changed but into the wrong dressing room! (if he hasn’t been already!) with • Funniest Bohs incident witnessed: details regarding collection and Seeing a few lads in the squad who shall remain nameless be prety far from their delivery of coupons and other comfort zone when we went army training a details couple of years back. Read Tony Magner’s interview with Dan elsewhere in this special editon! Still making memories “And if you ever wonder by Ned Simpson why you ride this carousel, You did it for the stories you • ‘So Bob, whaddya think of Hilary...’ could tell….”

For a club nicknamed The Gypsies I suppose it’s a refection of the dog years currently being endured that we are beyond stir crazy, not just for football, but for actually travelling to football. Despite the fact that away fans sometimes get treated worse than government ministers at a water charges protest, I am hankering for trekking to opposition grounds almost as much as to Dalymount. So I thought I would regale you with an atypical tale about life on the road. I from letting out a ‘YEE HAW’ of the month down your neck of the could have enlightened you about our but this knowledge put us on our woods,” - pause - “but honestly, search for the lost city of Lissywollen guard and glancing at each other, considering the lunatic alternative, in 2014, or our chilling encounter we mentally agreed not to mention whatever your opinion of her, I think with a decapitating toll barrier on politics, religion or child welfare for she’d be the sensible, not to mention the way to Drogheda in 2017, but the rest of the trip. sane choice on this occasion.” instead I am opting for a surreal Making polite staid conversation Upon hearing this, he leaned encounter with a couple of American thereafter, it was only as we neared forward. His face reddened, scout leaders on the way to Galway Galway and my mate had gone to the impressive tache bristled indignantly in 2016. loo that one of the heretofore taboo and for a minute I thought his head The game was on a Saturday subjects was broached as the older was going to explode. Time stood afternoon, so myself and a friend Bud leaned forward, fxed me with a decided to eschew the pleasures of still until thankfully he sagged back piercing stare and hissed “Whaddya into his seat, and reluctantly sighed the Bohs bus and instead let the train think of Hillary?” “You’re probably right!” He then take the strain. After locating our This caught me on the hop and made his excuses and left. seats, we thought it curious fnding made me feel like a vampire who’d Bohs later lost 0-1. It was a bitterly ourselves surrounded by a large had a cross shoved in his face. cold day, but as I left the ground group of Americans all togged out Remember, though it was months and trudged back to the station, my in pine green shirts adorned with before the last Presidential election ‘Yellowhammer Scout Group’ crests, and everyone stable supposed she heart was warmed by the conviction two of whom were sitting directly was a shoo-in, Hillary Clinton was that whatever travails befell our across the table in front of us. We regarded as the anti-christ by many planet over the next four years, if got talking and discovered they were religious wing-nuts down in the a conservative scout leader from heading to a scout leader convention Deep South. We’d all heard the Alabama had doubts about voting for in Galway! stories about how the merest hint of Trump, at least the rest of the world My friend then gingerly inquired support for her could get you shot. shouldn’t have to labour under the as to what part of Stan the two As I thought feverishly about how to yoke of the orange gobshite taking lads were from. The reply was retort, another Lynyrd Skynyrd song up residence at 1600 Pennsylvania disquieting: “You know that Lynyrd suddenly popped into my head, the Avenue after the election. Skynyrd song? Well that’s where menacing God & Guns! Humans, eh? As easy to predict we’re from, Sweet Hommmmme I cautiously replied “Welllll, I as a beagle entering a squirrel Alabama!” Thankfully he refrained appreciate she wouldn’t be favour sanctuary... ‘Keep Printng!’ The photo is one we are familiar with and the story we know so well but Evening Herald columnist Eamon Carr preludes the story with a litle nugget about the match programme that night...

