Blues - Waterford United Football Club

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BLUES THE OFFICIAL MATCHDAY PROGRAMME OF WATERFORD UNITED FC - €3

VERSUS FINN HARPS FRIDAY 25TH APRIL 2014 KICK OFF 7.45PM WATERFORD REGIONAL SPORTS CENTRE SSE AIRTRICITY LEAGUE FIRST DIVISION

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Welcome To The RSC

by Chairman John O’Sullivan Hello everyone, and welcome to the RSC for tonight’s SSE Airtricity League tie with Finn Harps. I’d like to extend a warm Waterford welcome to the officials, players, staff and supporters of Finn Harps FC, and to add my best wishes for the future to outgoing Harps chairman Joey O’Leary who stepped down at the end of last season..

So the second series has come around already, and we again face the side against which we opened our campaign back at the start of March. Finn Harps always provide a great game of football, and I’ve no doubt tonight will be no different.

It was great to finally get our first three points of the league last weekend against Shamrock Rovers. It was a hardfought win, but it’s been long overdue on our performances to date, where we’ve made plenty of chances but only now began turning them into goals and wins. Hopefully we can keep that going tonight, though it will be a very tough game.

Many congratulations to the players who made the final four for our Under 19 Player of the Year award last Friday, and especially to the winner Andrew O’Connor. The U19 set-up has been a huge success for us, with another excellent season in terms of competitiveness, style of football and player development, and well done once again to everyone involved, right the way through the set-up.

If you or your firm are interested in helping out with sponsorship of any kind please do not hesitate to contact the club office or any of the management committee. Also, anyone interested in coming on board in any capacity to help out with the running of the club, please do get in contact, we always need help to keep the show on the road!

On that note, we are also asking everyone here tonight, and as many fans of the club as we can, to please take some tickets for the big Barcelona draw away with them, at least five – maybe ten if they can manage it, and sell them on on our behalf, spreading the word beyond the range of those interested in the League of Ireland.

This is our first big fundraising drive this year, and it’s just vital that we maximise our return, as at the end of the day only revenue income will keep the club going against such a relentless outpouring of costs required to run a League club. For just €8 per ticket, or three for €20, there is a brilliant prize of flights, accommodation and match tickets to a Barcelona match from the 2014/15 season at the Nou Camp, a must for all fans of football, and even for those that are not, as it is a Gary from Michael Crowe Carpets, Flooring & Bedding presenting the match wonderful city. All help we can get ball to Brian Gardiner & yours truly with the sale of these tickets will be photo : Brendan White gratefully received!

It was lovely too to have the great Dixie Hale at the RSC as guest of honour to present the award to Andrew, wonderful to witness a legend of one of the greatest ever Waterford sides of the 1950s at the home of the Blues, passing the baton as it were to one of the potential Blues stars of the future. Lovely also to see Brian Gardiner at the game last weekend, the goalscoring hero of the 1980 FAI Cup win.

It’s always good to have old friends of the club at the RSC, and long may it continue!

A huge thank you to Michael Crowe Carpets, Flooring & Bedding for their generous support as ball sponsor for the

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Rovers game last weekend, and to Gary who was there in attendance to present the ball on the night. This kind of support from such excellent local firms is truly vital to keep League football in Waterford, and it’s hugely appreciated by all at the club.

And that said, all that remains is to get behind the lads, let’s be as loud and as colourful as we can, to help them towards another three points tonight!

Best of luck Blues!

John

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The Manager’s Comments with First Team Manager Tommy Griffin Always, as a manager, and as a team, you want to go into every game keeping a clean sheet, and also scoring as many goals as possible.

So to finally get a home win last Friday, and in the process keep a fifth clean sheet, was pleasing for all concerned. We must now see that as a step for us in the right direction, and it should give us encouragement and belief to improve as the season rolls into the second phase of games. We all agree we have had a stuttering start to our campaign, so we will look to last Friday’s result to give us the kick start we need.

lovely to see the 19s out in force at the Rovers game on Friday. Some of these lads are now out of under 19 football, and so they will continue their pathway with our first team squad – Mark Walsh, Andy and Dean Reidy to name just a few.

Tonight we have Finn Harps down for the return of the opening night fixture, and they will be a very tough nut to crack. Under Ollie Horgan they are playing with a steely determination, and have some very exciting young players in their squad, Ruairi Keating and Carel Tiofack to name just two. I do know our supporters down here have a very healthy respect for Finn Harps and their supporters, so it is a very warm welcome I wish them. Our first game of the season up there was a very tight game, one which I thought we just shaded, but in the end we were pleased to come away with a draw as both teams had chances.

