Colin Fortune chases new Athlone memories 42 years after family's European glory night at Mel's Park
Fortune was six in September 1983 when Athlone - with one uncle Turlough O'Connor in charge and another Michael on the pitch - hosted Standard Liege in the European Cup.
2
Athlone Town manager Colin Fortune is hoping for more vivid memories when the club ends a 42-year wait
2
Fortune during his playing career with Athlone in 2006
The Belgian champions won 3-2, just 16 months after they had narrowly lost 2-1 to Barcelona in the Cup Winners Cup final.
The men's team has not been in Europe since but the women's side make their Champions League debut against Cardiff City tomorrow with Croat champions ZNK Agram playing the winners on Saturday.
Asked if he was at the Standard game, Fortune said: 'I'm told I was. Listen, I lived in St Mel's Park.
'My family, we have a deep history with Athlone Town. My mother's an O'Connor. Turlough was the manager, I would have been probably on his shoulder.
read more on football
'But I remember the excitement around that time. I can never forget that. Mel's Park back then was an unbelievable place. My mother's home place was in Sarsfield Square, the neighbouring estate.
'So I have massive, massive memories from them times. I don't remember the game, but I know a lot of people talking about it. And it's been brought up a lot recently because of this game.
'It's '83 since we hosted Standard Liege. That's a long, long time for a club like Athlone. I know in recent history Athlone hasn't been in a good place, but the women's team have been.
'This is massive for our club, it's massive for the community, it's massive for the football people of Athlone.'
Most read in Football
Fortune - who is sweating over the availability of Jamaican international Izzy Groves and American duo Madie Gibson and Kelly Brady - followed in the family tradition of both lining out for and, briefly, managing the men's side.
And when Ciaran Kilduff left at the end of last season to take charge of his former club Dundalk, Fortune took over the reigning Women's Premier Division champions.
England's Lionesses depart Zurich following their Euro 2025 victory
He said: 'It's been fabulous. I've really loved it. The group are so honest, they're so open. They're like sponges, they take everything on board.
'I won't lie, I was a bit apprehensive at the start. I wasn't sure about what I was getting into, between the club, the potential takeover and everything else around it.'
The former midfielder's caution was understandable given the uncertainty which engulfed the club in recent months before Nick Giannotti invested in the club to fill the funding cap left by Valeo FC's withdrawal of support.
Fortune said: 'It was just a mental time. You know, there were press conferences called, there was a takeover happening, and then all of a sudden it was gone.
'We had a meeting with people taking over tomorrow and all of a sudden they've gone out of town again.
'There was wages not paid, there was food not provided. It was a messy, messy situation.'
Fortune praised the resilience of his players to keep producing the goods and hopes that the fact his side are in-season will act as a counterweight to Cardiff's advantage of previous European experience.
Fortune said: 'Credit to them because it's all on them. They are where they are because of them.
"And I keep saying that to them, 'Enjoy this occasion, you've earned the right to be here. So let's go and enjoy it but please perform'.'
Athlone are top of the table with their draws against Galway United and Treaty United viewed as a blip only because they dropped just two points in their first 11 games.
He said: 'The last two performances were not good but that's normal, you'll always get a dip.
"We all had one eye on Cardiff, we took our eye off the ball a little bit but still kept it going and to be flying the flag now in Europe is a really proud moment.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
13 minutes ago
- Irish Examiner
'European ties are four halves,' Shels boss O'Brien rails against complacency
Tolka Park will be trembling with tension next Tuesday exactly 21 years on from another titanic battle against Croatian opposition. In that 2004 Champions League tie, Shelbourne overcame a first-leg deficit against Hajduk Split to score twice late on to seal a 4-3 aggregate victory. There'll be little change in the venue surroundings but a different task facing the current generation hosting Rijeka. Against the odds, Joey O'Brien's side accomplished what's perceived as the difficult part by leaving Croatia on Thursday night with a 2-1 advantage. Avoid defeat on their home patch and guaranteed is a playoff shot at reaching the Europa League next phase, €3.8million in prize money and the fallback of Conference League phase participation. Joey O'Brien, after only his eight game in charge, insisted the Croatian champions remain favourites to prevail over the two legs. 'Everything is still open in this tie,' cautioned the former Ireland international. 'I still don't think we're favourites to go through.' Rijeka crave redemption too. Whatever about defeat to Ludogorets, they didn't factor being humbled by Irish opponents in front of their home crowd. 'We send our apologies to the fans and everyone,' said a sheepish Radomir Dalovic, who will likely find himself sacked if the turnaround doesn't materialise. 'I am first to do that because we have to learn lessons. Just as they beat us, we have to do everything to win in Dublin. "I believe that we will be more like us and that we can win in Dublin. We will have five or six players there that we were missing at home. We are going there to atone for this defeat and win.' Exciting attackers Gabriel Rukavina and Toni Fruk, both red carded in the second leg of the last round, will return from suspension but they'll still have to penetrate a Shels rearguard that were steady on the road. Their only concession was a penalty which new goalkeeper Wessel Speel needlessly erred for. 'One of the reasons why I wanted the job was the quality that we have in the dressing room,' explained Shels chief O'Brien. 'At times in the first leg, we showed that but I know there's more from our team. 'We don't play opposition in our league as good as Rijeka. 'European football has four halves of football – we have a small advantage but it's two halves done and two halves to go. 'We have a good record at home and it's all to play for.' Before the European odyssey resumes, champions Shels host Bohemians in the league on Saturday (5pm). Rijeka will travel on Sunday, having fulfilled domestic duties too.
