Sat the 25th of June will live long in the memory of everyone connected to Cabinteely F.C. It was the day that Irish world cup legends from the Italia 1990 & USA 1994 campaigns, rolled into town welding such big guns as Ronnie Whelan, Paul McGrath, John Aldridge & Jason McAteer to play a Cabo selection. What follows is an inside the ropes perspective from Cabinteely head coach Gavin Teehan on what it was like to be involved as a player on the day. Enjoy!
Midnight 24th June
Over my footballing career, I have been lucky enough to play for my country at many different levels including schoolboy, Universities, Semi-pro & have been involved in some big games along the way. Generally I feel nervous on the day of a game but tonight I feel different, excited is probably more accurate than nervous; I can’t believe that tomorrow I will share a pitch with some of my boyhood heroes. Sleep does not come easy as I imagine what might pan out in the match.
8am 25th June
Old habits die hard & I awake early on match day to get a good breakfast into me. I clean my boots & pack my bag, double checking that I have all of the vitals, boots, shin guards, spare socks, towel, deep heat, knee support, pain killers! (The latter items a recent addition to the match day kit). I rest for most of the morning & do the last minute sorting out of tickets for family & friends.
10am 25th June
I arrive at the ground to be greeted by a hive of activity. Club members have been on site since 6am to ensure that no stone is unturned in making this an extra special day. Barriers & tents have been erected, the goalposts & nets look in great shape, the pitch itself (hand washed) looks better than I could have imagined, all in all things are shaping up for a cracking day. Excitement levels increase!
12am 25th June
The specially commissioned Umbro kit for the day has arrived & been laid out in the dressing rooms. The players have all gathered & got into their smart blue t-shirts for the day. There is a genuine feeling of goodwill around the place as it starts to sink in that this day is like no other match day. The banter amongst the players is fierce as they start to read their biogs in the programme & the slagging is great craic. Many photographs are taken with the European cup & the Jerseys with the players names on the back go down a treat. We actually feel like pros! Albeit, over the hill pros, but we can dream cant we!
12.30pm 25th June
A short coach ride to the Radisson Stillorgan for lunch & a meet & greet session with our soon to be opponents. We are like kids as we meet our heroes for the first time, shaking hands & swapping our favourite stories about our days following these guys on television & the terraces. The Irish legends all seem relaxed & in good form as they sign autographs & stand in for endless photos.
We ourselves gather on the steps of the hotel for our own team photo & the banter is cranked up a notch. Nerves are clearly evident amongst some of the group! Time to head for the stadium!
2pm 25th June
A police escort guides us through the Dublin traffic & we get back to Cabinteely in a flash, to be greeted by the fans at the clubhouse entrance. The excitement & nerves start to build as we try to get into match mode. Old superstitions are on show in the dressing rooms as the players begin their various rituals in preperation for the kick off. The physios are worked to the bone rubbing oil into ageing limbs in an effort to kick start them into action! The banter has subsided, a little & players start to gather their own thoughts about what lies ahead.
3pm 25th June
Finally, after months of preperation the big game is here. We walk onto the pitch & having warmed up, line up for the national anthem. The tune that belts out of the speakers is certainly not the anthem as we know it & the player’s laughter breaks the tension of the occasion. The Irish players file past us & we shake hands with some of the greats of our games history, Whelan, McGrath, Aldridge, McAteer to name but a few. At last, we kick off. It has always amazed me that the minute the game kicks off my nerves disappear. For others it takes a few moments to settle as they get used to their illustrious opponents.
4.30pm June 25th
The game ends with the legends winning an entertaining affair 6-2. I am pleased that we scored & gave them a decent game. The large number of fans certainly seemed to enjoy it & appreciate everyone’s efforts. One of our special needs players steals the show with a cameo appearance & a brace of goals. You could not have scripted a better finish to the game.
5pm June 25th
One of the final thrills of the day, as all players were asked to sign autographs for the hoards of kids who had stayed around after the game to meet the players. This for many of the Cabo stars was a world away from the day job & a brilliant experience. Following this both sets of players mingled in the clubhouse hall & shared a drink & a laugh recounting the memories from the game.
8pm June 25th
The Radisson hotel was the venue for the gala dinner to cap a memorable day. Everyone was in truly great form & despite the aching limbs a brilliant night was had by all. War stories were swapped & exaggerated as the evening wore on. Great contacts were made & friendships forged that will see Cabinteely F.C. grow into an even more potent force as a club than it already is. Sometime in the early hours of the morning, I finally hit the pillow to dream about the star studded day & the many wonderful memories contained therein.