We are now looking as though we have a little more belief in the side. I certainly think we have shown that we can cope well with any physical challenge that is put up to us, and five clean Certainly I have got the sheets in seven games is a impression, from our training good return defensively. and preparation sessions The speed of our decisionthis week, that our players making and our technical are focused, and conscious ability in the final third of that we are playing a very the pitch is what we need to good side this evening. But take care of. I thought young we want to show that we Jack Doherty was excellent are on the way up, and in the first half against that we have the quality An impressive showing from Rovers, he now just needs to win. Again we will look Stephen Kenny last Friday night to be more consistent with to our supporters to be our photo : Paul Elliot/Waterford Soccer Magazine that type of performance.

12th man on the night – Once his decision-making improves in the final third I the amount of noise you created against Rovers was think you will see him contribute with goals and assists. unbelievable! Here’s hoping we give you all some more Stephen Kenny was another young lad who impressed cheering to do tonight. Enjoy the game. when introduced.

Mia San Mia, Congrats to Andy O’Connor, our U19 Player of the Year, another great prospect in the making! It was

y m m o T

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O’Connor Wins Player Of The Year

by Brendan White & Adrian Flanagan Last Friday night at the RSC Andrew O’Connor was awarded the Blues Supporters Club U19 Player of the Year for the 2013/14 season, presented at halftime during United’s 1-0 win over Shamrock Rovers

by Waterford FC legend, and guest of honour on the night, Dixie Hale.

nature of the process. “What I think is great also is the fact that this award wasn’t just decided by a panel of judges, but that the players also had a say in the vote, so it’s great that their opinion on who should be the winner was to the fore of Andrew’s ultimate winning of the award.”

After the squad was whittled down to a shortlist of four for the voting, O’Connor beat off strong competition from Patrick Fitzgerald, Mark Walsh and Johnny St Ledger, following a combined vote of players, local media representatives and the Blues U19 management team, co-ordinated by Adrian Flanagan of the Waterford News & Star. The Emerald Crystal award was funded by the Blues Supporters Club Fantasy Football Competition.

Likewise, Blues chairman John O’Sullivan was appreciative of the efforts of all concerned, and delighted with the success of the 19s’ season. “I’d like to thank the players of the U19 squad for the fantastic effort that they put in during the season as they were a credit to the club. They gave it their all in the league with some excellent results and it was great to see a number of the players stepping up to the first team squad.

“The amount of The winning player effort that the was content to management team let the trophy do of Johnny, Deckie, the talking on the Trevor and John night, but speaking put in was quite after the ceremony, unbelievable, Waterford United and the club owe U19 manager a great deal of Johnny Browne gratitude to these was fulsome in his lads.

They’ve Andy O’Connor presented with the U19 Player praise of all of his worked very hard, of the Yeartrophy by Blues legend Dixie Hale photo : Paul Elliot/Waterford Soccer Magazine players. “Firstly I had us playing a must pay tribute great brand of to all the players for the amount of work they put in football and it was a great season for them as well.” to this squad. I described it as an honour to manage them when Tommy was appointed first team manager The last word went to the Blues chairman. “I’d like to and in fairness to the lads, they did everything I ever congratulate Andrew O’Connor on winning the player asked of them. We had some exceptional players in of the year award. It’s always great to recognise the the squad but I think we had a group of players that players for their efforts, and thanks to the Supporters wanted to play and work hard for each other.”

Club for putting up this trophy.”

With a special word for the winner, Browne continued: “I’m delighted for Andrew O’Connor because he is a great lad with a great attitude. He put in a great work rate for us wherever we played him and I congratulate him on being named as the player of the year.”

The 19s boss was also pleased with the inclusive

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A Splash Ofby Shane Colour Murphy Harps fans travelling the 400km from Donegal today to watch their team really deserve great credit. Supporters’ efforts are often ignored, but with two of the best, and most committed, sets of fans in the country meeting tonight, it’s a good excuse to take a look at some notorious football fans worldwide.

The Hitchhiker ‘Cork Tom’ is one of the League’s great institutions, thumbing his way to up to 200 games a season. So prolific is his attendance that he has even been known to be in Inchicore for the start of a Pat’s match before catching Bohs’ second half across the city in Phibsboro. To add another layer to his story, Cork Tom is actually from Kerry, but was a big Hibs fan back in their heyday. In fact, he has still never forgiven Waterford for winning the title decider at Flower Lodge in 1972. A discussion with Tom is a rite of passage.

His words of wisdom usually start with “I’ll tell ya now” (Jason Byrne of Bohs does a spot-on impression on YouTube) and all his predictions are delivered with 100% certainty, even if most don’t come to fruition. Will he ever stop going to games? As the man himself would say, “Don’t be coddin’ me!”

him to stop his protest. Dundalk had to wait another two years for promotion while Maxi got four months for criminal damage.

The Ball Boy At 42, Mexican-born Abel Rodriguez might be considered too old to be a ball boy, but every summer, the cleaner takes unpaid holidays to gather footballs for his beloved Real Madrid when they train in Los Angeles. Leaving home at 5am, he spends the day setting up cones and helping coaches before returning at 11pm for a few hours’ sleep.

Last year, he used every penny he had to fulfil his dream of attending ‘el clasico’. He turned up unannounced at Real’s training complex with no ticket and nowhere to stay.

