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Goalkeeper Darren Randolph was in Championship action on Friday evening when his Middlesbrough defeated visitors Leeds United by three goals to nil at the Riverside Stadium. Midfielder Eunan O’Kane started for the visitors but was replaced on sixty eight minutes while one time Ireland target, and still eligible, Patrick Bamford scored his first senior hat-trick for the victors.

Book Signing Event at The Claddagh Ring

The Club was delighted to host an evening with journalist/writer Michael Walker and Irish Football Legend Liam Brady, Honorary President of RISSC (London), at The Claddagh Ring in Hendon on the evening of Friday 23^rd February 2018.

Green Shoots

Belfast native Walker is the author of the recently released book ‘Green Shoots’ which chronicles many of the major highlights and stories from Irish football, its players and culture from both sides of the border.

Amongst the books many highlights is an illuminating chapter on the irrepressible Liam Brady, an Irish footballing hero and icon, whose presence on the evening lent an absorbing flavour to the occasion.

Michael Walker provided the audience with an initial synopsis of his book, with particular emphasis on certain facts and individuals whose contribution to Irish football and in two significant instances, football on the world stage, may not have been known to the majority of those in attendance. The book offers a quite absorbing journey through the annals of football on the island of Ireland.

Incredible aura

Liam Brady lent an incredible aura to the evening and the telling of his playing journey, from the streets of North Dublin through St Kevin’s Boys, Arsenal, the Italian quartet of Juventus, Sampdoria, Inter Milan and Ascoli and finally West Ham United, was an absorbing listen.

The story behind his absence from the Irish squad at the 1988 World Cup finals was both poignant and humorous.

Liam also addressed his period in management at Glasgow Celtic and Brighton & Hove Albion together with his supporting role during the Trapattoni years with Ireland with honesty and integrity.

The audience also heard from Liam, his opinions and thoughts on the current structures surrounding youth football in Ireland and the challenges faced for the future.

All in all a quite absorbing and splendid evening enhanced by the quality of the venue and the hospitality of our host Finbar and his team.

 

Hull City, for whom Will Keane was introduced seconds before half-time, played out a one all draw with visitors Barnsley in the Championship on Tuesday evening while Reading included Liam Kelly in their starting eleven for the three one defeat by visitors Sheffield United for whom Enda Stevens was also a starter.