playing for our country. Those were difficult times for Ireland, but we still had some great players.
‘I remember we played against Czechoslovakia, as they were known at the time. They only needed a draw to qualify for the 1968 European Championship. They went a goal ahead before Ray Treacy scored to equalise. Then, with four minutes to go, I netted the winner. It was a great feeling to score on your debut for your country. Afterwards we were sitting with Charlie, and he said to us, “A lot of you lads are only starting out in the game, but I don’t care how long you are in football, you will never be involved in a better win for Ireland.” It was another thirteen years before Ireland actually won another competitive away match [3–2 against Cyprus in March 1980], so it puts everything into context as to how hard it was at that time.
‘We had John Dempsey, who was with Chelsea, Mick Meagan and Eamon Dunphy, who was a good passer of the ball and a fine player. We also had Ray Treacy up front, so we did have some really good players in the team in those days.
‘But it was great to play and put on an Ireland shirt. I was very proud. I flew back to London after the game and discovered I had developed a groin problem, which ended up being operated on a week later and meant I was out of action for a while, but it was worth it.’
The time for change was coming, and although there were some impressive performances under Hurley, the highlight being the win over Czechoslovakia, the suggestion was that he did not do enough to make the role his own. He could always hold his head high, though. Even in defeat Ireland were always in the game and not being his own man in terms of choosing the team was a definite handicap.
It is interesting to note that before the appointment of Mick Meagan, an article appeared in the Irish Independent in May 1969 that suggested that it was perhaps time to move Ireland forward and appoint Hurley as team manager, allowing him to pick the squad. The article went on to mention that Hurley had discovered on the eve of a game with Denmark that a player had been called into the team without his knowledge and had to be included in the side. This lack of input and control made conditions hard for him, and he could never develop the side or his own career as a manager under such a regime.
MODERN-DAY HERO
Following his retirement from the game Charlie Hurley was part of the after-dinner circuit of ex-players. In October 2006, on his seventieth birthday, Sunderland renamed the Chairman’s Suite the Charlie Hurley Suite in honour of their king.
CHARLIE HURLEY’S CLUB MANAGERIAL HONOURS RECORD:
No management honours
CHARLIE HURLEY’S IRELAND RECORD:
Total number of games in charge: 8
Total number of wins: 1 (ratio 12.50%)
Total number of draws: 2 (ratio 25.00%)
Total number of losses: 5 (ratio 62.50%)
Biggest win: 2–1 v . Czechoslovakia
Biggest defeat: 2–0 v . Czechoslovakia and Hungary
Longest run without defeat: 2 games
4
MICK MEAGAN
If you are ever at a quiz and the following question comes up, ‘Who was the first manager of the Republic of Ireland senior soccer team with control over the team?’ jot down the name Mick Meagan. Not only will you impress those around you, but you will also get a point. For although the big names of Johnny Carey, Charlie Hurley and Noel Cantwell all sat in the dugout from 1951 to 1969, Meagan was the first man actually to manage the team, taking charge from September 1969 to October 1971. However, it was not all sweetness and light for Meagan, as his reign was marred by a lack of victories, and despite being a history-maker, the Ireland team under his management failed to live up to its potential.
His reign as Ireland boss was a plethora of firsts besides his appointment as manager in sole charge of the team. Meagan oversaw the first ever dismissal of an Ireland player when John Dempsey was sent off in an international against Hungary. His period in office
‘I remember we played against Czechoslovakia, as they were known at the time. They only needed a draw to qualify for the 1968 European Championship. They went a goal ahead before Ray Treacy scored to equalise. Then, with four minutes to go, I netted the winner. It was a great feeling to score on your debut for your country. Afterwards we were sitting with Charlie, and he said to us, “A lot of you lads are only starting out in the game, but I don’t care how long you are in football, you will never be involved in a better win for Ireland.” It was another thirteen years before Ireland actually won another competitive away match [3–2 against Cyprus in March 1980], so it puts everything into context as to how hard it was at that time.
‘We had John Dempsey, who was with Chelsea, Mick Meagan and Eamon Dunphy, who was a good passer of the ball and a fine player. We also had Ray Treacy up front, so we did have some really good players in the team in those days.
‘But it was great to play and put on an Ireland shirt. I was very proud. I flew back to London after the game and discovered I had developed a groin problem, which ended up being operated on a week later and meant I was out of action for a while, but it was worth it.’
The time for change was coming, and although there were some impressive performances under Hurley, the highlight being the win over Czechoslovakia, the suggestion was that he did not do enough to make the role his own. He could always hold his head high, though. Even in defeat Ireland were always in the game and not being his own man in terms of choosing the team was a definite handicap.
It is interesting to note that before the appointment of Mick Meagan, an article appeared in the Irish Independent in May 1969 that suggested that it was perhaps time to move Ireland forward and appoint Hurley as team manager, allowing him to pick the squad. The article went on to mention that Hurley had discovered on the eve of a game with Denmark that a player had been called into the team without his knowledge and had to be included in the side. This lack of input and control made conditions hard for him, and he could never develop the side or his own career as a manager under such a regime.
MODERN-DAY HERO
Following his retirement from the game Charlie Hurley was part of the after-dinner circuit of ex-players. In October 2006, on his seventieth birthday, Sunderland renamed the Chairman’s Suite the Charlie Hurley Suite in honour of their king.
CHARLIE HURLEY’S CLUB MANAGERIAL HONOURS RECORD:
No management honours
CHARLIE HURLEY’S IRELAND RECORD:
Total number of games in charge: 8
Total number of wins: 1 (ratio 12.50%)
Total number of draws: 2 (ratio 25.00%)
Total number of losses: 5 (ratio 62.50%)
Biggest win: 2–1 v . Czechoslovakia
Biggest defeat: 2–0 v . Czechoslovakia and Hungary
Longest run without defeat: 2 games
4
MICK MEAGAN
If you are ever at a quiz and the following question comes up, ‘Who was the first manager of the Republic of Ireland senior soccer team with control over the team?’ jot down the name Mick Meagan. Not only will you impress those around you, but you will also get a point. For although the big names of Johnny Carey, Charlie Hurley and Noel Cantwell all sat in the dugout from 1951 to 1969, Meagan was the first man actually to manage the team, taking charge from September 1969 to October 1971. However, it was not all sweetness and light for Meagan, as his reign was marred by a lack of victories, and despite being a history-maker, the Ireland team under his management failed to live up to its potential.
His reign as Ireland boss was a plethora of firsts besides his appointment as manager in sole charge of the team. Meagan oversaw the first ever dismissal of an Ireland player when John Dempsey was sent off in an international against Hungary. His period in office
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