Denied entry, he sat for five hours in the freezing cold until Jose Mourinho recognised him. The specious one showed his generous side by arranging a room at the team hotel, VIP ticket and dinner with the manager. Mourinho went even further by bringing him to Manchester a few days later to work as kitman for a Champions League clash where his compatriot Chicharito gave him his jersey, and he also met Alex Ferguson, Cristiano Ronaldo and Diego Maradona.

The Comeback Kid Last month in South Africa, one young fan had his moment in the spotlight The Drummer thanks to one of his football heroes.

Known by fans worldwide and stopped Having watched Bafana Bafana for pictures and autographs wherever hammered 5-0 by Brazil, the Soweto Manolo the Drummer is a familiar he goes, Manolo’s contribution to sight in stadiums around the globe local couldn’t resist the urge to football has been to beat ‘El Bombo run onto the pitch. Within seconds, de Espana’ in support of Spain for over thirty years in every security kicked into action and the 7 year old was being corner of the globe. Brazil will be his ninth World Cup. After manhandled away until Neymar intervened. The Barcelona years of underachievement, nobody has enjoyed the recent star, who had scored a hat-trick, took the delighted child in success of La Furia Roja more than the Valencian. It hasn’t all his arms and introduced him to his team-mates who bounced been smooth sailing - he came back from one tournament him in the air like a World Cup-winning coach. The new to find that his wife had left him. These days, the Spanish friends then posed for photos taken by David Luiz.

FA include him as part of the squad, paying for his travel, tickets and accommodation.

The Hurler on the Ditch One summer’s day in 1994, West Ham fan Steve Davies The Petrolhead spent the first half of a friendly in Oxford giving dog’s Back in late 2006, Mark Kavanagh (aka Maxi McAllister) abuse to cumbersome striker Lee Chapman. Harry had half the country talking about the play-off between the Redknapp eventually cracked and told the mouthy fan Blues and Dundalk. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the football that to see if he could do better. Having used what subs he was being discussed, but the fact that Maxi had threatened had, Harry gave boots and kit to Davies, a thirty-a-day to set FAI headquarters alight, furious at the perceived man who had swigged a couple of beers on the sideline, injustice of Dundalk not being placed in the Premier Division and the courier achieved his boyhood dream by playing despite beating Waterford. It had been stated all along for the Hammers. He even outdid Chapman by scoring that only ten out of a thousand marks for on and off-field when he took a pass from Matty Holmes and belted it past criteria were allocated for winning the play-off, but Maxi’s the keeper. No multi-million pound contract followed, but passion wouldn’t yield to number-crunching. A tense stand- Davies still proudly boasts of being “a former West Ham off ended when Dundalk manager John Gill persuaded United striker.”

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Welcome to Finn Harps This evening’s visitors to the RSC

KEY PLAYER: PAT McCANN A fair part of Harps’ good start to the new campaign can be put down to the continuing presence in the middle of the park of 23-year-old New Yorker Pat McCann, first signed by the Northwesterners after an impressive trial in July of last year. A committed, driving midfielder, always looking to get forward, and with a powerful strike from distance, the fourth generation American, whose great-great-grandparents hailed from Donegal, took to League football from the off, scoring twice in eight appearances to the end of the season, and he has continued where he left off this year, notching three times already in the first series of League games.

ONE TO WATCH: RUAIRÍ KEATING Another already well on the goal trail for Harps, with three in all competitions, is pacy young forward Ruairí Keating, on loan from Sligo Rovers until July. An exciting prospect, still only 18 years old, the Mayo youngster was top scorer for the Bit o’ Red’s U19 side in the season just concluded, despite his campaign being curtailed as he signed a pro contract in January and was almost immediately loaned to the Donegal outfit to gain vital League experience. An all round striker, Ruairí has the pace, control and finish to threaten any defence, and showed outstanding confidence for his age to dispatch an equalising penalty with five minutes to go at home to Wexford two weeks ago.

LEGEND: BRENDAN BRADLEY Synonymous with Finn Harps, and indeed with the League of Ireland in the 1970s, Brendan Bradley’s impact on the domestic soccer scene continues to this day. The Derryman was there at the start of Harps’ league journey, signed from the Candystripes’ reserve

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side for £100 in 1969, and he finished League top scorer in two of his three seasons at Finn Park, before former Blue David Herd brought him to Lincoln City in July 1972. After a flying start, a downturn in the club’s fortunes, the arrival of new boss Graham Taylor, and a growing desire to return home saw a move back to Donegal, and it was as if he’d never been away. The following season he netted two late winning goals against St Pat’s in the FAI Cup final, and in the following seasons he topped the league scoring charts twice more, making it a record fourth time, the last also a record total of 29, including all six in a 6-1 win over Sligo Rovers.

His career total of 235 LoI goals (181 for Harps) remains the target for all, and despite a valiant tilt from Jason Byrne will probably never be bettered.

