By Breda Nathan
It’s lovely to see the League of Ireland clubs rising in popularity and attendance figures every week.
The matches bring so much joy and excitement to so many.
I know all the older supporters have never left and have contributed to keeping their favourite teams alive.
Growing old and some no longer able to travel are greatly helped with the streaming service.
It would never replace being present at the games, but we have to be thankful for small mercies.
Our team was always Shelbourne FC. In the good and bad times.
The Club founded in 1895. League Champions 13 times. FAI Cup/Irish Cup Winners 10 times. 2019 Airtricity League First Division Champions.
The Shelbourne players, management and back room staff celebrate with the fans in Tolka Park on Saturday, November 2, the day after their epic title winning victory at the Brandywell.
They moved around different venues over the years, but when they came to Drumcondra, it was home, perfect.
I remember one Sunday morning the year they won the double, The two trophies and a banner in our kitchen.
We loved going to Tolka Park on Friday nights, bringing two generations of kids, and managing to slip into the dressing rooms, with the help of one of the bosses to meet visiting teams like Liverpool and Manchester United in our days.
Shelbourne also have a good women’s team, unheard of in my young days.
Shels helped me with my early writing efforts too, I remember writing a story about some fans who were addicted to football and winning a competition.
The story was actually read on RTE at the time and I took a step further and wrote a radio play.
This too was accepted by RTE, and they kindly let me attend the practice and recording of the play.
It was the most exciting time of my writing life. I took a step further later and wrote a book which was accepted by the publisher instantly.
I remember they told me they heard the RTE play and loved it.
The story was about one man addicted to football and attending a meeting of Football addicts in a group based on Alcoholics Anonymous.
The name Footballics Anonymous was slightly embarrassing to some of my family and indeed the RTE producer reluctantly changed it to Footballers Anonymous, for those who didn’t understand the word play. I was happy with both.
The club actually allowed the publisher to launch the book in Tolka Park club house. We had a wonderful night of celebration.
It’s great to see Shels doing so well this year, our new coach… the one and only Damien Duff is doing a perfect job.
He served us well playing for Ireland and although his professional career was in England, he is definitely a true Irishman and a gentleman.
We know how passionate he is for the team and the players respond to this.
Those of us who grew up loving soccer, persisted through the mad and bad days of FAI ‘direction’ are hoping we can become as internationally successful as our Rugby teams.
We did have a few good years with the late Jack Charlton and our international team of the day, but they were all Irish players based in the UK.
Remembering those days you always think of the brilliant Paul McGrath.
I still have my teddy named Jack, we won in a raffle during those good days.
Shels have been granted Tolka Park as there permanent home ground for the next 250 years… And Damien has signed a new contract… Just imagine a League of Ireland team taking on Barcelona or Real Madrid in the UEFA Champion’s League final… It could happen… It can happen.
Not this year, but in the future.
With a few more Duffers and our best players staying home to play in a League of Ireland Club.
We can but dream of better days.
Yessssssssssssssssssss
The better days have arrived at Tolka.
After eighteen years, Damien has done it in one season.
We are the champions.
Thank you Damien, you will never know the joy you brought to us… armchair supporters