The 42
3 hours ago
- The 42
New Munster jersey pays tribute to breakthrough European Cup triumph
MUNSTER HAVE REVEALED a major throwback look as they released their new home jersey for the next two seasons. The new kit celebrates the 20th anniversary of the province's first European Cup triumph over Biarritz in the 2005/06 season. Advertisement The jersey will debut on Sunday as the Munster Women's team wear it in their Interprovincial Championship opener against Connacht at Virgin Media Park (4.15pm kick-off). A player-fit jersey costs €125, a regular replica retails for €95, and a kids' jersey is available for €70. The navy shorts cost €45. The jersey will be available in-store and online from Thursday, August 21.
The Irish Sun
3 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Newcastle send scouts to watch Greece star, 26, with £87million release clause after Benjamin Sesko picks Man Utd
Newcastle are considering a move for a Premier League striker too BEN AND GONE Newcastle send scouts to watch Greece star, 26, with £87million release clause after Benjamin Sesko picks Man Utd NEWCASTLE UNITED sent scouts to watch a potential new star striker after learning they are likely to miss out on their pursuit of Benjamin Sesko. The Magpies appear to have lost the race to sign highly-rated Sesko to Manchester United after the 22-year-old indicated he would prefer a switch to Old Trafford. Advertisement 6 Newcastle could move for Benfica striker Vangelis Pavlidis after being snubbed by Benjamin Sesko Credit: Getty 6 Club scouts watched the Greek star play against Nice on Wednesday night Credit: AFP Eddie Howe will need a new frontman if Alexander Isak is to depart for Liverpool after seemingly trying to force an exit. And SunSport understands that could be Benfica's Vangelis Pavlidis. Newcastle scouts watched the Greek ace, 26, on Wednesday night as Benfica beat Nice 2-0 in a Champions League qualifier. Pavlidis is understood to have a release clause worth £87million. Advertisement READ MORE IN FOOTBALL 'HE'S IRREPLACEABLE' Aston Villa suffer huge injury blow as they thump Euro giants 4-0 The 48-time Greece international scored 30 goals and registered 13 assists in 57 appearances across all competitions last season. SunSport exclusively revealed last week that Pavlidis was also being considered by Manchester United in the event they are unable to sign Sesko. Newcastle are considering other targets too as they scramble to find an adequate contingency plan for Isak's potential exit. Chelsea's Nicolas Jackson is of interest to Howe and his team, but has been valued at a whopping £80million by the Blues. Advertisement 6 6 BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS Jackson is available this summer after falling behind new signings Joao Pedro and Liam Delap in the pecking order at Stamford Bridge. Advertisement But Chelsea's player trading model will mean they will stand firm on recouping a good price for the striker, who still has eight years remaining on his contract. Man Utd vs Newcastle: Sesko bidding war begins | Transfers Exposed Boss Enzo Maresca has left the door open to that exit too, saying this week: "When the transfer window is open, unfortunately or fortunately, anything can happen. "So this also involves Nico's situation at the moment." Alexander Isak's future at Newcastle is still up in the air, despite Liverpool's well-documented interest. Advertisement The Swede was frozen out of Newcastle's family barbecue gathering organised by Howe on Wednesday, instead being ordered to report to training after the rest of the squad had left. The Toon boss said on Monday that Isak must "earn the right" to training his teammates after "acting poorly" amid the speculation around his future. Liverpool had a £110m bid turned down by Newcastle for the bagsman and insiders have insisted that they do not plan on returning with an improved offer. However it is not clear if that is a negotiation tactic as they try and bring Newcastle down from their £150m valuation. Advertisement 6 Eddie Howe has said Alexander Isak must 'earn the right' to train with his teammates Credit: PA 6 TRANSFER NEWS LIVE - KEEP UP WITH ALL THE LATEST FROM A BUSY SUMMER WINDOW