GOLDEN ERA: 1971-80 Though Finn Harps have had successful spells in more recent years, it is fair to say that their golden era was without doubt the 1970s. To fans of a certain vintage the swashbuckling football that brought that success, and so many admirers, will always epitomise the decade in domestic terms, typified by players like Bradley and Charlie Ferry. Though never taking the title, only once in the decade did Harps finish outside the top half of the table, and they were runners up three times (the first, by an agonising point, to ourselves in 1972/73). Glamour UEFA Cup ties against Aberdeen, Derby County and Everton were scant reward. Their first silverware came against Cork Hibs in the Dublin City Cup in 1972, and two years later they lifted their only FAI Cup to date (earning a first round CWC tie against Turkish side Bursaspor, pictured). They were also runners up in consecutive League Cup finals in 1974 (Waterford) and ‘75 (Bohemians). Like the Blues a gradual decline in the 1980s, and occasional success since, puts them squarely in the ‘sleeping giant’ category.

Head To Head

THE GAFFER: OLLIE HORGAN With names like Sean McGowan, Don O’Riordan and Sean Connor in the ring for new Finn Harps boss at the end of last season, it’s fair to say that Ollie Horgan was something of a dark horse in the race to succeed Peter Hutton in the Ballybofey hotseat. The Galway native is far from new to the higher levels of the game, however, having taken Fanad United to three Ulster Senior League titles in eight seasons, as well as managing the Republic of Ireland U18 Schoolboys side since 2012. A reportedly hugely impressive interview sealed the appointment, and has fired imaginations around Finn Park, the renewed optimism reflected in a fine first series of games under the new boss, as the team currently sit well placed in the promotion hunt, the only reverses somewhat unfortunate defeats at Longford and Shelbourne.

LEAGUE GAMES PLAYED - 78 Won 33, Drawn 18, Lost 27 Scored 125, Conceded 116 BIGGEST WIN 6:0 – 1993/94 RSC BIGGEST DEFEAT 1:5 – 1974/75 Finn Park LAST SIX GAMES Harps 0-0 Blues – 7th Mar 2014 Harps 0-2 Blues – 16th Aug 2013 Blues 3-0 Harps – 28th Jun 2013 Harps 0-1 Blues – 26th Apr 2013 Blues 1-1 Harps – 8th Mar 2013 Harps 1-2 Blues – 29th Sep 2012

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From The Supporters Club

by Chairperson Julieanne Leahy OK so we finally have that elusive first win of the season under our belts! Let’s hope that’s the first of many and that we can carry on by picking up another three points tonight against Finn Harps.

The Blues Supporters Club are delighted to be helping the club run a draw for an amazing prize of tickets, flights and accommodation to Barcelona for a game in Camp Nou in the 2014/2015 season. Tickets will be on sale in the club shop tonight, and you will also be able to get them from any BSC committee members. Tickets can be bought for only €8 each or the great value of three for €20, with the draw to be made at the Galway home game in early July.

winner. Congratulations Andrew!

Our Matchday Mascot tonight is Jamie Hutchinson, whose name was put forward by Matt Evans. Jamie is sponsored tonight by the BSC Fantasy Football League. If you would like your business to sponsor our mascot, and have your business advertised here, please feel free to contact any committee member. Any BSC member who wishes to put forward a child, grandchild, niece or nephew (ages between 4 and 10) for selection for the Matchday Mascot can do so to Davy at the club shop on any matchnight.

We are also looking for any local sports clubs to provide ball boys and girls on match nights. If your club is interested please contact Davy in the club shop tonight.

Congratulations once again to If anyone is interested in travelling to Brian Nolan, who took the first Blues Eamonn Deacy (formerly Terryland) Supporters Club Player of the Month Park, Galway, on Friday May 2nd, March Player of the Month award this season, for which the or to Turner’s Cross, Cork, on Monday winner Brian Nolan presentation was made last weekend.

May 5th, the Blues Supporters Club photo: Brendan White The Player of the Month prize has, for are looking at running buses to both several seasons now, been generously games. If you are thinking of travelling sponsored by the Dungarvan Brewing Company, who to either or both, please contact Davy in the club shop also very kindly sponsor our monthly members draw, and tonight, or on the travel phone 083 4033699, to get your tonight we will be making the BSC members draw for the name down. So although there is still a bit of time to get month of April. your name down, the buses will only run if the numbers are there, so don’t leave it to the last minute!!

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Andrew O’Connor on winning the BSC Sponsored U19 So here’s to our second win of the season!

Player of the Year last Friday. It was another very successful season for the U19 squad and management, Yours in the chair, with great performances all across the squad, four excellent candidates on the shortlist, and a very worthy

Get Quizzical

Julieanne

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Who were the last team to reach an FA Cup Final without facing opponents from the top flight?

Name the manager of Linfield who will stand down this summer?

Sassuolo play in which National League?

A player from each side scored a hat-trick in the games between Man United and Liverpool in the 2010/11 season.

Which players?

