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Where are they now?
 It’s
been 20 long years since Ireland was first really gripped by football
fever.
In 1987 the boys-in-green defeated Scotland, Bulgaria and Luxembourg to
stand on the verge of history. A certain Gary McKay from Scotland sorted
out the rest and when he scored in the dying minutes in Sofia Irish travel
agents were already planning for the greatest exodus from our green shores
since the Flight of the Earls! Against all the odds Jack Charlton’s
boys grabbed all the headlines securing a place at a major Championships
for the first time in the country’s history. A hugely-successful
European Championships in Germany in 1988 carried the country away on
the crest of a wave. Children sang about Moran, McGrath and Houghton while
entire villages were painted green as celebrations spilled over. But what
ever happened to the men of ’88 or the heroes from Italia ’90
and USA ’94?
Ray Houghton
Caps 73 — Legend after scoring the winners against England and Italy
He was a terrier on the field and since he’s made the transition
into football punditry little has changed for Ireland’s favourite
Scotsman! The goalscorer against England in Euro ’88 and Italy in
USA ’94 still calls it as he sees it on RTÉ television where
he is used as a football analyst.
Razor made his debut for the Republic in Jack Charlton’s first game
in charge of Ireland in March 1986 against Wales. He would go on to become
one of the most treasured players in Ireland’s football history.
In an eventful club career Houghton played for eight different clubs including
Liverpool, Aston Villa and Crystal Palace. He won two League and two FA
Cup winners medals at Anfield before finishing his playing career at Stevenage
Borough in 2000.
In his role as a media analyst Houghton works for Sky Sports and Talksport
and has worked for Sports Interactive as a consultant on their PC and
Xbox 360 game Football Manager.
Terry Phelan
Caps 41 — Played for the Republic in USA ’94
There was always something different about Terry Phelan, something that
told you he wasn’t a typical footballer.
Phelan was one of the fastest full-backs in the English game when playing
for Wimbledon, Manchester City and Everton but always seem-ed to have
his mind elsewhere and was famous for not associating with footballers
off the pitch.
Terry finished his playing career in the US with Charelston Battery before
running a series of soccer schools and then moved to New Zealand where
he was appointed player/coach with the Otago United team in the top division
of the New Zealand Football League. He is by far the most high-profile
player ever to have turned-out in that league.
The 40-year-old collected an FA Cup winners medal with Wimbledon in 1988
as well as helping Fulham to Premiership promotion.
Full of running and passion Phelan was a major asset to Jack Charlton,
storming down the left-wing from his full-back position.
Tony Galvin
19 caps and a key member of the Euro ’88 squad
When Irish fans think back to that glorious day on June 12, 1988 when
the Boys in Green defeated England 1-0 in Euro ’88 many forget that
Tony Galvin played a vital role in setting up
the all-important goal. Galvin was involved in disrupting the English
defence, forcing the ball to be sent to the head of Ray Houghton.
Galvin made 262 appearances for Tottenham Hotspur scoring 31 goals before
moving on to Sheffield Wednesday and Swindon Town.
The former Irish midfielder took the unusual step of becoming a lecturer
in Russian at the college of North West London and he also works for the
Learning and Skills Council. Still involved in Football Galvin coaches
Buntingford Town in the Hertfordshire Senior County League.
Alan McLoughlin
42 Caps Scored a vital goal against Northern Ireland to see the Republic
through to USA ’94
It is one of those nights when everyone remembers where they were. The
Republic Ireland
1-0 down to Northern Ireland at Windsor Park, World Cup qualification
hangs by a thread and the minutes are ticking down. Jack Charlton wears
the look of a beaten man then the slight frame of Alan McLoughlin pops
up on the edge of the penalty area. Controlling the ball with deceptive
ease his shot skids along the damp grass and into the back of the Northern
Ireland net.
Irish people rejoiced, took deep gulps of their pints and pondered how
they were going to pay for the summer of excess which World Cup qualification
brings.
After a career spent outside of football’s limelight McLoughlin
found himself exposed to fame the like of which he had never experienced
before, becoming a celebrity in Ireland.
The Manchester-born midfielder was deemed too small to play at the very
top level but enjoyed a productive career at Portsmouth and Wigan before
moving into coaching at non-league Forest Green Rovers. He also works
as a media pundit in Portsmouth but whatever path his future life takes
McLoughlin will always be remembered for a Wednesday night in Windsor
Park when as an unconsidered sub he won a place in Irish soccer folklore
for ever more. |
