Hidden Gems
Ronan O’Flaherty
Damien Byrne
@DamienByrne92
There is nothing more exciting than the prospect of an unknown import signing for your club. A fair criticism of the league in recent times is the short term, bouncing around of seasoned pros. Although that seems to be shifting towards a more secure structure for players, the unknown signing always brings the most intrigue and excitement. As St Pat’s fans, we have had our fair amount of overseas excitement, one of the better players being Ryan Guy who we spoke to last week. I’ve decided to take a look at just a couple of the most eye-catching players to grace Richmond Park in my memory from abroad. You never know, we may even try to track them down for a chat this season too!
Charles Mbabzi Livingstone “Charlie” was a magician, simple as. The Ugandan international arrived in Dublin just before the millennium via ex-Wimbledon striker John Fashanu and his technical ability coupled with his obvious joy whilst on a football pitch captured the hearts of the Saints faithful. The Saints picked up a League Cup during Mbabzi’s time at the club and were cruelly denied a league title due to the registration issues with both Charlie and Paul Marney. The winger was also denied the opportunity to play in an FAI Cup Final v Longford in 2003 due to a heart condition which ultimately ended his professional career in Ireland prematurely. He did however manage to get back on a football pitch three years later in Vietnam, where he spent four years playing before eventually giving up the game for good in 2013. Management would follow however, spells with Bright Stars FC and the Somalian national team were brief and in recent years Mbabzi has manage several teams in Uganda. He left Kyetume FC in early March of this year.
Charlie
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Richmond win against Elfsborg in 2008 to set up a Hertha Berlin glamour tie. Krylya Sovetov would fall in 2009 also, with Steaua Bucharest the reward that year. Partridge returned to the UK in 2010 and had spells with both Cambridge United and Thurrock before retiring. Joseph N’do
Trevor Wood
Dave Partridge
It’s fair to say we didn’t see the best of N’do in his two stints in a Pat’s shirt, for various reasons.
Trevor Wood
Dave Partridge
Wood was originally born in Jersey and made one senior appearance for Northern Ireland.
A full Welsh international Partridge spent two years with the Saints from 2008 to 2010.
St Pat’s however was his first stop in Ireland when he arrived from Swiss football. N’do featured in Irelands group at the 2002 World Cup with his native Cameroon.
Having played over 100 times in England for clubs such as Port Vale, Walsall and Hereford United, the goalkeeper arrived at St Pats in 1997. From that point on, Wood was a mainstay in the Saints goal for the next three years.
The centre back was 30 when he arrived and brought experience and steel to a Saints defence who impressed in the 2008 season but not the 2009 Jeff Kenna season.
The midfielder amassed 21 caps for his country and had a trophy-laden career in Ireland, stacking up four league titles, three FAI Cups, two league cups and a Setanta Cup.
Partridge had previously impressed in Scotland with Dundee United and Motherwell, along with spells south of the border with Bristol City & MK Dons.
N’do also won two African Cup of Nations title with Cameroon prior to his arrival at St Pat’s and picked up a PFAI player of the year accolade in 2016.
Having won two league titles with the club, one of the standout moments in Wood’s time at the Saints was keeping a clean sheet in Celtic Park in 1998. The Saints would lose 2-0 in the return leg however the first leg draw is considered one of the clubs best European results. Wood retired after his Saints stint.
2021 Season • Vol. 33 • No. 2 • St Patrick’s Athletic v Derry City
The era of 2008/2009 was a particularly impressive time for the Saints in Europe, and Partridge was instrumental in that. He featured in a famous
A brief caretaker stint with Sligo has been followed with involvement with the Mayo League, bringing the Cameroonian’s stay in Ireland to
2021 Season • Vol. 33 • No. 2 • St Patrick’s Athletic v Derry City
over 16 years and counting as of 2020. Others worthy of a mention from overseas for me would be the likes of Dave Rogers, Jamie Harris and Ian Gilzean, however all the above had some League of Ireland experience before joining the Saints. Tony Bird is also worthy of a mention and we spoke to the Welshman two years ago in The Saint. I plan to talk to as many explayers as I can over the course of the season, if you have any players from the past you would like us to track down for a chat, overseas or otherwise, give us a shout on Twitter with your suggestions and we’ll see what we can do!
Joseph N’do
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