Striker Enda Curran plays for which Airtricity League side?

Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa plays international football for which country?

Who is the current manager of the USA national team?

Answers Page 15 Which team did Arsenal play in Arsene Wenger’s first game in charge?

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The Dark Horses

Notes On A Small Tournament by Bluebeard Every four years, the World Cup tosses up some genuinely exciting new teams. Realistically, each time the tournament rolls around, the potential winners will come from just six or seven countries, but each time too there are the dark horses. Teams like Bulgaria in 1994, Croatia in ‘98, Turkey in 2002, or last time, Uruguay. Teams who could conceivably make the semis – or failing that, entertain greatly trying – but are hard to credit as a genuine contender. These are the teams I generally enjoy watching most of all.

Nigeria and Ghana represent Africa’s best hopes in Brazil. Nigeria don’t have the stars they did in ‘94, or ‘98, but manager and former captain Stephen Keshi has built a proper team, winning the recent Cup of Nations. Facing Iran first, then Bosnia should help, and the frequent clashes with Argentina will make this not just a group decider, but a potential signature match for both teams. Ameobi recently declared for them, and John Obi Mikel and Victor Moses are the EPL stars, but CSKA’s young winger Ahmed Musa is worth watching. Ghana face one of the toughest groups, but may have the robustness and experience to progress.

They cruised through qualification, and destroyed otherwise unbeaten Egypt in the playoffs. Essien and the Boatengs are at the heart of a squad mostly coming from middling to good European teams, with many going to the World Cup for the 2nd or 3rd time.

Take Chile. Under Marcelo Bielsa’s tenure, Chile became a really entertaining team to watch. Continuing under Jorge Sampaoli, they have lost only three times in his 15 games in charge: away from home by a single goal to Peru, Brazil and Germany.

They’ll want to improve on the last 16 this time, and Barcelona’s Alexis Sánchez will be a key to that – Belgium are favorites to be the though only 25, he’s their second most dark horse team. After years in the experienced player, and on course wilderness, a Belgian international to being Chile’s greatest ever. Their is the must-have accessory for any South American rivals, Uruguay, have club with ambitions these days. They their names well established already cantered through qualification, and – Cavani, Suarez, Forlan as impact they have some fantastic players. sub, and others at top clubs have Fantastic enough to win it out? Not recently propelled them to 4th at at all, but they should entertain, the World Cup and Confederations perhaps as far as the semis if Lukaku Cup, and Copa América Champions or Benteke can score consistently. too. Beaten only once since that Eight of their 2008 Olympic squad Milan’s Keisuke Honda will be Confederations Cup, they’ve got are likely to go to Brazil, Kompany part of a Japan attack worth to be aiming at quarter finals – and Fellaini were the key men then, watching this summer impressive given Uruguay has only as now. half of this island’s population.

Honduras are a wild card. Not a major CONCACAF Group C should be fun. Both Colombia and Japan power, but a hard side to break down, and happy are playing great football and will meet in the group to mix it up. While far from pretty, they get results, decider. Ranked 5th by FIFA, Colombia fancy their including coming from behind to beat Mexico at the chances, though the last time they were this popular Azteca. France, Switzerland and Ecuador could be going into the World Cup was 1994, and that an easy group on the way to a surprising run. Not didn’t turn out well. They’ll probably be missing their many familiar names here, mostly playing in the US penetrative force with Falcao injured, but they are still or Honduras, but interestingly, four of the Palacios a formidable side, with Fredy Guarín pulling the strings, brothers have played for their country, and three of and this could be a chance for Jackson Martínez to them will probably go to Brazil – Wilson is the best and shine. FIFA rate Japan only 48th in the world, but recent best known of them, playing now for Stoke. Look out performances against generally good teams suggests also for Anderlecht’s Andy Najar on the wing, hopefully otherwise, especially in November against Belgium he will take his chance to grace the world stage. and the Netherlands, and even in their Confederations Cup defeats. First to qualify, this may be the Japanese Next time out, I look at the credible contenders. If you golden generation, and with Endo, Honda, and Kagawa want to know why, find me at btid.net, or on twitter @ in midfield and Okazaki up top they’re exciting to bluebeardrex. watch. The current Asian and East Asian champions have a lot of experienced, yet young enough, players, and this could be their big breakthrough.

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The Monster In My Bedroom

A Finn Harps Nightmare By Brian Kennedy

The name of Finn Harps sends a shiver down my spine. It’s not often I admit that, but it helps to talk about these things! You see back in the day when spending all your money down the arcade was replaced by Ataris, Commodore 64s, and other home computers the size of a fridge, one game was king: Championship Manager.

For the first time there was a game for the control-freak nerds like myself who didn’t need to break their wrists swivelling a computer generated player down the field to score a goal. Now you were boss. Master tactician.

Arsene Wegner from your old bedroom.