It was a dark February evening in 1985 and a young printer on Marrowbone Lane was anxiously watching the clock. Finglas man Paul Cumiskey, who would become a football referee and later spearhead Walking Football in Ireland, was anxious to get to the internatonal in Dalymount Park between Ireland and Italy. As he and his colleagues loaded a pallet of match programmes into the vehicle driven by PR consultant Frank Dunlop, who would later achieve a degree of dubious celebrity as a politcal fxer, Paul was ready to head to Phibsborough in tme for the 7.30pm kick-of. ‘Keep printng,’ instructed the executve client. ‘There are huge crowds of people on the streets. We need more programmes. When I drop these of, I’ll be back for more...’ As Paul recalls: “They had delayed printng untl the last minute untl they had the correct team line-up. There were stll copies coming of the conveyor-belt at StyleArt Print at 6.30.” Only a small number of tckets had been printed, so the FAI had no idea how many might atend the match. On the ofcial programme, Italy were described as Champions of the World and the FAI PR machine problems. In 1985 Gardaí, realising that had arranged a new sponsorship By dispensing with an all-tcket the FAI were totally unprepared for deal with the lager company policy, the FAI had inadvertently the surge of thousands of heaving Steiger, which meant the match had created the perfect conditons for supporters atemptng to access been heavily promoted in pubs. chaos to develop. the ground, discussed maters with What could possibly go wrong? The slow process of having ofcials and the match was delayed Admitedly, six months untl 7.45pm in an atempt to earlier just 5,000 had • Paul McGrath calm the crowd and relieve the turned up at Dalymount made his Ireland pressure. for a friendly against debut on the With thousands more Mexico. night arriving, the Gardaí surveyed And having printed scenes of pandemonium with 50,000 tckets for the growing apprehension and friendly with the USSR instructed that the gates be in Lansdowne Road the opened to allow the crush of previous September, the fans to overfow onto the side FAI were embarrassed of the pitch. when just 28,000 sold. As players warmed up, they For the match against were amazed to see hundreds Italy, they printed stand of supporters on the sidelines tckets and a few thousand and in the dugouts. for the terraces. By kick-of the fans were With the match not also perched precariously on being shown on television the roof. in Ireland, it was a serious While there are no ofcial miscalculaton that fgures, it appeared that could have had serious close on 50,000 people were consequences. rammed into a ground that Back in Marrowbone could hold 35,000. Lane, an anxious Cumiskey “How there wasn’t a loaded up the fnal batch disaster that night is beyond of programmes for Frank me,” said Frank Stapleton later. Dunlop and rushed across It was an important friendly town believing he’d miss for Ireland. the kick-of. Although Italy had failed to “I belted over as quick qualify for the previous year’s as I could and locked my Euros, they were reigning bike near the shopping World Cup champions having centre,” he recalls. “When beaten West Germany 3-1 in I got to the ground I the fnal at the Bernabéu in discovered the kick-of Madrid. had been delayed and They’d progressed from a the gates were wide open group that contained Brazil and so I was able to stride in Argentna and many will swear without having to pay.” that their 3-2 win against The crowds had been Brazil stll ranks as one of the gathering in Phibsborough since to deal in cash at the entrances greatest football matches ever. before 6 o’clock. resulted in thousands of people Of course, Irish football fans The Italians arrived wearing funnelling into narrow approaches wanted to see an Italian side that tracksuits at 6.20pm. Although the all anxiously pushing forward to get was likely to feature many of the visitors had been given the larger in so as not miss any acton. champions and maybe even the home dressing room, the plan was The true extent of the possible man who scored a hat-trick against to get back to the Shelbourne Hotel nightmare scenario that could Brazil, Paolo Rossi. straight afer the match. have developed didn’t manifest Ireland’s World Cup ‘86 As the crowds packed the streets itself untl four years later with the qualifying campaign had got of to and lanes leading to the turnstles, horrifc tragedy that unfolded at a good start with a 1-0 home win the Gardaí realised there could be Hillsborough. against the Soviet Union. While away defeats followed • A secton of the against Norway and Denmark, it crowd watching from was stll possible to book a place for pitchside. Mexico. All photos by Ray The Ireland team was managed McManus/Sportsfle by Eoin Hand who said: “This fxture against the world champions was precisely what we needed to keep our compettve edge.” An ill-tmed tackle by Mark Lawrenson in the box on Alessandro Altobelli led to an early penalty which resulted in the bizarre sight of local supporters running to positon themselves behind the net or along the goal- line to watch Juventus player Rossi score against Packie Bonner. Lawrenson, who injured himself in the tackle, was replaced by Paul McGrath, a St. Patrick’s Athletc player by then operatng out of Old Traford, who received his frst Ireland cap that night. Nine years later, McGrath would break the hearts of the Azzurri with a peerless display in the Giants Stadium in World Cup ‘94 but in Dalymount he was unable to stop Altobelli cutng inside afer 18 minutes and putng a second goal past Bonner. This was a fne Irish side that featured Inter Milan player Liam Brady, Jim Beglin (Liverpool), Mick McCarthy (Man City) and Chris Hughton (Spurs). Coach Enzo Bearzot started a side with seven of the winning the jubilant QPR player celebrated Irish supporters. team that had played in the World he was joined on the pitch by more Luckily they wouldn’t have heard Cup fnal. excited supporters than Ireland how one of the turnstles had been Marco Tardelli, who would players. targeted by opportunistc thieves later be assistant to Giovanni Ronnie Whelan had a shot who made of with a couple of Trapatoni when he managed cleared of the line and Tancredi grand, leaving behind an injured Ireland, patrolled midfeld and did well to keep out a sweet Brady steward. earned a yellow card on the night free kick. Thankfully, despite the for deliberately handling a ball that Afer the match, which ended overcrowding, tragedy was averted. was on its way to the feet of striker 2-1, there was plenty of talk about The most serious casualty on the Stapleton. the penalty chances denied Ireland. night was Mark Lawrenson who Ireland fought back well in the What Italian television viewers, ended up in the Mater Hospital second half. the only ones to get to see the with a self-inficted broken collar When confronted by a blue wall, match live, made of the chaotc bone. Stapleton laid a ball back to Gary crowd scenes is anyone’s guess. Waddock who lef footed a 20-yard TV executves weren’t too This artcle was originally strike that screamed past keeper pleased when their pitch-side published in the Evening Herald Franco Tancredi. advertsing for Italian companies on 5 May. With thanks to Aidan In an unprecedented scene, as was obscured by the overfow of Fitzmaurice South Quarter, www.jam-park.com Airside Retail Park, [email protected] Jam Park Crowscastle, Swords (01) 6933326 TheBohsCollector During the last few months with With a collecton that no football to entertain us, we have had plenty of tme to do important rivals the Natonal things around the house, like Museum in antquites, organise your football memorabilia. Programmes, badges, cards and Paddy Murray opens jersies are the most popular items the doors to his to collect for the football supporter and I’m no excepton. During my strongroom and tdy-up I came across stuf I forgot I had and it got me thinking about shows us a few of the how I started my collecton. Initally extremely rare Bohs it was badges, my frst badge was of course a Manchester City one items he’s picked up bought in a small sports shop in over the years Capel Street, near the quay end • Paddy began his memorabilia of the street, I think it was called collecton by seeking out club Mitchell’s. I soon had a collecton of badges, picking up this Bohemian English club badges all bought from one in the original club shop in the this litle gem of a shop that’s long 1970s gone now. Finding a Bohs badge was more newspaper adverts, I’m only missing difcult as I believe you had to be a about thirty issues from the ‘40s to member, or know someone in the complete the collecton to date. know to get your hands on one. So Other items I came across were that meant I had to wait untl the the ESSO foil club crest collecton, club built a small souvenir hut on I remember asking car owners the back of the Tramway Terrace outside garages for the badges in the mid-70s selling all the basic another one was the Shell FA cup souvenirs for the faithful, scarves, centenary 1972 coin collecton. keyrings, rosetes, bendy rulers to The 1970 World Cup stcker sling paper balls or the like across album was also found, unlike today’s the classroom, and the all important fancy Match Atax cards in their • Two of Paddy’s prized programmes; club badge. fancy individual plastc sleeve. We a 1945 Inter City Cup match and our Over the years I have contnued had to glue our cards on to their third ever producton datng back to place on the page and hope that the to collect badges but not as avidly as the 1930s my programme collectng. next tme you opened the album, My dad who worked in CIE would the pages weren’t glued together. bring home on a Monday evening a It’s hard to believe it’s ffy years few programmes from workmates ago this month that I was stcking who used their enttlement to Pele, Bell, Lee and Muller into this free travel on Sea Link ferries and album. That World Cup was won by Britsh Rail to go and see games in probably the greatest side to win the Liverpool, Manchester and London competton, and apart from Spain so most weeks I’d have two or three ‘82 it was probably the best World diferent programmes. So when Cup tournament. I started coming to see Bohs a A mere two years afer winning programme was always bought and the World Cup, in February 1972, that started a hobby I’m stll doing some of that Brazilian side played to this day. for Santos in a friendly against a Over the years I have managed to combined Bohemian/Drumcondra get bohs programmes from the ‘40s selecton here in Dalymount. to the ‘60s at programme fairs or I am lucky enough to have an • ‘Scarf, bendy ruler, badge and the third jersey please... what do you mean third jersies haven’t been invented yet?!’ The original club shop which was located on the Tramway Terrace, pictured above. Right, a rare DL size programme for our European Cup match against Rangers in 1975 and an even rarer programme binder from the 1930s autographed copy of the programme and Limerick where we brought big including that of Pele, the greatest support in the ‘70s. And you could of them all. always fnd a local selling the cheap As a programme collector I don’t paper hats or rosetes at the train partcularly like autographs or any staton. other writng on them,but I have All great memories of supportng a few exceptons, as well as the Bohs that we hope we can add to Santos one I have the ‘84 Rangers very soon! issue also autographed but on closer inspecton haven’t got winning goal scorer Gino Lawless on it. Maybe I’ll leave it in the car and might see him on a rank sometme... ah well, at least the Great Man’s signature is on it. There are hundreds of other bohs items that I have got over the years, old membership cards from the early 1900s and photos. Then there’s the match worn jersies from my tme as kitman in the ‘90s and one jersey from the 1960s with the black hoop that Eamonn Gregg gave; me all treasured items. The FAI Cup always brought excitement especially if you were drawn away to the likes of Cork A Frank Keane Company

Untitled-1 1 11/02/2020 13:15:33 The

Fantastc by Tony Magner

The return of Dan Casey from his year down south in Cork as well as J.J. Lunney from Waterford was welcome news to Bohemian fans over the winter. In his 18 months at the club from the summer of 2017 untl his departure at the end of the 2018 season, Dan established himself at the heart of central defence, his fnal year in partcular being a partcularly stellar one. Stll only 22, he had 4 hoped to hit the ground running again as he began his second spell at the club and indeed he played in four of the opening fve games we did get to play this term, but the Covid 19 crisis put paid to best laid plans and all that.

