Soccer international promises to be a fantastic occasion
FORMER Limerick United and Republic of Ireland manager, Eoin Hand, will return to the city next Wednesday to provide match analysis for the Ireland Vs Australia soccer friendly at Thomond Park on RTE Radio One.
He will be here again in September, when Ireland host South Africa at the same venue.
The man who won the 1980 League of Ireland title as player-manager of Limerick, for only the second time in the club’s history, is excited about the return of top flight football.
“I’m looking forward to going back, it will be like a homecoming for me”.
Hand feels it will be fantastic for soccer in Limerick, “Rugby has grabbed all the headlines in recent years with Munster’s success, and deservedly so, but it will be lovely to think we will have a great soccer occasion”.
Eoin Hand and others are still aggrieved that Limerick United’s 1980 European Cup tie against Real Madrid was moved to Lansdowne Road at the request of the local club administrators at the time. He told the Limerick Post. “They took football out of Limerick that deserved to stay, and now it’s coming home and will promote the city”.
He spoke about his time in Limerick with great fondness, “My period in Limerick was the highlight of my career because it was my most successful spell”.
The Dubliner, and former Drumcondra and Portsmouth star, is eagerly anticipating another decentralised international match next month.
“I think its a great idea to bring it out of Dublin and I hope we see it again after these two matches”.
He was in charge of the last senior international held outside of Dublin, “There was a brilliant atmosphere when we played Spain in Cork 25 years ago”.
Hand is also looking forward to his first visit to the new Thomond Park stadium. “We played Tottenham Hotspur there when I was manager and it was an incredible occasion. I’ve heard great things about the new stadium, so I’m looking forward to seeing it”.
John Cantwell, Thomond Park stadium director, told the Limerick Post that 20,000 tickets had been sold at the beginning of this week.
A substantial Australian contingent is expected. “This is a big opportunity for Australians to see their side in action as it is their only European fixture this year, so we’re expecting Australians to arrive from England and the rest of Europe”.
All the preparations are now in place for the match John says will attract a difference kind of audience to Thomond Park.
“The pitch has been manicured and is now like a carpet and we’re expecting a lot of fans that have not been to the stadium before”.
FLASHBACK to 1981 when Limerick played Tottenham Hotspur at Thomond Park. That was the day Glenn Hoddle hit a stunning hat-trick for the FA Cup holders against Limerick. Pictured are: Pat Grace, chairman Limerick United, Des Ryan of Des Ryan Travel, Mayor Tommy Allen, John O’Shaugnessy, match organiser, Keith Burkinshaw, manager, Tottenham Hotspur, Eoin Hand, and Mr Robinson, chairman, Tottenham Hotspur