It was always excruciatingly apparent that those of us who invested 110% of their free time in a management simulation had long since lost their grip on reality. In my first season of managing AC Milan in 1993 I remember shouting at the screen during one match that “that Marco van Basten was as much use as a one-legged man in an arsekicking contest,” only realizing the absurdity of the comment when my friend pointed out that, away from a dusty, kebab-stained 14-inch monitor, I’d have never actually seen van Basten.

end I had a 1-1-9 attack force whose best effort on goal was winning a throw in on 78 minutes. By February I’d been relegated and collected just seven points from 22 games. The squad had 46 players – twenty of them loan signings – and we’d sunk to a new low with an attendance of 78 at home to Sligo Rovers (ironically it would be the single game I’d won, courtesy of a 90th minute own goal).

My management career was in tatters, the club was about to go down and my girlfriend left me a long time ago. Depressed. Lost. A social outcast, I did the only thing a quick thinking manager would do... I pulled the plug and reset the game.

Twelve months later and with a front line of Anders Limpar and Duncan Ferguson I reached the FAI Cup Final, took the lead after 35 seconds (good old Kevin Kelly) and still lost the game 3-1. Why? Two words.

Jonathan Speak. Two more. Finn Harps. Yet again the northerners had come back (and rightly so since I was a cheating sod) to haunt me.

I recently bridged an almost 20year gap by buying Championship Manager again, and playing the most updated version of the game.

My first ever match in Championship This time I’ve managed to win Manager was with Waterford back-to-back FAI Cups and have United. My opening game? A Waterford United playing Benfica Finn Harps: a formidable obstacle in Europe. Despite the success I was Premier Division clash with Finn even in the virtual world Harps at the RSC. My Blues side denied a first League of Ireland photo: photo: Paul Elliot/WSM that day included names like Alan Championship since 1972/73 – Barry, Scott Garlich, Aidan Swift when you manage you have to think and Pascal Keane. Harps had a host of players missing it’s part of Waterford United’s real history – by a so I opted for a 4-3-3. I started well... for about four northern team who pipped us by a point by winning minutes anyway. After those 240 seconds Pat Arrigan 1-0 in a new 6,000 capacity ground in Stranorlar. creamed a Harps centre-forward in the box, and the Finn Harps. resulting penalty put us 1-0 down. Poor Mr Garlich had to reach into the back on the net three more times that Whilst my dreams aren’t unfortunately reality, Finn day, and my only solace was a Brian Barry cracker in Harps new stadium is. May they have a long life and a 4-1 home defeat. Later that season I crossed paths prosperity when they move into it. And may the Blues’ again with them in my return game in Ballybofey. One constant defeats to them stay firmly locked... on the CD word. Annihilation. of a PC game called Championship Manager!

As I sat with my cup of tea and toast, pulling a sickie from work and avoiding all calls from the outside world, I couldn’t believe the seven goals Harps had hammered past me in the opening hour. I tried 4-4-2 and conceded four. Opted for 4-3-3 and let in another three. By the 14

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Shelbourne Longford Town Wexford Youths Finn Harps Galway FC Waterford United Shamrock Rovers B Cobh Ramblers

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Follow The Blues Home & Away In 2014

Where We Stand

01 Mar Cork City 07 Mar Finn Harps 10 Mar Avondale United 14 Mar Galway FC 21 Mar Shelbourne 28 Mar Wexford Youths 05 Apr Longford Town 12 Apr Cobh Ramblers 18 Apr Shamrock Rovers Res 25 Apr Finn Harps 02 May Galway FC 05 May Cork City 09 May Shelbourne 16 May Wexford Youths 23 May Longford Town 30 May Cobh Ramblers 12 Jun Shamrock Rovers Res 27 Jun Finn Harps 04 Jul Galway FC 11 Jul Shelbourne 18 Jul Wexford Youths 26 Jul Longford Town 02 Aug Cobh Ramblers 08 Aug Shamrock Rovers Res 15 Aug Finn Harps 29 Aug Galway FC 05 Sep Shelbourne 19 Sep Wexford Youths 26 Sep Longford Town 03 Oct Cobh Ramblers 12 Oct Shamrock Rovers Res

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H A H H A H A A H H A A H A H H A A H A H A A H H A H A H H A

1-3 0-0 2-0 0-0 3-3 1-2 0-0 0-0 1-0

ALFD - AIRTRICITY LEAGUE FIRST DIVISION MSC - MUNSTER SENIOR CUP EASC - EA SPORTS CUP FAIC - FORD FAI CUP Paddy Barrett opened his account against Rovers B last weekend photo : Paul Elliot/WSM

First Division Hotshots PLAYER Danny Furlong Dylan Connolly Daniel Purdy S Pat McCann David O’Sullivan Ruairi Keating Chris Lyons Ryan Manning Stephen Walsh

CLUB GOALS Wexford Youths 5 Shelbourne 4 hamrock Rovers B 4 Finn Harps 3 Longford Town 3 Finn Harps 2 Shamrock Rovers B 2 Galway FC 2 Galway FC 2