Lock Dan… “It has been tough, there’s no doubt about that and of course We’ve all missed the banter of the dressing room, the interacton with the supporters and match nights themselves,” he says. “You certainly won’t take any game for granted when we do get to return that’s for sure. In the past you might grumble about the long trips like to Finn Harps on a wet, rainy day! We’d all snap your hand of for the chance to do it now though! I think everyone is realising that about their lives aren’t they? That there were plenty of things we all took for granted when we had them that we’ll defnitely value more when things do eventually return to normal. “But as tough as it was, I try to take the positves too. I enjoyed being with my family more and I have younger siblings that I never seemed to have enough tme to spend with. I play football very day with my litle brother who’s only eight and am really loving that. I also look at it as a chance to keep improving my ftness. We did two workouts at home a day sometmes and used Zoom for group workouts as well. “We have apps to monitor our progress and to be honest we’re as ft as we could be. I just can’t wait to get back to full training and matches and have the craic in the dressing room again.” He contnues, “It was frustratng senior football on his mind and a “Losing is never pleasant though and as we had been through a great point to prove. I had never been at a club before pre-season and I felt that I was “I chose the path I took,” he where the manager was sacked. picking up a bit of form too. So was muses “and I’m happy with that. We had three managers last year the team, and it is tough to just fnd I’m stll young too and I stll have and though I’ve lived away from your rhythm and have it taken away ambitons to achieve in the game. home before, it’s never easy and from you so suddenly. But all that I’m enjoying my football and am when things are not going well on is in the past now and we cannot thrilled to be here again.” the pitch. We didn’t do ourselves wait to be fully back. The eventual He made his frst debut for justce but it has defnitely made return to league football whenever the club in a friendly against FC me stronger as a player and as a that may be is our main focus at the United of Manchester, making his person. It may not have been the moment. It will be great to get back compettve debut against Finn best seasons for me on the pitch but to Friday nights in front of the fans Harps later that same month. He I do feel in the long run it is one of again eventually but we face a lot made 40 league appearances for the years in my career that is going of uncertain tmes yet before that the club in the season and a half he to stand to me the most. I feel I did happens.” spent at Dalymount notching three well in most games and personally I goals. have learned a lot from it that I can hopefully bring to bear for the rest Rebel with a Cause… of my career.” It was a big loss to Bohs to see Casey move to Cork City where he Bohs Boy... made 29 league appearances in Having worked so well with what turned out to be a difcult Keith and Trevor in his frst spell at season for the club. He also the club, Casey did not take much made his Europa League convincing when the opportunity • Dan in his debut in the 2-3 aggregate arose to come back to Dalymount. Ireland days. defeat to Luxembourg His fnal season saw the club go on Photo by club Progrés Niederkorn. an unbeaten run for the ages that Ramsey Difcult it may have been eventually led us to an unfortunate Cardy/ but it certainly added to the cup semi-fnal defeat to his eventual Sportsfle footballing educaton of the employers, Cork City. Dun Laoighre man and he “We were fying. We couldn’t returned to us a much more lose! Hopefully I can get back to rounded and batle-hardened where I was at then, playing every player. week in a successful Bohemian He smiles wryly, “Hindsight team. I am hungry to do well and is always a great thing and win things and that is one thing you considering how things went for defnitely have at Bohs among the Bohs last season and for Cork, I lads. I know Keith and Trevor well, Packing His Casey… can understand people would feel they know what I can do, so coming A talented underage footballer I made a mistake. But at the tme home was not a hard decision to with internatonal caps at various I felt it was the right decision to make at all. Keith Buckley is one levels, Casey was very highly leave and give full tme football of the lads who slags me the most thought of at Sunderland’s Stadium a go. Training twice a day, doing about leaving and yet he took his of Light and at St. Joseph’s Boys professionally something that you own sabbatcal in Bray didn’t he?! before that. He is a gifed rugby love and improving yourself as best Going away, I’m sure he’d agree, player too having played at a high you can, I think any player who says makes you realise how good it is level with Monkstown and that they wouldn’t want that chance here at Bohs.” runs in the family as his grandfather is lying. I stll think it was the right Pat was capped by Ireland. He decision, but it wasn’t to be! It is Home James… represented Dublin GAA with very hard for any player to turn that Of course one of the bonuses distncton at underage levels as well chance down to be fair. That said, of being here at the club is that he but having starred in all three codes coming home was a no-brainer for fnally gets to play with his best he opted to take the opportunity he me when the opportunity came up.” mate James Talbot having been was given to choose soccer and go It’s not as if last season was a away together at Sunderland. At to Wearside. dead loss for the centre-half as he least that is the theory! He is stll Afer four years at Sunderland was a mainstay in the Cork team. waitng to do just that as Casey was and having moved up the grades to “In terms of my development it not selected for the opening day u23 level, he returned home with brought me on a lot,” he agrees. joust with Rovers and Talbot has been injured since that fateful game. “James is one of my best friends. • Dan lining out for CBC At the tme I had no idea he was Monkstown against St. Michael’s coming to Bohs. I had just lef and College in the Powerade Leinster he contacted me about coming to Schools Junior Cup Quarter-Final the club. Maybe it would have been in 2013. a factor in my decision to go to Cork Photo by Brian Lawless/Sportsfle had I known he was coming! I told him to go for it; that it is a great place to be. He is a local man too and a big Bohs fan so it was perfect for him. “It was the same for me when Keith and Trevor called; you want to get the chance to play with your best mate! I didn’t start against Rovers and then he was out injured when I was in the team. Then the whole world came to a standstll so we didn’t actually get to play in the same side here yet! Hopefully we will soon once we are back and it’ll be the frst of many! He is one of the ‘James (Talbot) is one of my best friends. At the tme best around and I think Bohs saw I had no idea he was coming to Bohs. I had just lef and that last season.” he contacted me about coming to the club. Maybe it Ready For Batle… would have been a factor in my decision to go to Cork His second Bohs debut came in the strring 2-0 win over Waterford had I known he was coming...’ at the RSC in February but he much depth.” From a personal point of view, recognises that he is not going to He adds, “I know people are Casey is just delighted to get the have it all his own way in the batle just focussed on actually getng chance to resume his Bohemian for frst team slots this season. The back for the moment but I think career, like all the lads must be to be competton for shirts in central with the squad we have this year fair, to play as ofen as he can and defence is as keen as anywhere we can really push on, so the start in the team with Rob Cornwall, help the team in any way he can. we had before the restrictons James Finnerty and Michael Barker “We want to fnish as high up and close-down hasn’t really been retained from last term and Ciarán the table as we can. The lads did good enough. Rovers was a bit of a Kelly joining Dan in arriving over the well to fnish third last term but we lotery in that weather though we close-season. want to close the gap on the top didn’t play well. That said we didn’t “You have to back yourself always two. I think we have the players to deserve to lose. but there is serious competton do that. But we are not going to put “Looking back, I thought we here and I think it will bring the a limit on our ambitons; we just aim were excellent in Waterford and best in us. Every club has injuries to fnish as high as we can. carried out our game-plan to a tee, and suspensions and even afer fve “This league is unique in that on the Sligo game too I felt we were matches we had nobody who had any given day, every team in the really good in patches. I think we played every minute! Once things division can beat anyone. I know the let ourselves down in Derry though. are back to normal we all have a role supporters are just countng down to play and if everyone is hungry and It is frustratng as we needed to be the days before they are back in the ready to go, it’s only going to beneft getng results, especially early on. stands. I know as a player how tough the team. “We were so anxious to get it out that has been so I can only imagine “Hopefully we can steer clear of the system and a Dublin derby of injuries but poor old Cristan against Shels was exactly what what the supporters are going for example hasn’t even got to we needed and our second half through. It is going to take a bit play a game this season before he performance on the night was more more patence but this will all pass has got injured so you just never what we’re about. I felt we were at and we’ll all be together soon having know. Maybe this long lay-of has a point where we were going to kick nights like our last one at Dalymount benefted him the most. That’s why on and build on that, but who knew all those months ago. It is hard, but the squad has to be so big with so what was coming in fairness? ” it’ll be worth it in the end.” • As we fnished of this special editon of the match programme last week we realised it had been 99 days exactly since we were due to play Cork City in the league. We thought this photo of James Talbot, seemingly pleading for divine inspiraton in our league opener against Shamrock Rovers, was very apt indeed... Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfle Bohsman’s Holiday Before Christmas 2019 Gerard Farrell gave a presentaton in Dalymount on Bohemians early European adventures. With thoughts of European tes on everyone’s mind, we reproduce a condensed version of his talk

