FAI Football Exhibition

NATIONAL FOOTBALL EXHIBITION LAUNCH NIGHT

L-R: Stephen Staunton, Niall Quinn, Stephen Kenny and Ray Houghton

Former Dundalk FC manager Stephen Kenny and hometown hero Stephen Staunton were two of the big names at the launch of the National Football Exhibition in the County Museum on February 13th.

The museum was packed to the rafters for the opening of the exhibition which celebrates the history of Irish football, along with 60 years of the European Championships.

Kenny and Staunton were joined on stage by FAI deputy interim CEO Niall Quinn and National Football Exhibition ambassador Ray Houghton for an entertaining Q&A.

Speaking at the event, Quinn said: “The National Football Exhibition is a hugely positive initiative as part of the 60th year celebrating the European Championships and it is a real thrill to be here to celebrate football in Dundalk and across Louth.

“I am delighted to be asked to celebrate the opening of this leg of the exhibition and proud to stand again beside friends and former teammates in Steve Staunton and Ray Houghton, as well as Stephen Kenny, a man who has contributed so much to football in Dundalk and nationally.

“I would urge as many fans as possible to get down to the County Museum over the coming weeks as it’s a hugely impressive Exhibition and one which will inspire and interest the next generation of football and sports fans throughout

the area.”

The Football Association of Ireland, Dublin City Council and The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport have joined forces to create a National Football Exhibition as part of the build up to Ireland’s Aviva Stadium playing host to four matches in the UEFA EURO 2020 Championship in June.

The exhibition runs until February 29th. Opening times are as follows: Tuesday – Friday: 10am–5pm; Saturday–Sunday: 10am–1pm & 2pm–5pm. Please note that the museum is closed on Mondays.

Download the National Football Exhibition App from the App Store or Google Play Store for additional information.

Ray Houghton shares a joke with Nicky McCourt and Tony O’Kane at the exhibition

NATIONAL FOOTBALL EXHIBITION STEPHEN KENNY

Stephen Kenny talks to Dundalk FC’s Gavin McLaughlin

Former Dundalk manager Stephen Kenny was on familiar ground at the launch of the National Football Exhibition in the County Museum recently. Gavin McLaughlin caught up with the soon-to-be Irish boss.

GMCL: Stephen, that was an enjoyable night. What do you make of the exhibition?

SK: It’s great and it’s great to have it in Dundalk. The history of Irish football is fascinating, very intriguing, and you can see how different teams and players can influence different eras of people. It’s brilliant that grandfathers, right down to sons and daughters, can all look back at different stages of the history.

GMCL: This time next year you’ll become part of that history.

SK: Yeah, and that will be a tremendous privilege. Its a great honour to be involved with your country.

GMCL: The last time I interviewed you was at the Aviva Stadium in November 2018 when you were confirmed as the U21 manager. Things have gone really well for you and the team since, probably better than you ever could have imagined?

SK: Yeah, in one year we played 12 competitive internationals. In that time, we’ve played Brazil, Mexico, who won a gold medal at the last Olympics, twice, China, Bahrain, Sweden twice and a great Italian team. I’ve learned so much about international football, the 10-day camps and how they work, having two games in the space of 10 days and how to prepare best and peak at the right time. It has been challenging but I’ve really enjoyed it.

GMCL: For the first time, probably ever, the Irish U21 team seems to have caught the imagination of the wider public. The Italy game in Tallaght last October sold out which has never happened before.

SK: Yeah, we sold that game out three weeks in advance. The on disappointing thing is that the upcoming game with Iceland on March 26th is

L-R: Niall Quinn, Stephen Kenny and Ray Houghton

on a Thursday night at 5pm. If it was on the Friday, we’d have sold it out but it’s a 5pm kick-off on a Thursday. I hope people come along.

GMCL: You’ve been back to Oriel Park on a few occasions. You must have been impressed with how well Vinny Perth did in his first season in the hot seat.

SK: Yeah, Vinny did brilliant last season. There’s a great backroom team there of Ruaidhri Higgins, John Gill, Steve Williams, Danny Miller and David Connolly, they’re great people and there’s great people throughout the club. The players have a tremendous mentality. Experienced players like Stephen O’Donnell have moved on but the likes of Brian Gartland, Dane Massey and Chris Shields have assumed that mantle. They lead by example by setting good habits, how you prepare, how you train and that’s the nature of the players at the club.

GMCL: You mention Chris Shields, he’s heading for 10 years at the club after signing a new contract.