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This Weekend’s Other First Division Fixtures FRIDAY APRIL 25TH Wexford Youths v Shelbourne SATURDAY APRIL 26TH Longford Town v Galway FC SUNDAY APRIL 27TH Shamrock Rovers B v Cobh Ramblers

Quiz Answers 1. Millwall (2003/04), 2. David Jeffrey, 3. Italian Serie A, 4. Dimitar Berbatov & Dirk Kuyt, 5. Derry City, 6. Spain, 7. Jurgen Klinsmann, 8. Blackburn Rovers

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Spotlight With Shane Murray the Blues midfielder talked to Brendan White back out for our cool down there were still there, a great group of them with the drum. They’re a good group of fans to be fair to them, they followed us down to Cobh last time which was great and they kept making noise, so fair play to them.”

As for the result’s significance to the season going forward, Murray is equal parts pragmatic and optimistic. “It’s huge to just get that win off our backs now, it was a bit of a weird situation that we were in having drawn five of our six matches. I think that’s a massive three points for us, and that’ll hopefully start our season for us now and kick on from here hopefully.”

Name: Shane Murray Position: Midfielder Height: 6ft Born: 27th February 1992, Wicklow Resides: Wicklow Previous Sides: Sheffield United, Arklow Town, Bohemians After a hard-fought match that saw Waterford United take an overdue first win of the season, Brendan White caught up with Blues midfielder Shane Murray, to get his thoughts on the game just gone, the season so far, and the prospects for the rest of the year. He first asked the Wicklow native how the first three point haul of the campaign had gone down in the dressing room.

“We’re delighted to get the win and get the three points, that’s all Vinny the captain has been saying, all we needed was to get that three points no matter how we get it. We can kick on from here now, that’ll settle us all down, it was a bit cagey at the end but the main thing is we got through it and we got the three points.”

“The early goal was important”, the lively midfielder continued, “it settled us down. It was a great header by Paddy [Barrett] and then it was all about concentration after that. They never really threatened us, but we didn’t want to over commit and then get caught.”

After catching the eye in pre-season, including a spell as the club’s latest viral sensation with his goal direct from a corner kick against Limerick reaching almost 150,000 youtube views and being picked up by the likes of ESPN, the 22-year-old missed much of the opening series of games through illness. “It’s been very frustrating personally being out sick. Coming back, I was half back for a bit, but Tommy and Alan told me stay away until I get myself back and fit. I’ve trained fully the last two weeks and I’m starting to feel back to myself now thankfully.”

Looking forward to tonight’s game, and beyond, Murray and his colleagues are in no doubt as to what is required of the team to get them back challenging at the right end of the table. “Same thing again against Harps next week, we’ll be looking to get straight in to get the three points. It’s going to be a tough game, they’re doing well, but I think we need to make the RSC a fortress here this season, this is where we need to be picking up the majority of our points and we’ll all be ready for the game. Home form is important but if we can start picking up more points away from home too that’ll really help us.”

And as the players and staff dispersed from under the old stand after a satisfactory evening’s work, a last word from the young midfielder struck an upbeat note. “Morale is still good here and we still have the belief that we can push on. It wasn’t our best game against Rovers, but that’ll settle everyone, and we’ll look to kick on from here.”

“And the fans were great too, even when we went 16

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Who’s Who At The Blues CONTACT DETAILS

Waterford Regional Sports Centre, Cork Road, Waterford T - 051 392034 F - 051 392035 info@waterford-united.ie www.waterford-united.ie

BOARD OF MANAGEMENT

Head of Governance - Chris Everett Head of Finance - Tony Burke Head of Communications & Community - Ray Scott Head of Technical - Greg Pheasey

CLUB STRUCTURE

Chairman - John O’Sullivan Directors- Chris Everett & Michael Drohan Hon President - Bertie Rogers Hon Vice-President - Dr Liam McCann Hon Secretary - Ray Scott General Manager - Michael Drohan Media Officer - Brendan White FAI Representative - Paul Cooke

TEAM AFFAIRS

Manager - Tommy Griffin Coaching Staff - David Breen, Alan Reynolds, Billy Hearne & John Frost Club Doctor - Dr Jorge Alcalá, Physiotherapist - Ann Prendergast Kitman - Michael Walsh

MATCHNIGHT EVENT MANAGEMENT Event Controller - Mark Dunne Event Manager - Sam White Safety Officer - Padraig Dunne Stadium Announcer - Michael Butler

Club Honours LEAGUE OF IRELAND CHAMPIONS 1965/66, 1967/68, 1968/69, 1969/70, 1971/72, 1972/73 SHIELD WINNERS 1930/31, 1936/37, 1952/53, 1958/59. 1968/69 FAI CUP WINNERS 1937, 1980 LEAGUE CUP WINNERS 1973/74, 1984/85 FIRST DIVISION CHAMPIONS 1989/90, 1997/98, 2002/03 MUNSTER SENIOR CUP CHAMPIONS 1935, 1946, 1948, 1956, 1957, 1966, 1967, 1976, 1981, 1986, 1987, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2013 The 1980 FAI Cup Winning Blues

MATCHDAY PROGRAMME PRODUCTION

Design - Apples & Pears (kevin@applesandpears.ie) Print - DVF Print & Graphic Solutions Editor - John Kehoe Copy Team - Ray Scott, John Kehoe, Ger McGinn, Michael Butler, Tom Flynn, Brian Kennedy, Brendan White, Martin French, Shane Murphy

Ground Regulations

All copyright held by WUFC Operations Limited. Design concept copyright of Apples & Pears. Any personal views expressed herein are the contributorsown and not the offical view of the Club unless stated otherwise.