Afer a gap of eight years the 2020 fxture which was the world’s most embarking on a tour of Britain and season will hopefully see Bohemian prestgious amateur club match Ireland, the frst opponents on this FC return to European competton. usually contested by English side tour were Bohs in Dalymount Park Given the club’s name and Corinthians. With them being and the unusual situaton arose as its history it could be argued unavailable to travel Bohemians two South African captains faced of that this is merely a return to its were asked in their place and against each other as the captain of rightul positon as for more than contested the game in front of over Bohs for that 1924 season was Billy a century the Bohemian Football 20,000 spectators in Hampden Oto, born on Robben Island he had Club has looked beyond the Park. lef South Africa as a teenager to borders of Ireland for challenge and Afer the split from the IFA the fght in World War I before ending oppositon. footballing landscape for clubs up working in Dublin as a civil Bohemian internatonalism really based in the new Free State was servant. A talented and versatle dates back to the development very diferent, the emerging FAI footballer he captained Bohemians of Dalymount Park as the club’s sought membership to FIFA and to the League ttle before moving permanent home. This base clubs like Bohemians also began back to South Africa with his Irish allowed them to invite the cream to look to the Contnent. In 1923 wife in 1927. of Britsh talent to Dublin to try the frst Contnental side to play in By 1929 Bohemians were their luck against the Bohemians, Ireland since the split from the IFA embarking on their frst European in those early years Preston arrived to take on Bohemians and tour themselves, competng North End, Aston Villa, Celtc and an FAI XI, they were Gallia Club of in the Aciéries D’Angleur – an Shefeld United were among the Paris who played out a draw with annual invitatonal tournament early visitors. In 1908 Bohemians Bohs. held around Liege in Belgium. played Queens Park in Glasgow From further afeld came the Bohs played four games in all on New Year’s Day in an annual South African natonal team, including friendlies, winning every one and emerging victorious in a These were no mean several future Copa America tournament which also featured achievements as both sides champions Bohs were able to hold Union Saint Gilloise, Standard Liege featured a number of French out for a more than credible 1-1 and RFC Tilleur. During this visit to internatonals who had competed with the touring side. Belgium the club also performed in the 1930 World Cup and who Bohs didn’t even taste defeat diplomatc functons on behalf of had scored a stunning victory over on European soil untl 1 April 1934 the Irish State such as fying the England only a year earlier. when they were made to look the tricolor (at the frst game the club A year afer the trip to France fools, losing the opening match had been mistakenly introduced Dalymount Park welcomed the frst of another European tournament under a Union Jack) and laying a ever South American touring side to against Dutch side Go Ahead in wreath at the tomb of the unknown visit Britain or Ireland. This was the Amsterdam. soldier. combined selecton from Peru and The tournament also featured Further contnental success Chile – the Combinado del Pacifco Cercle Bruges and Ajax. While the would follow three years later in who also visited Scotland, England, Gypsies bounced back and defeated the 1932 Tournois de Pentecôte the Netherlands, Czechoslovakia, held in Paris in the Stade Bufalo Germany, France, Italy and Spain Cercle Bruges 4-1 and secured a ahead of the frst full professional There was signifcant interest draw against ADO Den Haag there season of the French League. and media atenton paid to the was sadly to be no match against Bohemians triumphed again by game, with an ofcial recepton by that emerging force of Dutch beatng Cercle Athlétque de the Lord Mayor of Dublin. Success football, Ajax. Paris (aka CA Paris/Gallia who of Uruguay in recent Olympic While it would be the 1970/71 we encountered earlier) and games and at the 1930 World before Bohs would enter an ofcial Club Français and winning the Cup had sparked interest in South UEFA competton let nobody tell tournament and securing a second American football and despite the you that we don’t have a long European trophy in three years. talent within the squad, including history in Europe.

• A very dapper Bohemian FC and Stade Francais group atending dinner at Metropole in 1933. On the previous page, Bohs enjoy a day at the beach on one of their early European trips! Photos sourced by Bohemian FC

SF Training Day! Has there ever been such excitement around a Bohs training session? Stephen Burke & Sam Barnes (Sportsfle) capture Bohemians long-awaited return to group training on 8 June

