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RTÉ News
10 hours ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Preview: Athlone targeting Champions League breakthrough
Women's Champions League Round 1 Qualifier semi-final Athlone Town v Cardiff City, Athlone Town Stadium, 7.30pm (available to stream on LOITV) Athlone Town will attempt to make a little bit of Champions League history this week as European football returns to the Midlands for the first time in 42 years. Colin Fortune was a young boy in the stands when Standard Liege came to St Mel's Park for a European Cup tie in 1983; tonight, he leads the women's team into battle against Cardiff City hoping to write another chapter in the club's proud history. A nephew of the famous O'Connor brothers - Turlough, Padraig and Michael - Fortune was reared on tales of Athlone glories. He has been sounding the rallying cry over the last few days as he looks to guide Athlone past Cardiff; if they prevail tonight, they'll host Croatian champions Agram in Saturday's Round 1 final. Win that one and Athlone would become the first Irish side since Peamount United (in 2011) to progress to Round 2 of the Women's Champions League qualifiers, where they could potentially meet the likes of Manchester United and Inter Milan. That would be a major achievement for Athlone, but it will not be straightforward. In March, Cardiff won their third Adran Premier League title in a row, and then beat Wrexham 3-1 to lift the Bute Energy Welsh Cup and complete the double. Iain Darbyshire's side are dangerous at setpieces, thanks in large part to the lethal deliveries of full-back Ffion Price. With Cardiff still in pre-season, Athlone should be sharper, but Darbyshire is confident his charges are coming here well prepared. "Athlone are a really good side," he said. "We've watched a lot of their games. They're mid-season, which presents a different challenge for us in trying to get up to their physical level and trying to get into the same type of rhythm as them. "That being said, I feel like we've prepared in the best way we can." Things could have gone off track at Athlone last winter when Ciarán Kilduff left to manage the Dundalk men's team after winning the league and reaching the FAI Women's Cup final, but former army sergeant Fortune has done a fine job, keeping most of the squad together and embellishing it with the quality additions of Izzy Groves and Kelly Brady. Fortune is hopeful Brady and Madison Gibson are okay for tonight after they both came off during last week's draw against Treaty United. Groves is a bigger concern - she hasn't featured since last month's FAI Cup defeat of Terenure Rangers. "We're assessing them. They're massive players," said Fortune "If the guys are available, brilliant. You want them players available, the experience they bring, but if they're not, we've other players ready to come in. "We'll get behind whatever 11 players are on the pitch - it's not even the 11, it's about the squad, it's about the 24, 25 players we have." Brady is particularly confident she'll be okay. The New York-born Republic of Ireland Under-19 international has been a revelation since arriving in January, and is banking on a partisan support, with well over a thousand tickets sold. "My mom's father is from Kinvara, Galway and my dad is from Castleblayney in Monaghan," said Brady. "My dad and my family have sponsored a bus to send down some girls from Blayney Rovers, just a small club in Castleblayney, to hopefully come down, the girls or whoever wants to watch the game. "I think there's a group of 60 of them going. And then family from Galway and stuff making their own way down - not taking up spots on the bus though! "We have a lot of talent in our team and that helps everyone out. I've loved Athlone, got myself a little job here (as a barista in a cafe). My family has visited a bunch of times, and they love it too. It's great." This is Cardiff's third Champions League campaign and they have yet to win a match, or even score a goal. However they have been steeled by past experiences and will fancy themselves in Lissywollen. For Athlone, it's a genuine opportunity. Last year, Peamount got to the Round 1 final, where they lost 1-0 to Osikjek in Croatia. That game was played in sweltering September heat. Conditions tonight will be mild and overcast, while the importance of a boisterous home crowd can't be overstated. This will be tight, but it's winnable for Athlone, and represents a big chance to rekindle memories of famous old European feats.
