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We are pleased to confirm that we will be joined at our next meeting on Friday 8 March 2013 by two special guests, Dave Langan and Paul McGee. They made their senior Ireland international debuts in the same match, a four two victory over Turkey at Lansdowne Road in April 1978.

Dave Langan

Dubliner, David Francis "Dave" Langan played his schoolboy football with Cherry Orchard in the DDSL before joining Derby County in 1973. Dave served his apprenticeship with 'the Rams' and graduated to first team status in 1977 making his debut while still just nineteen years of age. He went on to make 143 appearances for the club. He transferred to Birmingham City in 1980 for a then club record transfer fee of £350,000. Dave played in excess of 100 games for 'the Blues', but it was during this period that a serious knee injury, sustained while playing for Ireland in a three two victory over France, first bedevilled his career and he was sidelined for some eighteen months.

Released by the club, Dave joined Oxford United in 1984 and played a total of 136 games for them over the next four seasons. He played an integral part in their winning of the old Second Division Championship in 1984-85 and was a member of the side which won the League Cup in 1986. Dave subsequently spent time on loan at Leicester City and AFC Bournemouth, where his goals rate was quite phenomenal for a full back. He joined 'the Cherries' on a permanent basis in 1988 and maintained his positive goalscoring ratio. Dave then switched to Peterborough United, for whom he played nineteen times before injury forced his early retirement.

Dave made his Ireland debut in a four two victory over Turkey at Lansdowne Road in April 1978 and retained his place in Ireland squads until that fateful injury in the match with France. He remained in the international wilderness for the next four years before being recalled, to make a significant contribution to the EURO 1988 qualification campaign. Many were stunned when Dave was not included in the squad for the Championship finals in Germany.

Paul McGee

Paul McGee was just sixteen years of age when he made his League of Ireland debut for his hometown club Sligo Rovers in November 1970. At eigthteen, the young McGee tried his luck across the water, initially at Kidderminster Harriers followed by short spells with Hereford United and Torquay United before returning to Ireland where he joined Finn Harps, with whom he won the FAI Cup in 1974.

The wander lust, which was to see this 'Son of Sligo' enter the record books by signing on varying occasions for a total of thirty four professional clubs, came to the fore with a short soujourn on loan in Toronto before returning 'home' to Sligo Rovers, where he was a vital member of the League Championship winning side of 1976/77. His contribution to that success earned him a transfer to Queens Park Rangers in November 1977 and just six months later he earned his first senior international cap for Ireland, in tandem with fellow debutant Dave Langan, in that victory over Turkey, with McGee among the goalscorers. Paul went on to earn fifteen Ireland international caps and scored four goals.

Paul left London for Lancashire, where he joined Preston North End in 1979 and two years later he made the short hop across to Burnley where he played for two seasons before returning to Ireland and a brief spell with Dundalk. There then followed a whole catalogue of adventures with an array of different clubs including his hometown club Sligo Rovers, to whom he returned again on four separate occasions. Paul completed a twenty five year playing career in his fortieth year at Finn Harps.

After a period off our radar, Paul was appointed manager of Limerick in January 2007 and the following year he became Assistant Manager at Cork City, but that was short lived as the club imploded and went into examinership. Paul was appointed to a managerial role with Salthill Devon in May 2011 and is still in situ with the club.

Dave Langan Autobiography
' Running Through Walls'

The Dave Langan Autobiography has been described as an extraordinary story told with poignant honesty which is likely to appeal to football fans of all generations, not just those who remember Dave in his heyday.

Some of you may be aware that the disappointment of being unable to obtain a copy of Dave's book was triggered by the collapse of the publishing company five days before Christmas. We are delighted to advise you that through some delicate negotiations, we have been able to secure a small supply of the book and Dave will be delighted to sign those copies for members and friends who wish to purchase a copy at our meeting on Friday 8th March 2013.

Should you be unable to attend the meeting, but would still like to purchase an autographed copy, please communicate with our Treasurer, Andre Maxwell. who will process your order for you. For anyone attending the meeting and wishing to reserve a copy, please also communicate your wishes to Andre. The Club has succeeded in containing the cost of the publication to just £10.