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1 – Persons entering this ground are admitted only subject to the following Ground Regulations and the Rules & Regulations of the Airtricity League and the Football Association of Ireland. Entry to the ground shall be deemed to constitute unqualified acceptance of all these rules. 2 – Fireworks, smoke canisters, bottles, glasses, cans, flags, banners, poles, flares and other similar articles or containers, including anything which could or might be used as a weapon, are not permitted within the ground and any person in possession of such an article or container may be refused entry to or ejected from the ground. 3 – The consumption of alcohol in the ground is forbidden and spectators are not permitted to bring alcohol into the ground. 4 – The club management will not tolerate any form of threatening behaviour or racist abuse and racist or abusive chanting is strictly forbidden. 5 – Excessive noise, such as that from the use of radio sets or mobile devices and behaviour likely to cause confusion, annoyane or nuisance of any kind, including foul or abusive language is not permitted in any part of the ground. 6 – Standing in seated areas of the ground and / or the moving from one area of the ground to another without the permission of a steward, An Garda Síochána, or other authorised agent of club management, is strictly forbidden. 7 – Any person who obstructs and / or remains in an access gangway may be ejected from the ground. 8 – Under no circumstances is it permitted to throw an object on the pitch. 9 – unauthorised persons are not permitted to enter onto the field of play and shall be ejected from the ground and have their right of entry revoked. 10 – The climbing of walls, floodlight pylons, stands or other building and structures in the ground is forbidden. 11 – Any person who fails to comply with the instructions from a steward may be ejected from the ground.

12 – In general, the right of admission is reserved to the club management. 13 – The Club management reserves the right to refuse admission or to eject any person who refuses to be searched by member of An Garda Síochána. 14 – The club management reserves the right for its servants or agents to remove from the ground any person who does not comply with the ground regulations or whose presence in the ground could be reasonably construed as constituting a source of danger, nuisance or annoyance to other spectators. 15 – In the event of a match being postponed or abandoned, any refund of the admission charge will be at the discretion of the club management and this is subject to a time limitation, details of which are available from the club offices. (As issued by Club Management, March 2014).

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Powering Live Football

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Kevin BURNS Matthew CONNOR Shane MORRISSEY Gavin O’DONOVAN Gavin KAVANAGH Shaun CORCORAN Conor WHITTLE Gary DELANEY John FROST Thomas WHITTY Patrick FITZGERALD Kevin O’CONNOR Paddy BARRETT Peter WHITE Jack DOHERTY Conor COAD Brian NOLAN Shane MURRAY Philip DROHAN Thomas CROKE Stephen KENNY Paul QUILTY Willie John KIELY Kynan ROCKS Conor MEADE Vinny SULLIVAN

● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

The Blues’ Mascot

kindly sponsored by BSC Fantasy Football League Leading out the Blues tonight is 10 year old Jamie Hutchinson, who goes to Mount Sion School. Jamie is a big fan of Waterford United and Celtic, and his favourite players are Paul Quilty and Kris Commons. Jamie plays football with Southend as a centre back, and his favourite food is fish and chips.

The Matchday Mascot sponsor tonight is the Blues Supporters Club Fantasy Football League. At just €10 for the season, BSC membership comes with many benefits such as a monthly members draw and discounted away travel. In addition, you can nominate a child for the mascot draw, like Jamie above. Call into Davy in the club shop to sign up tonight!

MATCH OFFICIALS REFEREE Simon Rogersl

ASSISTANTS Darragh Keegan Paula Brady

BALL BOYS Kilmacthomas

4TH OFFICIAL Jim McKel

● WINN Conor ● PATTON Shaun ● COWAN Keith ● COLL Ciarán ● McNULTY Damien ● MAILEY Packie ● MAILEY Josh ● DOHERTY James ● BONNER Caoimhín ● FLANAGAN Chris ● FUNSTON Mickey ● McCANN Pat ● TIOFACK Carel ● BONNER Tommy ● BONNER Jonny ● FISHER Graham ● FORKER Mark ● HARKIN Gareth ● CURRAN Ryan ● McGOWAN Shaun ● DOHERTY Michael ● HENRY Matty ● KEATING Ruairí ● McCARRON Seán ● McHUGH Kevin ● McVEIGH Paul ● BLACK Darragh