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I don’t know about you but We’ve all experienced the awkwardness of trying anywhere I seem to go on holiday I inevitably fnd myself researching to follow a Bohs match while away on a foreign the local football scene for things holiday, but as Ryan Clarke describes, being stuck to do. Without fail, however, all of on a remote Italian mountain during a religious my suggestons are shot down in festval while trying to keep abreast of the fames by my extremely patent partner, who puts up with my Dublin Derby is not good for the nerves... asinine ramblings about Bohemians on a weekly basis and actually the chippers in Dublin ended up connecton to the outside world! deserves some tme of. being owned by people from this When I realised that not even So you could probably imagine tny valley in Italy. the omni-presence of the internet how giddy she was when she told The tell-tale sign that they’re would be able to save me from me we were going on holiday to her from the valley is that every my isolaton, the typical derby grandad’s village. There couldn’t August the families of those who day tension ratcheted up another possibly be much of a football emigrated, along with hoards of few notches. At that point, the scene in this sparsely populated pilgrims, return for a religious mind inevitably meanders along Italian mountain valley. However, festval, the Feast of the Madonna what your usual matchday routne I was hoping to see my frst Serie of Canneto. would be and not being able to do A match afer the province’s local In the absence of live football, all those things drives you up the team, Frosinone, was promoted I couldn’t help but notce the wall. I felt like one of the pilgrims to Serie A in 2018 (since then they similarites between myself and camping in a feld outside the have been relegated just as quick as the masses of pilgrims who were village. They know something big they were promoted). descending on the typically sleepy is about to happen, but they can’t In the mountains between village, eager for the big event. quite sate their appette. Rome and Naples is the Valle Di Barely a couple of days into In the end, I realised that it was Comino, and here is where you’ll our two-week holiday I also found bizarrely nice to be disconnected fnd the village of Setefrat, where myself pining for the big event back from the madness that was my partner’s grandad is from. in Dublin - the last derby of the unfolding back home. I fgured that He came to Dublin in the 1950s 2018 season between Bohemians because I had no way of knowing and eventually opened up a few and Shamrock Rovers. what was going on it was futle to chippers around the northside. But Bohs were looking to go stress about it. he wasn’t the only one from his undefeated against Rovers for Anyway, we made our way village or the valley to do this. Over the season, and I’m stuck on top down to the village’s piazza for the years, a staggering amount of of a mountain with barely any the evening. Yet because Setefrat is like a slice of Dublin in Italy, built on the spot in her honour. they just experienced. of course I was spoted in my Now, an annual celebraton is While the last few stragglers Bohemian Foundaton t-shirt by held where pilgrims carry a statue were abandoning the village untl the then Shelbourne u19 coach of the Madonna up the mountain next August, I spoted the rarest who also happens to have family to Canneto, and back down to creature in all of Italy. A Frosinone who emigrated to Dublin from the the village again. The fnale of the fan. The frst I had come across thus village. festval is a freworks display the far during my tme there. Of course, we got around to The teenage boy was chatng about the League of holding his yellow-blue scarf Ireland and the Dublin Derby we in one hand and his phone in both had no way of watching the other, staring intently at and that’s when it happened. the screen. When I got closer The one thing that I had been I notced he was watching dreading the entre night, my Frosinone’s game against phone vibrated in my pocket. I Bologna, the game was being didn’t have the heart to check held in Turin because of a it straight away, I was praying stadium ban. Through his to the Madonna that it wasn’t limited English and my word what I thought it was. or two of Italian we had a chat I tried to convince myself while queuing for pizza about that maybe it was a text from football. someone back home, or He described his frustraton perhaps that I had imagined that the game was being the vibraton. But really, it held in Turin, because that could only be one thing and, meant he had to come to the despite my pretending to not boring religious festval with be bothered because I’m so far ‘A man claiming to be a former his parents. I tried to tell him away, it would either make or Juventus ultra and banned from about the trouble I had with break my night. the Bohs-Rovers game, which I fnally plucked up the every stadium the length and seemed to cheer him up, courage to check my phone. @ breadth of the Italian peninsula, but I really think he couldn’t bfcdublin just tweeted: ‘It ends crashed the party to tell his tall understand my accent and 1-0. Stokes the goal scorer and tales...’ was just being polite. Dublin stays red and black’ Bliss. In contrast to the boy, at The home brew red wine tasted even sweeter for the rest of the a barbeque a man claiming night. likes of which I’ve never come to be a former Juventus ultra and With the nerves and antcipaton across anywhere else in my life. banned from every stadium the of the derby safely in the rear- They can be seen and heard length and breadth of the Italian view mirror, the laid-back vibe across the entre valley, and in the peninsula, crashed the party to of Setefrat began to take hold - village you can feel the shockwaves tell his tall tales. He was halfway although not for long. We arrived at of the explosions. The freworks through a fve gallon botle of home the busiest tme of the year for the are a point of pride for the people brew red wine so the validity of his village: the aforementoned feast of who live in the village. They spend boasts of batering Inter and Lazio the Madonna of Canneto. the whole year stockpiling and fans probably weren’t the most The story goes that a young girl collectng donatons from residents, reliable. was tending to her family’s sheep there’s so much pyro it would make From the typical teenager who’s when the Virgin Mary appeared the NBB jealous. infatuated with the game, to the to her, asking her to take a leter When the freworks fnally man-child who won’t let go of his down to a priest in the village. She do end, a blanket of smoke and exaggerated glory days, it always initally refused, saying her sheep sulphur falls upon the village, amazes me how football can would die of thirst so the Madonna creatng a feeling of fnality to bring diferent people together put her hands into the ground and the whole event. The church bells to share their experiences about a fowing river appeared. Now, cease to ring and there is nothing the one thing that they may have this river is said to be the source but silence for just a second; as if in common - all the while being of Setefrat and the whole valley’s people are stll trying to get their stuck on top of a mountain during a drinking water and a church was head around the sensory overload religious festval. Player Sponsorships 2020 Sean Bohan Evan Ferguson Evan Keith Buckley Keith James Talbot Stephen McGuinness Home, Away, Third Home & Away Jersey Home: SeaSide Casuals Home & Away Jersey Home: Robert O’Rourke Bohemian FC Darryl Ure Away: Woodstown Bohs Keith Murphy Away: Area 51 Bohs Matchday Programme Third: Renovaton & Building Solutons Andy Lyons Michael Barker Breslin Anto Kirk Paddy Cornwall Rob Home & Away Jersey Home & Away Jersey Home, Away, Third Home: Beano Home, Away, Third David Hammond Finnegan Steel Away: Brian Kelly Third: The McLeod Family Third: Darragh Finnegan FYC Third: Pat Cliford Tyres W&W James Finnerty Dan Casey Kelly Ciaran JJ Lunney Conor Levingston Home, Away, Third Home: Danny & John Gartlan Home: Sean Conroy Home & Away Jersey Home & Away Jersey Away: Vinnie McDermot Away: Jim Egan Emily O’Meara Gorey Rangers Schoolboys Joe O’Boyle Third: Alex Sheehan Third: The Kaiser Third: Woodstown Bohs & Schoolgirls Third: Bob Sheehan Luke Wade-Slater Luke Dan Grant Promise Omochere Twardek Kris Ross Tierney Ross Home: Robyn Kelly Home & Away Jersey Home, Away, Third Home: Cathal O’Reilly Home: Jaime Connors Away: Declan O’Connor Away: Adam & James Scully Away: Kirsten Lee Third: Teagan & Oran AD/HTD NBB Third: B2200 BOHS Third: The McLeod Family McGillivray Third: Sean Conroy Keith Ward Keith Mandroiu Danny Devoy Dawson Corcoran Dinny Glen McAuley Home, Away, Third Home, Away, Third Home: Saoirse Richardson Home & Away Jersey Home, Away, Third Blackhorse Boulevard Away: Ernie Crawford Trust Dwane Oakes & Eric POS Third: Jim McElroy Third: Eoin Mulvey Brickx Club D7 Cristan Magerusan Wright Andre Callum Thompson Keith Long Keith Croly Trevor Home, Away, Third Home, Away, Third Home: Cian Maxwell Tommy Luke Away: Freddie Sheehan Home & Away Jersey Home & Away Jersey Third: Michael McGuire KillianM2 YouTube Brisbane Bohs Murphy O’Riordan 1306%
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Untitled-6 1 10/02/2020 17:05:48 What’sthe Alternative? ‘And here’s what you could have Like or loathe them, new jersies are perhaps more won!’ was a well-known phrase from the Britsh TV darts quiz show, hotly debated than Collins and Dev were a century Bullseye. ago. But, as Keith Murphy delves into the back Without a hint of irony*, the presenter Jim Bowen would inform of his wardrobe, maybe it’s good some of the a bemused couple that they could prototypes remained just that... have won a speedboat, but instead would have to setle for a Bendy Bully. The fact that the couple lived in a tower block in Birmingham was neither here nor there. At least they saw what their alternatve prize even if it was cruel for them. When it comes to the big reveal for our jersies every year, we very rarely get to see the alternatves. More ofen than not, they’re consigned to the kit suppliers bin and for good reason. The brains within the club having picked the shirt that they believe would best suit the team and just as importantly, in modern tmes, the customers, or indeed fans. amongst fans. There was a In fairness to those behind the Football shirts are big business. phenomenal reacton to t-shirt, they did say it was the Where once they were only seen this, with t-shirts most memorable shirts as on the terraces and fve-a-side selling in their opposed to the best pitches, they now have fast become hundreds. It ones. But, with the a fashion staple, something to be proved that threat of marches seen in and something to be proud there is and pitchfork to be seen in. Therein lies the a jersey protests, they struggle for the clubs commercial nerd in us relented and and marketng teams. all. Not duly replaced No mater wherever and only did the green shirt, however their aesthetcs may it cause a but it just goes be remixed, altered or even great deal to show that fans reimagined, the core elements (in of discussion do care and it’s our case, the red n’black) must especially not always easy to remain impaired. Easier said than around the pick the right shirt. done, we’ve undoubtedly been choice of shirts, But is the right shirt guilty of crimes against fashion with but there was almost an always chosen? Rarely do we get some of our shirts in the past. online rebellion because of the to see what’s known as a prototype The recent club initatve to inclusion of a Macron green jersey, jersey. The alternatve to the launch a t-shirt featuring some which coincidently was recently aforementoned Macron green of our most memorable jerseys voted the worst Bohemian shirt of shirt in 2014 was a predominantly created a great deal of interest all tme. black shirt with green fashes (see photo), which would have been far humble opinion. shirt, Daniel and Gary have come more acceptable in the eyes of the In recent years, we’ve up with shirts that have somehow Dalymount faithful, but the sponsor consistently hit the bullseye when it been able to transcend the sports at the tme insisted on the shirt we comes to our jersey designs. We’re inherent tribalism and tempt fans, got. Our loss. In the late noughtes incredibly lucky to have the likes of both in Ireland and much further and the start of next decade, Daniel Lambert and Gary Keatng abroad into buying our kits. No easy Umbro were at the top of their within the club, who’s collectve achievement. I’m already looking game and it would have been hard talents, have ensured that the shirts forward to next seasons shirts, no to critcize any of the shirts we got, have been a big hit not only with pressure lads! but there was very litle wrong with the Bohs fanbase, but also much So, whether you’re planning some of the home shirt alternatves further afeld. on spending the remainder of the (see above) that never saw the light Alternatng a red n’black stripped summer posing all along the banks of day. home shirt into a design that’s of the Royal Canal, protestng at They also sampled some fne contnuously fresh and stylish your local embassy or hitng those away shirts including a plain is no easy feat, but their vision Irish beaches, there is a super, grey top, a Dundalk-esque white and ingenuity have ensured that smashing, great 2020 Bohemian jersey and an absolutely beautful O’Neills have produced home shirt to suit all occasions. pinstriped black shirt) that had an shirts that are as good, and in my Meanwhile the next Jersey-Nerds embroidered commemoraton of opinion a lot beter, than the big Anonymous (JNA) meetng will take our 100th year in Dalymount, which internatonal brands. place beside the dart board in the unfortunately was never mass With the Bob Marley shirt Phoenix Bar in Dalyer ahead of our produced. Was this ‘the one that (alas!), the clenched fst shirt and next home game, seeya there… got away’? this season’s Refugees Welcome [email protected] Back to this season, we have three shirts that have been selling in record numbers, but what of the alternatve designs that we sent to O’Neills for the second and third kits? It’s fair to say they’re not subtle changes, with the delightul sky blue and striking orange shirts (previous page) being very diferent to what we fnally went with. Could either of these have worked? Most defnitely, but hard to argue with the chosen ones. Meanwhile, the proposed alternatve blue shirt is just a bit too dark with the black lining and again, the correct opton was picked in my Oldies but no goodies by Alan Bird

