Old School

The influx of newcomers this year led to people joking about the club being split into ‘old school’ and ‘new school’. Of course there is no split but now it’s just unmanageable for everyone to socialise as one all the time because there is no pub in Brussels that could deal with the mayhem!!

There’s a few heads around the place that would certainly be defined as old school though. Paul Gavin is one of them. He walked a lonely path in Brussels five or six years ago. Gaelic was his passion but with no team, soccer become his game. We knew little of each other before he left but through mutual friends we got to know each other some bit after.

He’s still in the progress of sorting everything out with regard apartments etc after his move back from Den Hague but he did play with us in our home tournament. He missed last weekend but we ran into him at Caragh’s 30th birthday party on Saturday night. Even though he won his European medals up in Holland, he experienced a lot of bad days too. The topic of our conversation revolved around how to get the guys to really appreciate the spell we are having because it won’t last forever. Each win should be savoured was the message.

It will be great to have him on board fully from here on because he has a lot to offer both on and off the pitch. Another guy cut from the same cloth is Enda Rice. Stoking his interest back in 2008 was key to our development. Enda was also an FC Irlande stalwart but he was bit by the bug and commanded our midfield. He turns 38 shortly but the only thing that gives it away is how he reads the game so well.

Between squash and a bit of injury, he hasn’t being going full tilt yet this year and in the Leuven tournament he had a restricted role. The intensity of the competition for places meant that Enda moved to the B team for the first time last weekend. I guessed he would understand and go and play with the same commitment as always and be his cheery self on the outside at least. He did the first bit but it was clear he was hurt from his demeanour.

It’s not like Enda to be like that but it really shows there is still plenty of life in the old dog. I used wonder if he only played because I harass him to do so but after our exchange at the weekend, I realise the competitive instinct is still there. Of course, he agreed that there were guys knocking who deserved to be let in and that someone was going to be the fall guy but pride is pride. I sense his reaction will be an example to all though. He is that kind of guy. There is no doubt in my mind that getting a full tournament last weekend will be of great benefit to him and that if the A team are to be successful this year, Enda will be to the fore.

The last man in this illustrious club is Emmett Devine. The 2008 captain and myself became great friends on that maiden voyage in ‘08, even if it’s difficult to maintain it now given our different lifestyles. Emmett was a fantastic choice as captain because you need the kind of drive that man has if you want to drag yourselves up off the ground to compete.

He left Rennes last year in a cast and has struggled to get right since. We had lunch at his workplace a couple of weeks ago and had a good chat about him coming back. I’d expect to see him back in the coming weeks and then lining himself up for a crack at the half-back line in the Pan-Euros. It’s only lately I’ve moved back to the half backs and the prospect of lining up alongside him would be a real bonus.

By coincidence these three lads would all be good buddies. Before most of us were in Brussels they were playing together for FCI and throwing back pints on Saturday afternoons. The presence of guys like that is what gives a team it’s soul. The lads may see these new guys arriving on the scene but these three are our pillars and as long as they know that and keep standing at the starting line, we’ll continue to progress.