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Irish Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Remembering the greatest League of Ireland team of all time
David Crawley remembers the biggest game of his career. He had just turned 27, was in the second year of his contract, commuting from Dundalk to Dublin every day with nothing bar a dream in his head and a pair of boots in his car. Shelbourne had given him a chance, and now, here he was, fulfilling it. Deportivo La Coruna were the opposition, a place in the group stages of the Champions League the prize. Read more: 'It's just to threaten them a little so they behave themselves' - Bohemians boss Alan Reynolds Read more: Ireland international Robbie Brady makes decision on club future 'This could change your lives if you win,' the team were told the night before the second leg of that game at the Riazor Stadium on Spain's northwest coast. The person addressing the team was Shels secretary Ollie Byrne, a dreamer if ever there was one, but now someone who was seeing his vision turn into a reality. 'When people talk about the greatest League of Ireland teams that there have ever been, the same names come up time after time,' Crawley says. 'You hear about Shamrock Rovers in the '80s, the Shamrock Rovers side now, the Dundalk team under Stephen Kenny. 'But that Shelbourne team that Ollie Byrne and Pat Fenlon put together was something else. 'We had quality players fighting for each position. 'And in Pat we had one of the best managers the League has ever had. He was passionate, driven, prepared, organised, clever. I loved playing under him and was lucky to have played for so many great managers: Jim McLaughlin, Dermot Keely, Martin Murray amongst others. 'Pat and I clicked. 'Plus, the big thing is, he gave me memories that I will never forget. 'And it is only when you retire that you appreciate what you had. No one can take away either the memories or the medals. 'No one can take away what we achieved that summer in 2004, that European run when we defeated a tough Icelandic side (KR Reykjavik) in round one, Hajduk Split in round two, and then faced the previous year's semi-finalists in round three. 'With half an hour to go in the second leg of that game, we had a chance to go 1-0 ahead. I'll never forget it because I was involved in the build-up to it, playing a one-two with Ollie Cahill, crossing it in for Jason Byrne. 'Jayo got a great connection to his header but the keeper (Jose Molina) was top class. 'That was our what-if moment. No blame goes on Jason because he was unreal for us, a brilliant pro, a brilliant fella. We were just unfortunate.' And yet they were also hugely lucky that the planets aligned, the greatest team the league has seen put together by one of its finest managers. Together they went on a run, winning three league titles in Crawley's time there, as well as embarking on that European run. Yet that's only one part of his career story. The other parts, the two First Division titles he won with Dundalk, as well as the 2002 FAI Cup he took back to his home town as captain, are equally unforgettable. Success had been like smoke for him; there for him to see and smell, impossible for him to grab hold of. As a kid he went across to Manchester City as a 15-year-old, callously told by the club hierarchy that it would be too late if he delayed his departure another year. Homesickness struck. So he came home and while Dundalk offered a lifeline, his timing was unfortunate, as he was too young to be part of the 1995 league winning side, but too old to still be around when Kenny arrived to rejuvenate the club in 2013. Instead he was there during the wilderness years, suffering two relegations while also winning the Cup and those two First Division titles. Crawley said: 'To be a Dundalk man and to captain the club to the Cup is a massive thing for me, a proud, proud memory. 'I loved my time there.' Yet when they got relegated in 2002 and Shels called, he knew he had to answer it. He says: 'I was scared but I wanted to prove myself because I knew inside my head that I was good enough. 'And it was an amazing experience, regularly being in TV games, winning leagues, playing in Europe. 'I never drank or smoked in my life. I had the right attitude. The game was good to me.' And he was good to it.
Irish Times
13-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
‘When I sold my business, I bought a very expensive watch for around €7,000′
Gary Brown is a former Shelbourne FC footballer and club chairman. He is also a businessman and playwright. His play, Ollie ... One Love, One Life, about former Shelbourne FC chairman Ollie Byrne, which features Gary Cooke, plays at the Helix, Dublin, on Saturday and Sunday. Are you a saver or a spender? Now that I'm a writer and playwright and have retired from advertising, I'm definitely a spender, although I do squirrel away a few bob for special occasions. What was the first job you received money for, and how much were you paid? My first paid job was in 1973 as a lounge boy in a pub in Cabra – Matt Whelan's, which is no longer there. I was 13 pretending to be 16, and I worked with my then-pal Ashley Grimes, who went on to play for Manchester United and the Republic of Ireland. We were paid 30p an hour. Do you shop around for better value? I tend to shop around for high-value items and I always like the banter and a good look around in a market or a second-hand shop. READ MORE What has been your most extravagant purchase, and how much did it cost? When I sold my business, I bought a very expensive watch for around €7,000. It's worth a lot more now, and I've passed it on to family. What purchase have you made that you consider the best value for money? Any house I've ever bought has been of value over time, and not just monetary value either, as there have been great memories and occasions. Is there anything you regret spending money on? There were a few meals out in expensive restaurants that I regret spending money on – poor quality food and service, and really over-the-top prices. [ Niamh Kavanagh: 'Thanks to my mum, I learned how to pay my bills before I spent money on myself' Opens in new window ] Do you haggle over prices? Yes, I would haggle in markets. I remember once in an antiques shop in London, I offered about half the asking price for a painting. The owner said: 'Wait here until I ask my business partner what he thinks.' He went into an alcove, pressed a button, and the sound from The Laughing Policeman