Indian Express
a day ago
- Sport
- Indian Express
England's Euro winning Dutch coach once disguised as a boy to play football
England's back-to-back European Cup winning coach Sarina Wiegman had to pretend to be a boy to play football when she was a child growing up in the Dutch city of Hague in the 1980s. 'When I started playing football as a six-year-old girl we weren't allowed to play, so I played illegally,' she told The BBC. A football powerhouse and the birthplace of the most radical concept in the game, Total Football, the Dutch association had banned women playing the game in 1938. It took another 33 years to lift the ban, and another decade for it to really pick up in the country. 'It wasn't normal then and now it's just normal, whether you're a boy or a girl, you can play football and that's just great. It was actually crazy before, that you couldn't, but that's just the way it is in development I guess.' She would cut her hair short and sneak to the club with her twin brother. 'I had very short hair, looked a little bit maybe like a boy, my parents were really OK and I had a twin brother, so we just started to play and everyone said that's OK. Soon her identity was revealed but the club GSC ESDO let her train with the boys. Later, she joined the women's team of Ter Leede, where she played for nine years, helping them to win two league titles and the Dutch cup, while also earning 99 caps for her country. By then, she had swapped bowl-cut to a shock of wild blond hair. Some of her teammates recall her as a tough captain but a loving person. Jeanet van der Laan once told Daily Mail: 'She was pretty loud in the dressing room and very confident about her qualities. Sarina came to visit me because she wanted to see where I lived. I only had a washing machine and not a dryer. She asked me, 'How are you going to do this? You have to train, practise almost every day. How are you going to dry your gear?'. 'I said, 'I don't know, I don't have any money'. So, she gave me her tumble dryer. And that's something I will never forget.' The women's team had meagre wages. So he supplemented her income by working as a PE teacher at Segbroek College in The Hague, a job she kept throughout her playing career. When still working as a PE teacher, she returned to the club, Ter Leede as its coach, won a double in the first season and continued to champion for the rights of women players. When the women's league was formed, winning the double in her first season — and continued to fight for the rights of women players. When the Dutch women's league, Eredivisie, was launched in 2007, she was asked to coach a new team for Ado Den Haag on a part-time basis. She refused until they gave her a full-time job. Three years later, she joined Sparta Rotterdam, becoming the first female coach at a professional club in the country. In 2021, after five fruitful years with the Netherlands, she assumed charges of England Lioness and have steered them to successive European titles. But more than the medals, she is prouder of the change she helped bring. 'I really love the medals but what I'm proud of most is that now young girls have perspective, young girls can play football and young girls can wear shirts [with players' names on]. When you go to the grocery store and people tell you, 'My daughter was wearing that shirt but my son is wearing that shirt now too', we've changed society',' she once said. A pragmatic coach, she tweaks her systems according to her resources and the opposition. But the soul of her coaching is motivating her players. Just before the semifinal against Italy, she revealed a sweary toiletry bag to motivate the players during the team talk. 'B****es get sh** done'. Forward Beth Mead revealed: 'Sarina had a certain little way of motivating us, it was great, it was funny, it was everything. She did it again tonight. She had a little toiletry bag that said, 'B****es get sh** done', and b****es got sh** done today. That is it, drop the mic.' She also told her players to 'enjoy the final' and make the most of an experience they 'couldn't even dream of' when they were kids. She also created a strong bond in the team and the support staff. Every single member of staff coming into this camp felt valued by her, knew exactly what their role was and how they could be part of an overall tea, Stressing that everyone is in it together is critical.' said FA CEO Mark Bullingham. To some, she is like a mother. Michelle Agyemang, only 19, said during the Euros: 'I think most people will say, when they work with Sarina, she's like a mum to us, almost. She cares about our wellbeing [and] she's ready to step in and tell us: 'That's not good enough, let's be better.' So I think she has that fine balance,' she said. 'She shows the same type of care to me, who's the youngest, to the oldest, showing the same sort of care to each and every one of us, no matter what our role is, even if we don't play, she's still willing to go and shake your hand and say 'well done', even if we didn't touch the pitch, and that shows we're valued in the squad,' she added. But even in the hour of glory, she did not forget to stress on investing more in women's football. 'We need some more investment. We're not there yet. In England we're up there but England needs to stay the trailblazer, it needs to be the big example. The players first but also the FA, the clubs, the Government, the country, the fans – let's keep being the trailblazers.' Motherly and caring, but a firebrand too.
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Colin Fortune chases new Athlone memories 42 years after family's European glory night at Mel's Park
He is hoping for more vivid memories when the club ends a 42-year wait. 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.'
