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How to save irish Football
 By
Larry Cooney
While taking time to look back on a career that reached the heights of
a World Cup quarter-final legendary Irish goalkeeper Pat Bonner also emphasised
that he believes the future is bright for Irish football.
The Cloughclass Co. Donegal native will always be remembered for the penalty
save against Romania in the 1990 World Cup but he personally singles out
the game against England in Euro ’88 as the greatest performance
of his career.
While those moments were the spectacular highlights of his career Irish
fans will always remember Bonner for his solidity. It is hard to pick
out a bad performance over his 80 caps for Ireland while Celtic fans remember
Bonner for his record 646 appearances between the posts from 1980-95 a
period which yielded four League titles and three Scottish Cups.
This dependability and desire to remain away from the limelight made it
inevitable that when Packie hung up the gloves his life would be away
from the cameras.
Having worked as a goalkeeping coach with various Scottish teams and with
Ireland, Bonner was nam-ed as FAI technical director in 2003.
The former international was guest of honour at the London branch of the
Republic of Ireland supporters club meeting in Cricklewood recently and
Bonner said that despite less Irish players joining English clubs as apprentices
there is no reason why the glory days cannot return to Irish soccer.
Packie believes that more coaches need to be employed by the FAI and
these coaches should have the top UEFA qualifications.
Speaking to the supporters club he said that many things have changed
in Irish football since he began his career as an apprentice in the late
1970s.
He said: “About 70 per cent of the Irish population are now involved
in soccer in some way. That is a big change from my time. The job of the
FAI is to ensure that these people have the opportunity to develop as
players or coaches — I think we are some way towards doing that.”
Bonner was playing minor Gaelic football for Donegal when he was signed
by Celtic and made his international debut on his 21st birthday in 1981.
He believes that the influx of players from all over the world into the
English and Scottish Leagues presents a new challenge for Irish football,
but that this can be overcome.
He said: “Young players are still making the breakthrough in England.
The FAI needs to ensure that the best players in Ireland get the best
possible coaching and education to help them make it to the top. It is
very competitive now but the rising standards should help all of the players.” |