played full volume around the shop. That was class and hilarious! Do you invest in shares and/or cryptocurrency? I did invest in shares and I have done well, but also not so well – bank shares before the crash, we all remember those. Crypto? I know what I don't know, so no cryptocurrency for me. Do you have a retirement or pension plan? Yes, I have some ARFs [Approved Retirement Funds] that are in a mixture of property and cash. That said, I have some decisions to make soon. What was the last thing you bought, and was it good value for money? I've just bought some nuts for my bird feeder in Duncannon, Co Wexford, so that will keep the birds happy and me happy. So yes, good value. Have you ever successfully saved up for a relatively big purchase? When I was a teenager, I saved up for a brown leather jacket, which was a big purchase for me then. I loved it and thought I was the bee's knees in it. It was stolen, however, from a changing room while I was playing soccer. If I ever catch that louser! [ Johnny Lappin: 'I got scammed by a rogue so-called roofing contractor. I foolishly paid him in cash' Opens in new window ] Have you ever lost money? Yes. I was advised by a financial adviser, so-called, to invest in Custom House Capital. I got some of it back. Enough said. Are you a gambler and, if so, have you ever had a big win? I have the odd flutter on golf, soccer and horses, but not much. I had a tenner each way on Padraig Harrington at 35/1 to win his first major in 2007, so that was great. What are your best and worst habits when it comes to money? My best habit is trusting my own judgment over advisers. I have listened to advisers in the past but I would now say: listen, then make your own decisions and trust yourself. My worst habit is that I have probably been too conservative sometimes and missed out on certain opportunities. Invest in yourself and trust yourself is my advice. Describe Ollie Byrne in one sentence? Ollie Byrne was an enigmatic force of nature who was obsessive, generous, enterprising, pugnacious and kind all in equal measure. How much money do you have on you now? I have €120. I still love having cash in my pockets.
Irish Times
12-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
‘I have invested in shares and I have done well, but also not so well'
Gary Brown is a former Shelbourne FC footballer and club chairman. He is also a businessman and playwright. His play, Ollie ... One Love, One Life, about former Shelbourne FC chairman Ollie Byrne, which features Gary Cooke, plays at the Helix, Dublin, on Saturday and Sunday. Are you a saver or a spender? Now that I'm a writer and playwright and have retired from advertising, I'm definitely a spender, although I do squirrel away a few bob for special occasions. What was the first job you received money for, and how much were you paid? My first paid job was in 1973 as a lounge boy in a pub in Cabra – Matt Whelan's, which is no longer there. I was 13 pretending to be 16, and I worked with my then-pal Ashley Grimes, who went on to play for Manchester United and the Republic of Ireland. We were paid 30p an hour. Do you shop around for better value? I tend to shop around for high-value items and I always like the banter and a good look around in a market or a second-hand shop. READ MORE What has been your most extravagant purchase, and how much did it cost? When I sold my business, I bought a very expensive watch for around €7,000. It's worth a lot more now, and I've passed it on to family. What purchase have you made that you consider the best value for money? Any house I've ever bought has been of value over time, and not just monetary value either, as there have been great memories and occasions. Is there anything you regret spending money on? There were a few meals out in expensive restaurants that I regret spending money on – poor quality food and service, and really over-the-top prices. [ Niamh Kavanagh: 'Thanks to my mum, I learned how to pay my bills before I spent money on myself' Opens in new window ] Do you haggle over prices? Yes, I would haggle in markets. I remember once in an antiques shop in London, I offered about half the asking price for a painting. The owner said: 'Wait here until I ask my business partner what he thinks.' He went into an alcove, pressed a button, and the sound from The Laughing Policeman played full volume around the shop. That was class and hilarious! Do you invest in shares and/or cryptocurrency? I did invest in shares and I have done well, but also not so well – bank shares before the crash, we all remember those. Crypto? I know what I don't know, so no cryptocurrency for me. Do you have a retirement or pension plan? Yes, I have some ARFs [Approved Retirement Funds] that are in a mixture of property and cash. That said, I have some decisions to make soon. What was the last thing you bought, and was it good value for money? I've just bought some nuts for my bird feeder in Duncannon, Co Wexford, so that will keep the birds happy and me happy. So yes, good value. Have you ever successfully saved up for a relatively big purchase? When I was a teenager, I saved up for a brown leather jacket, which was a big purchase for me then. I loved it and thought I was the bee's knees in it. It was stolen, however, from a changing room while I was playing soccer. If I ever catch that louser! [ Johnny Lappin: 'I got scammed by a rogue so-called roofing contractor. I foolishly paid him in cash' Opens in new window ] Have you ever lost money? Yes. I was advised by a financial adviser, so-called, to invest in Custom House Capital. I got some of it back. Enough said. Are you a gambler and, if so, have you ever had a big win? I have the odd flutter on golf, soccer and horses, but not much. I had a tenner each way on Padraig Harrington at 35/1 to win his first major in 2007, so that was great. What are your best and worst habits when it comes to money? My best habit is trusting my own judgment over advisers. I have listened to advisers in the past but I would now say: listen, then make your own decisions and trust yourself. My worst habit is that I have probably been too conservative sometimes and missed out on certain opportunities. Invest in yourself and trust yourself is my advice. Describe Ollie Byrne in one sentence? Ollie Byrne was an enigmatic force of nature who was obsessive, generous, enterprising, pugnacious and kind all in equal measure. How much money do you have on you now? I have €120. I still love having cash in my pockets.