RTÉ News
2 days ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Colin Fortune sounds rallying cry for Athlon Town's European return
Excitement is building in the midlands as a club with a storied European tradition returns to the big stage. Colin Fortune leads Athlone Town, the reigning SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division champions, into battle against Cardiff City in Wednesday's first round of Champions League qualification. The last time Athlone hosted a competitive European fixture was back in September 1983, when they were beaten 3-2 by Standard Liege in the European Cup. Fortune was at that game as a young boy. A nephew of legendary brothers Turlough, Michael and Padraig O'Connor, he was also reared on stories of the famous game against AC Milan in '75, a nil-all draw at a jammed St Mel's Park. Having succeeded Ciarán Kilduff as boss over the winter, the former army sergeant is now eyeing the opportunity to etch his name into club folklore. "Listen, I lived in St Mel's Park," he said. "My family, we have a deep history with Athlone Town. My mother's an O'Connor. Turlough was the manager. 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. "Something like this might just get people back on side, get people back supporting the club." "The atmosphere around Athlone at the minute is really electric. Every person you meet on the street is talking about this Champions League game. "Athlone town is a football town. Something like this might just get people back on side, get people back supporting the club. I'm expecting a big crowd on Wednesday night." A thousand tickets have been sold for the clash, with the game also set to be streamed on LOITV. Athlone enter the tournament through the 'Champions Path' - they have to come through the Round 1 semi-final Cardiff and then Saturday's final against Croatian champions Agram (which will also be held in Athlone) before making it to Round 2, where the big guns lie in wait. It's 14 years since Eileen Gleeson's Peamount United became the first ever Irish side to emerge from the Champions League qualifying phase. That feat has not been emulated since. Last year Peamount got to the Round 1 final but were beaten 2-1 by Osikjek in 30-degree heat over in Croatia. For Athlone to have home advantage this week is an enormous boost, with Fortune full of praise for new owner Nick Giannotti's efforts in ensuring the club were able to bring these ties to Ireland. "Fair dues to our new owner, Nick Giannotti, for hosting this game, he put his shoulder to the wheel to get to host this," he said. "We're delighted and it does a lot for Athlone. "We were very close to going to Croatia, Zagreb. My staff were saying, 'why didn't we go to Zagreb?!' But the weather conditions over there and the culture and the whole lot, it's a different animal altogether. "The dynamics are totally different, just trying to prepare for that, it's nearly nigh-on impossible, for where we are as a group, where we are as a club, other clubs would be way ahead of us. Home advantage is absolutely huge. "I keep saying it here locally, that's why we need the support, that's why we need the people of Athlone to come out and get behind us because I think that's going to be an important factor as well. "The players, they will give it all, I've no doubt about that, they will turn up and they will be 100% at it, but there's going to be times in the game where they're going to need a bit of a push, a bit of backing. That's why we need the support behind us from the town and from the country. That's why home advantage is so important." Cardiff have lost all seven matches they've previously played in the Champions League, but they'll be no pushovers. In March, they won their third Adran Premier League title in a row, and then beat Wrexham 3-1 to lift the Bute Energy Welsh Cup and complete the double. "I've got a bit (of information) on them alright," added Fortune, who is hopeful Madison Gibson and Izzy Groves will win their fitness battles for Wednesday. "They're a very formidable side, this is their third year concurrent in this competition. Although their results in this competition haven't been good, it's a little bit false because they've been up against some difficult teams. "They done the double last year in Wales. They done the treble the year before. Last year's double, they've held on to about 80% of that squad, so I'm expecting a very, very tough game."
Free Malaysia Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- Free Malaysia Today
Ex-Liverpool defender Joey Jones dies aged 70
Joey Jones made 100 appearances for Liverpool in three highly successful years between 1975 and 1978. (PA/AP pic) LONDON : Former Liverpool and Wales defender Joey Jones, a key member of two European Cup-winning teams, has died aged 70, the club said today. Jones made 100 appearances for Liverpool in three highly successful years between 1975 and 1978, also winning a Uefa Cup and a league title. The tough-tackling leftback also earned 72 caps for Wales. He was immortalised in a banner revealed by Liverpool fans at the 1977 European Cup final victory over Borussia Monchengladbach, which said: 'Joey ate the frogs' legs, made the Swiss roll, now he's munching Gladbach'. It was a reference to wins over French club St Etienne and Zurich in the quarter and semifinals. 'Liverpool FC is deeply saddened by the passing of Joey Jones. The thoughts of everyone at LFC are with Joey's family and friends at this sad time,' the club said in a statement. Jones started and ended his career at Wrexham and also had spells at Anfield, Chelsea and Huddersfield. His former Wales teammate Mickey Thomas posted on X: 'This morning I lost my best friend and soul mate, Sir Joey our memories will never fade – Today my heart is broken. Love you Sir Joey RIP. My condolences are with Janice and all the family.' Former Liverpool star John Aldridge also paid tribute, writing: 'What a lovely man and an inspirational full back who gave his heart and soul in a red shirt and for all the clubs he played for! Our thoughts are with Joey's family! I'm a lucky man to have met him many times.'