Catching a glimpse of yourself at a match long since forgotten is something you half expect in a course laugh at slimmer friends and football season DVD compilation the head of hair they once had but but nonethless when a much • Yes that is Vinny Arkins... the three seasons in question didn’t younger you pops up on screen it leave any goodness in the memory. can be a tad disconcerting. The opening scene is the 2005 Rummaging through some stuff curtain raiser when one Jimmy at the back of the cabinet during Aggrey (I’d honestly forgotten a Lockdown-obligatory clean out about him) levelled against I discovered a DVD produced Shamrock Rovers. It was Gareth some time back, when camera man Farrelly’s frst full season and Peter O’Doherty compiled three as the year progressed we didn’t seasons into one 80 minute disc. It’s actually do or play that badly. It nostalgia element now is somewhat was the season of the 2-1 win over mixed. Yes it’s always good to look Shels that saw the three points back over some old footage and of withdrawn, the blue jersies, the original Cup shirts bearing fans looked more and more dejected. names,a young Stephen Ward and a On the feld he weighed in with hostile reception for Glen Crowe in some important goals and was Shelbourne colours. frst up when awarded a penalty Dominic Foley weighed in with at 0-1 down against Rovers in the some good goals and overall most infamous Cup match. He missed, of the play captured was fuid and Rovers scored and a dismissed Pat exciting to look back on. Farrelly Scully ran down the front of the obviously had a plan and despite Jodi in celebration. The following our sixth place fnish and Shels morning Farrelly honourably tearing us apart 0-3 in the last resigned and the method in game of the season at Dalymount, which he did so at his fnancial • Former player/manager with Jayo running over to the Gareth Farrelly expense displayed true character Jodi to celebrate, the promise of and conduct. One cringe-worthy expectation and improvement was memory of that season is of the evident via a series of interviews point-blank insults and fnger with some fans at the end. jabbing he was subjected to; no one 2006 was where it all went deserved that. spectacularly wrong. With such 2007 saw Sean Connor enter the notable luminaries as Stephen fray and fortunes began to turn in O’Brien and Vinny Arkins and the our favour, ultimately laying the ‘fearsome’ black jersey, points were groundwork for the 2008 campaign. dropped, terrace and player tempers While not pretty and sometimes frayed, red cards ensued and the barbing to look at, these three We Want Farrelly Out banners ‘forgotten’ seasons bear testimony came out aplenty. Flags were hung to the gloomier mid-point of a • Stephen O’Brien, fond of the upside down on the Tramway End decade that was bookended by a odd gesture to Bohs fans and with each interview, Farrelly magnifcent trophy haul. The Cup lost a lot of its shine in the last 15 years generally though as it was shunted around Dublin like an speaking... unruly foster child...

by Aidan Fitzmaurice

We must all be guilty of using have an FAI Cup at all this year, also have a fallow year. But no FAI phrases without knowing, really another victm of the pandemic. Cup? knowing, what they mean. The FAI are stll trying to plan a way It’s a case of priorites, the I recall being a kid and saying back to the feld of play, and last league is all that maters as we prayers in what was a typical week’s announcement the FAI can do need a league of some form Catholic household. You’d in 2020. The FAI are lucky in toss out lines about ‘Tower that, with a summer season, of David, Tower of Ivory’ and we knew from last year which have no idea what they were, clubs would play in Europe when you’re seven you don’t this summer, while fnishing really ask, you just mumble the season and sortng out the words. the European entrants is One phrase in football proving to be a real nightmare that’s always puzzled me is in Northern Ireland. Blue Riband. Yep, the FAI Cup But we do need a league to is the Blue Riband of the Irish provide teams for Europe for game and I doubt anyone 2021, and one of those slots who has ever touched that goes to the Cup winners. Will trophy and picked up a medal we just shunt someone else for winning it knows what it’s into Europe via the league about. if there’s no Cup in 2020? The FAI Cup does, Someone would stll get a however, hold a certain European place but there’d be atracton in the game here. no Cup. Winning it last year was a big I’d hate to see it happen. deal for Shamrock Rovers and The FAI Cup has come through there are St Patrick’s Athletc harder tmes than this current fans who felt they could die crisis. Early accounts of the happy afer they fnally won competton have stories it, afer waitng for something about guns being pulled and like 623 years, under Liam threats being made, the FAI Buckley. playing the competton as a The Cup lost a lot of its new state was being formed shine in the last 15 years, 98 years ago. It came through though, as it was shunted the economic crises of the around Dublin like an unruly 50s, the worst of the Troubles, foster child: Dalymount, get a slice of the €40million pie was played despite waterlogged Tolka Park, Lansdowne Road, the from the Government should see pitches and clubs going bust. RDS, Tallaght, the new Lansdowne the league come back, but with so It will be hard to make it happen Road. I know we got to see Johnny many games to be played and so in 2020 without extending the Logan and the Undertones play at litle tme, the FAI Cup may have season too far for clubs to aford the 2008 fnal but if you’re not a to go. wages, but surely we can try and Bohs fan, there was nothing special We already knew the EA Sports save the Cup in some format. I’ll about the day. Cup was gone, and no tears were even agree to call it the Blue Riband And it looks like we may not even shed. The Leinster Senior Cup will again if that makes any diference.

OUR GAME IS ON THE BALL

NEO PRO THE OFFICIAL MATCH BALL OF THE SSE AIRTRICITY LEAGUE AVAILABLE NOW AT UMBRO.IE With the pandemic playing havoc with sporting events across the globe the 2020 Olympics have been postponed for a year. We look back at a Bohemian who played a major role in the Games G The u Bohemia n by Stephen Burke Kevin the Bohemian... n How to sum up Kevin O’Flanagan, a man who achieved so much in so many different arenas, and in such dissimilar times and circumstances to this current ever more commercial and now depressed age? Here indeed was a strictly amateur e sportsman who won full international caps in football and rugby, and who before that was setting Irish athletic records in sprinting and the long jump. His sporting prowess was evident from a very early age. When he cleared 15 feet six inches in the long jump as an 11-year-old, r by Dan Brennan & no less than General Eoin O’Duffy told him that it was a world record for a boy of his age. Already captain of Synge Street school’s u13 team at Gaelic football, the following year he captained Dublin Schools against Belfast. He also played hurling at school, while his soccer career began a little later with Home Farm before he joined the Bohemian Minors (our then youth team) and won a junior Ireland cap against England at West Bromwich. Scoring twice in Ireland’s 5-2 win, he immediately had offers from Liverpool, Aston Villa, Manchester United, Arsenal, and Bradford, but he would never turn professional. His time in Bohs’ frst team spanned 11 seasons and in all he made 145 appearances and scored 95 goals for the club. For more than half of those seasons he was only able to play for the Gypsies for short spells due to his pursuit of rugby adventures and his “I ended up running the injury clinic at Wembley – all on my own! Nowadays they’d have 50 people medical career, but heto later do what found I did back time then. to I hadbecome to be a doctor, the • Above, Dr. Kevin physio and sports psychologist rolled into one. Luck- club’s Hon. Medical Offcerily there were in the no really 1960s bad injuries.”and ‘70s. O’Flanagan with The late Kevin Kerr wasHe went a team-mate on to become aas pre-eminent well as sports a Bohemians in the medicine specialist, serving as the doctor to the Irish huge fan, sometimes referringOlympic team to for his 16 yearsnamesake until 1976, just and then join- 1944/45 season. by his initials. Kerr welling theremembered IOC’s drugs panel that in 1977, ‘KOF’ a post didhe held Right, pictured at until 1999. Later, he served as President of the Irish indeed have a ferociousSports shot, Medicine which Association, he’d hitvice presidentfrom any of the Dalymount Park angle, as well as tremendousOlympic Council speed. of Ireland, and as his country’s rep- in July 2003 at the resentative on the Council of Europe’s Sports Medi- 1940s Bohemian According to Kerr ‘KOF’cine Committee, hadn’t not really to mention that honorary much physician skill but his determination,to various allied sports toclubs his and exceptional associations in Ireland. team reunion, his [Including the Bohemian FC.] fnal visit to the turf pace and shooting power,He was was fondly simply remembered frst rate. at Arsenal. As “Onean amateur side Bohemianstime, couldn’tthe head of thealways Irish Electricity feld theirBoard, a good he so often graced friend of mine, was in London and decided to try 2003 photo by full strength due to workand getor to other an Arsenal commitments, game,” he recalled and in 2005. on such days ‘KOF’ would“He come had no ticket,up with but turned the gameup anyway. plan: He went Stephen Burke up to the doorman and said: ‘I’m a friend of Kevin “Hold them for 20 minutesO’Flanagan boys, – any andchance I’ll of a getticket?’ a goal.”Eventually, ItKen • Kevin O’Flanagan pictured at Dalymount Park in July wasn’t really big-headednessFriar came downon his and part...apparently for said: he ‘Anything quite for a 2003 at the 1940s Bohemian team reunion, his final visit to friend of Dr Kevin O’Flanagan. When I was a small the turf he so often graced often got that goal! boy he was one of the few who always said good photo by a badiemann He captained Bohs morningin 1944/45 to me.’ Soand my friendled by was examplegiven a seat in the Directors’ Box and afternoon tea. My friend came - and with some crucialback goals and said: in ‘I didn’tthe triumphrealise how famousthat was you were that season’s Dublin &over Belfast there.’ Of Inter-City course, I wasn’t Cup, really, thebut I was … And A touched that Ken had remembered me.” Gypsies defeating BelfastIn fact,Celtic he made in morethe two-leggedof an impression on the decider after Kevin setfootball up his cogniscenti brother than Michael he acknowledged. for the “KP Gypsy Too! O’Flanagan was a great hero of mine,” recalls foot- infamous winner. ball journalist doyen and boyhood Arsenal fan Brian During 1945/46, KevinGlanville. played Decades for later Arsenal, Glanville was indeed to benefit ‘KOF’ began & ended from a typical act of kindness from his hero. “I met he was their top scorerhim with during 11 the goals Mexico fromCity Olympics his 18 in 1968.league He his senior football appearances. The nexthelped season, me get the across frst a barrier ‘normal’ at the stadium English to do an interview,” remembered Glanville. career a Bohemian football season after the O’Flanaganwar, he wasplayed actively 14 involved matches in 13 Olympic for them in the First Division,Games scoringin total, before three being goals. made an After honorary life- writes Stephen Burke time member of the IOC in 1996. He was delighted that he played at timeswhen for Londonthe Casuals – scene of andhis first Barnet, Games – andwas cho- ow to sum up Kevin O'Flanagan, a then in 1949/50 he hadsen six to hostmatches the 2012 for edition. Brentford in the man who achieved so much in so “London is where I did my first Olympics, and it many different arenas, and in such old Second Division (nowwould bethe terrific Championship). to be back there again in 2012,” he Hdissimilar times and circumstances In 1951/52 he returnedmused to in 2005.Bohs to play his fnal to this current ever more commercial and He was, of course, sadly denied that chance, as now depressed age? Here indeed was a strictly amateur sportsman who 10 matches in the Redhe and passed Black. away a yearHis later. last But visit London to 2012 pro- won full international caps in football and rugby, and vides a fitting opportunity to honour his remarkable Dalymount Park came in July 2003 when the Bohemian who before that was setting Irish athletic records in legacy. Football Club was delighted and privileged to welcome sprinting and the long jump. His sporting prowess was evident from a very early him and some of his contemporaries, including his age. When he cleared 15 feet six inches in the long jump as an 11-year-old, no less than General Eoin O'- brother Michael, at our 1940s team reunion. Duffy told him that it was a world record for a boy of his age. Already captain of Synge Street school's under- 13 team at Gaelic football, the following year he cap- tained Dublin Schools against Belfast. He also played hurling at school, while his soccer career began a little later with Home Farm contd by Dan Brennan