SK: Chris deserves a testimonial. You don’t often get 10 years at a club in Ireland. It’s absolutely tremendous.

GMCL: Finally, you also mentioned Stephen O’Donnell who was a great captain for Dundalk. Did you always expect him to become a manager?

SK: He’s a natural leader but you have to learn about management and Stephen has gone straight in. He’s 34 now and I’ve no problem with somebody starting young. Age shouldn’t be a concern. I won a league title with Bohemians when I was 30! Management is tough but he’s at a good club with St Patrick’s Athletic who will give him lots of backing and I’m sure he will do fine.

NATIONAL FOOTBALL EXHIBITION STEPHEN STAUNTON With 102 caps, three appearances at the World Cup and an English league title, FA Cup and League Cup winners medal to his name, there is no denying that Stephen Staunton is Dundalk’s most famous son. The 51-year-old was a special guest at the launch of the National Football Exhibition in the County Museum recently and Gavin McLaughlin caught up with the former Irish captain and manager on his return to the town he loves so well….

Stephen Staunton

GMCL: Stephen, it’s great to see you in Dundalk. How does it feel to be back?

SS: It’s always great to get back to town. We were over for the Six Nations rugby game with Wales and I was asked if I’d be around to come to this. Any excuse for me to come home! It’s a great honour and it’s great for the town to have the exhibition and all of that memorabilia here in the museum.

GMCL: Do you get back to Dundalk much? SS: I try and get back as much as possible. All the family are still here, my mother, my brothers and sister and all of their families. I love coming home.

GMCL: The last time I spoke to you in Dundalk was back in 2010 when you sat beside the late Tommy McConville at the Crowne Plaza to launch a Dundalk Legends v Liverpool Legends game. Dundalk FC has changed immeasurably since then. What have you made of what has happened at the club over the last seven years?

SS: It’s fantastic. The previous owners, Andy Connolly and Paul Brown, brought the club out of the doldrums from where they were. Financially, we knew the club wasn’t in a great place but what they did by bringing in Stephen Kenny, and the success that followed, means it has been a real rollercoaster. Last year, Vinny Perth came in and he has just continued what Stephen did before him. It’s absolutely fantastic and a long-time coming. I was a ball boy the last time we had success in Europe back in the seventies and it’s lovely to see it again. What makes me proud is that everybody around the town is wearing Dundalk coats, jackets and jerseys with the crest on show. When I was growing up it was Liverpool, Manchester United and Celtic tops so it’s a massive thing that all

the locals are wearing Dundalk gear with that sort of pride. GMCL: When people in England Googled the words ‘Dundalk’ and ‘football’ I’m sure you would have been at the top of many lists but that European run in 2016 really put the town and the club on the football map.

SS: 100%. When you’re with an English club you’d look at League of Ireland teams and think ‘we’re only playing a small club’ but everybody who watched that team could see that Dundalk not only played brilliant football but winning football. The club is in a great spot and hopefully Vinny can maintain the success he had last year.

GMCL: It’s 18 years since you retired from the international set-up after the World Cup in 2002. Can you believe it’s that long?

SS: No, but I’ll never forget a certain Ronnie Whelan telling me when I was 19 or 20 that before I kew it, it would be over. He was bloody right too! I’m still here, though, and I’m so proud of the part I played in the Irish story. Jack Charlton did some amazing work, Mick McCarthy continued that on and Stephen Kenny will hopefully keep that going when he comes in.

GMCL: Niall Quinn is also

here. He’s after coming in at a difficult time for Irish football. How do you think he’ll do in his new role with the FAI. SS: Niall will be fine. There’s a lot of work to be done and a lot of things need to be sorted out but if you wanted something to be fixed, you couldn’t get a better person in this country than Niall Quinn. GMCL: Finally, it must fill you with real pride seeing your Irish jersey on display in your own home town.

SS: That’s it. I’m very proud and I’m just glad I was a part of it. It’s great for the people of Dundalk to see but to actually be a part of that great Irish football era is something that I can’t really put into words. We had a fantastic time and, let’s be honest about it, it was the best in Irish history, first of all getting to Euro 88 and then the three World Cups. I was very fortunate to be part of that whole time and to have two managers involved who wanted me in the side. It was a great honour for me. I was in the right place at the right time and I was aided by a little bit of ability. “ What makes me proud is that everybody around the town is wearing Dundalk coats, jackets and jerseys with the crest on show. When I was growing up it was Liverpool, Manchester United and Celtic tops so it’s a massive thing that all the locals are wearing Dundalk gear with that sort of pride. STEPHEN STAUNTON

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