Kevin the Gunner & Olympian...

At the London Olympics in 1948 it was O’Flanagan who, single-handedly, tended to the needs of the injured athletes. He went on to offciate at over a dozen Games, becoming a denizen of the International Olympic Movement for over a century until his death, aged 86, in 2006. In the post-War years, he was an amateur player for Arsenal, and was, according to former Arsenal player turned Club chronicler, Bernard Joy, “a veritable jack of all sports” who was “for several months the sporting idol of London as well as Highbury.” During his time at Arsenal O’Flanagan made sporting history when, in 1946, he played for Ireland’s rugby team against France before turning out for Northern Ireland’s football team against Scotland a week later. He also played for the Republic of Ireland national team. His sporting dexterity did not stop with rugby and football. While still a medical student in Dublin he claimed the all-Ireland title in the 60 yards, 100 yards and long jump, and exhibited considerable prowess at tennis, golf and Gaelic football. Having qualifed as a doctor, he moved to England to take up a position as a GP, and came knocking on Arsenal’s door in May 1946. “It would be wrong to say Arsenal found me. I think I found them,” he told the Arsenal Magazine in one of his last interviews, a year before his death.“I can’t quite remember how, but I made contact with the Club, and they invited me to train with them. I’ll never forget being sat on my own in the dressing room for the frst time. The frst thing I noticed was that the heated foors - a far cry from what I’d experienced before. “The one sad thing was that Highbury wasn’t available in my frst year. It was straight after the war and the ground was still bomb damaged, so we ‘To all games played all our home games at Tottenham.” he brought the After an unfortunate frst-team baptism in a 6-0 defeat at Upton Park, O’Flanagan soon made his enthusiasm and mark.“To all games he brought the enthusiasm and freshness of an freshness of an amateur,” wrote Bernard Joy. “If he had applied himself unreservedly to soccer he would amateur... if he had have been a winger of the highest Arsenal tradition - applied himself a fast, courageous matchwinner.” This chimed with O’Flanagan’s own recollections: unreservedly to “Tom [Whittaker] used to say to me:‘If you were full soccer he would have time you could be a great player.’ The thing was that because I was working full time a medical practice, been a winger of I didn’t train all week, so just had to rely on my the highest Arsenal natural ftness. I was essentially a winger or centre- forward, however Arsenal played me on the left. tradition...’ “It was a little diffcult for me as I was essentially a British Olympic Medical Commission following a right-sided player, so I always felt I was done a slight chance encounter with the FA chief Stanley Rous. It was disservice in that respect.” to shape his professional path over the next half century. In all, O’Flanagan played 16 frst-team games for “We met at a lunch,” recalled O’Flanagan. “He said he Arsenal in the 1946/47 campaign, scoring three times. wanted to nominate me for the medical committee at the Perhaps his greatest moment came in a 1-0 victory over 1948 Games [in London]. I ended up running the injury Stoke City in which he scored the only goals.“It was clinic at Wembley – all on my own! Nowadays they’d a free-kick from 35 yards. The Daily Mirror and Daily have 50 people to do what I did back then. I had to be a Sketch wrote me up as having one of the hardest shots of doctor, physio and sports psychologist rolled into one.” all time,” he recalled. He went on to become a pre-eminent sports medicine Despite his obvious talent, O’Flanagan never specialist, serving as the doctor to the Irish Olympic considered relinquishing amateur status.“If the rugby team for 16 years until 1976, and then joining the IOC’s union had heard that I’d received even a shilling I’d drugs panel in 1977, a post he held until 1999. Later, have been in trouble,” he explained. he served as President of the Irish Sports Medicine “When I frst went to Arsenal, the manager, George Association, vice president of the Olympic Council Allison said the Club would pay my expenses, but I of Ireland, and as his country’s representative on the thought I’d be accused of being a phony amateur. I even Council of Europe’s Sports Medicine Committee, not to refused meals before the games because it would have mention honorary physician to various sports clubs and been a breach of my amateur status.” associations in Ireland, including Bohemians. He remained on Arsenal’s books for several seasons, O’Flanagan was actively involved in 13 Olympic featuring regularly for the reserves, while also turning Games in total, before being made an honorary lifetime out for London Irish rugby team, but the increasing member of the IOC in 1996. burden of his medical commitments meant he had to - This article originally featured in the match bow out in 1949. programme for our game against Dundalk on At Arsenal he developed a strong friendship with 27 June 2012. With thanks to Andy Exley, then coach, and future Arsenal manager, Tom Whittaker. Arsenal’s Programme Editor for permission The two shared a common interest in what would to reproduce their feature from their matchday now be termed sports medicine, but was then just an programme in 2002 against Blackburn Rovers ... emerging discipline. It was one that the Irishman would with our then and current Bohemian additions and go on to help shape. In 1948, he was appointed to the amendments by Stephen Burke and Alan Bird

• Dr. Kevin O’Flanagan, seated second from right, with Arsenal during the 1946/47 season. Dan McSwiney trawls through the archives and looks back at some Bohemians matches played around this time of year... Three n’ in Favourites outflank for Bohs Students in opener Bohemians ..... 3 Bohemians ...... 2 Dundalk ...... 0 UCD ...... 1 Dalymount Park, Friday 5 July 2002 Dalymount Park Friday 25 June 2010 he bookies favourites for the league had to come ohemians made it three wins from behind to secure on the trot with a convincing T their frst win in this season’s victory in this league B curtain-raiser. encounter that also asked serious The home side were well questions about Dundalk sustaining in control from an early stage their early-season form. as Mark Rutherford and Dave The Lilywhites deserved nothing Morrison exploited the space from the game and maybe it was down the wings as UCD played a 3-4-3 formation. frustration boiling over when substitute Glen Crowe missed two early Michael McGowan came on as an 83rd chances before the visitors took minutes substitute and was sent off a the lead just before the half hour minute later for a ludicrous tackle on after Robbie Doyle buried a free Raffaele Cretaro. kick in the bottom corner past the Mark Quigley, Jason Byrne and despairing dive of Ashley Bayes Paddy Madden all had great chances to on his competitive Bohs debut. The home side were back on • Bobby Ryan celebrates his winner put Bohs ahead while all Dundalk could level terms seven minutes before Bohemians: Bayes, O’Connor, muster was a tame Neale Fenn header the break when Paul Keegan fred McNally, Hawkins, Lynch, and a looping clearance that fell directly home following good footwork by Morrison (Ryan 52), Harkin, into a wheelie bin at the front of the Fergal Harkin and Morrison. Bohs Hunt, Rutherford, Crowe, Keegan Jodi Stand! secured the three points when UCD: Ryan, McDonnell, Purdy, Paddy Madden opened the scoring on Bobby Ryan notched his frst Delaney, Mahon, Doolin, the 50th minute, slotting home an Aaron goal for the club, latching onto a McNally, McAuley (Martin 77), Keegan pass form inside the box. Doyle, Finn, Martin Greene cross which was followed up by two late goals in the closing minutes; McGowan’s red resulting in a free Pedestrian win for Champions kick which Ruaidhri Higgins curled Dalymount Park, Friday 19 June 2009 home and a Gareth McGlynn strike to to two second half goals from complete the evening. Bohemians ... 2 Gary Deegan and a Jason Byrne Sligo Rovers 0 penalty. Sligo didn’t record one Bohemians: Murphy, Rossiter, Heary, shot on target in the match. Oman, Powell, McGlynn, Keegan, he defending champions Bohemians: Murphy, Shelley, Higgins, Quigley (Dixon 90), Greene collected the three points Heary, Oman (McGuinness Cretaro 64, Madden Twithout really moving 88), Powell, Murphy (Ndo 69), Dundalk: Gregg, Kelly, McGuigan out of second gear. Cronin, Deegan, Brennan, Crowe Paul Cook’s playing-staff (Fenn 73), Byrne (Cawley 68), Breen, Hatswell, worries were demonstrated by Sligo Rovers: Brush, Cash, Mellington, Maher, Miller, Kuduzovic, the naming of just two substitutes Feeney, Keane, Keohane, Torpey, Fenn, Gaynor (McGowan 83) on the bench and the Bit O’Red O’Grady, Kelly (Fallon 69), held an initially sloppy Bohs Morrison, Curran, Doherty Club Directory Ground Regulatons T: 868 0923/868 1034/868 2880 (Bar only) ▪ All persons entering this ground are admited only subject F: 868 6460/868 1865 (Football Forecast/Loto) to the following Ground Regulatons and to the Rules & E: [email protected] Regulatons of the Bohemian Football Club (BFC) and the W: www.bohemians.ie Football Associaton of Ireland (FAI). Entry to the ground President / Chris Brien PR / Luke O’Riordan shall be deemed to consttute unqualifed acceptance of Hon. Sec. / Stephen Lambert Youth / Conor Emerson all these Rules & Regulatons. Finance/ John O’Connor Community / Thomas Hynes ▪ Fireworks, laser pens, smoke canisters, botles, glasses, Membership / Cormac O’Reilly Bar / Fintan Kennedy cans, fags, banners, poles and other similar artcles or Marketng & Commercial / Daniel Lambert containers, including anything which could or might be Hon. Life Presidents / Tony O’Connell, Felim O’Reilly used as a weapon, are not permited within the ground, Hon. Life Vice-Presidents / Noel Farrell, Gerry Cufe, Brendan Dufy, and any person in possession of such an artcle may be Paddy Hayes, Paddy Murray, Oliver Ward, Stephen Burke refused entry or ejected from the ground. Senior Admin. & Licensing Ofcer / Lynn O’Neill ▪ The consumpton of intoxicatng liquors is permited only Media Relatons Ofcer / Luke O’Riordan in authorised places and spectators are not permited to First Team Manager / Keith Long bring alcohol into the ground. Assistant Manager / Trevor Croly ▪ The climbing of foodlight pylons, stands or other Goalkeeping Coach / Chris Bennion buildings in the ground is forbidden. Head of Fitness & Conditoning / Remy Tang ▪ Unnecessary noise such as that from the use of radio First Team Sports Scientst / Cathal Murtagh sets and behaviour likely to cause confusion or nuisance Physio & Fitness Coach / Rob Murray, Paul Kirwan of any kind including foul or abusive language is not Under 19 Team Manager/ Gavin Teehan permited in any part of the ground. Under 19 Coaches / Mark Anderson, Paul O’Reilly, Willie Tyrrell ▪ Any person using racist taunts or language or behaving Under 17 Team Manager / Derek Pender in a manner likely to be deemed racist towards any other Under 17 Coach / Roy Kirk person may be refused entry or ejected from the Under 15 Manager/Coaches / Pat Malone, Keith Roach ground. Under 13 Manager/Coach / Karl Lambe ▪ Under no circumstances is it permited to throw any WNL Secretary / Rose Darby object onto the pitch. WNL Senior Team Manager/Coach / Sean Byrne, Pat Trehy, Dave O Brien ▪ Unauthorised persons are not permited to enter upon WNL under 19 Manager / Frank Darby the feld of play and will be ejected. WNL under 19 Coach / Rose Darby ▪ Any person who fails to comply with the instructons from Youth Protecton Ofcer (YPO) / Fiona Delaney a steward may be ejected from the ground. Head Academy Athletc Development Coach / Paul McGrath ▪ In general the right of admission is reserved by BFC. Head of Youth Football / Pat Cleary ▪ BFC reserves the right to refuse admission or eject any Kit Manager / Colin O’Connor Assistant / Aaron Fitzsimons person who refuses to be searched by a police ofcer. Video Analysis / John Bohan ▪ Any person who remains in a gangway may be ejected GPS Manager / Cathal Muircheartaigh from the ground. Event Controller / Mick Mc Quinlan - Pulse Security ▪ BFC / Event Promoters reserve the right for its servants or Safety Ofcer / Gerry Keane - Pulse Security agents to remove from the ground any person who does Supporter Liaison Ofcer / Gerry Sexton Disability Access Ofcer / Donal Byrne not comply with the Ground Stadium Announcers / Larry Rogan, Stephen Dornan ▪ Regulatons or whose presence on the ground could Pitchside MC / Paul Dufy Webmaster / Luke O’Riordan reasonably be construed as consttutng a source of Programme Editor & Producton / Alan Bird danger, nuisance or annoyance to other spectators. Photographers / Stephen Burke, Eddie Lennon, Peter O’Doherty, Martn Doherty, Conor Ryan, Tom Beary BOHEMIANS AGAINST RACISM Ball boy/girl /Mascots co./ Audrey Fitzpatrick, Susan Lambert, Beth Sexton The BFC welcomes all football supporters irrespectve of Bar Commitee / Derek Monaghan, Hugh Dempsey colour or creed and will not tolerate any form of racism. Chaplain / Fr Seán Farrell As part of our ongoing commitment to UEFA’s 10-point Souvenir Shop / Deirdre Cliford, Laura Cliford, Paddy Murray plan, Sport Against Racism Ireland (SARI), and Show Bohemian Foundaton / Thomas Hynes, Chris Brien, Racism The Red Card, and to equality, anyone caught Jef Conway, Barbara Conway, John Colleary, Stephen Burke perpetratng racist abuse may be arrested, prosecuted More Than A Club / Paul Gannon and banned from the club. Please report any abuse of Football Forecasts & Loto / Jimmy O’Connor, Anto Farrell, this nature to the nearest steward or Garda. Thank you Stephen Burke, Eddie Smith snr, Stephen Dornan, for your co-operaton and support, we want you to enjoy Tommy Dornan, Anne Delaney your visits to Dalymount Park. Half-Time Rafe / Jimmy O’Connor, Joe Carr, Anne Delaney - The Bohemian Football Club Light Up Your Nights

SSE Airtricity League

#LightUpYourNights Support your club

own its history

Your chance to own a brick from the old Dalymount Park dressing rooms, dated 1935, following the redevelopment of the ground

For more information see bohemianfc.com & - buyabrick.bohemians.ie - Dalymount Park c. 1950 unknown photo credit