30 July 1997
Interview by Jonathan Mullin
Eamonn Collins, clad in distinctively football sports gear, roars at the young footballers, boys and girls, encouragingly putting them through their paces and endeavouring to pass some of his knowledge and skill to the group.
There were over 95 children at the F.A.I.'s soccer clinic last week in Milebush Park, Castlebar, but you need not feel sympathy for Eamonn because these 'little devils' are mild in comparison.
In comparison to what?, you might ask. In one of Eamonn's many capacities as a full time coach with the Ladies Football Association of Ireland, he has responsibility for coaching convicts in the prisons of Mountjoy, Portlaoise and St. Patricks!
In the annals of football history, Eamonn's name is right up there. He may not be as famous as the George Bests or the Bobby Charltons of the world, but he can boast something neither of these will ever be able to. In the Guinness Book of Records, Eamonn is listed as being the youngest ever professional footballer. He played as a 'pro' for Brighton at the tender age of fourteen. That record is extremely unlikely to be bettered in our lifetimes because the F.A. now state that footballers must be over 16 years of age before signing professional football contracts. But back to the prison angle.
"Yes, it's quite unusual. There are lots of good players in there. We do introductory courses for inmates who want to pass their certificate in coaching. None have actually become full time coaches as yet, because I've only been doing it for a year and a bit now and none have been released."
With the convicts Eamonn coaches different courses - for long term prisoners and short term prisoners. In the first year the Provos in Portlaoise did not particularly like his presence there, firstly, because they did not take part in the course and secondly, everytime they were trying to "get a kip", Eamonn's bellowing (he freely admits that he is a "loud coach") would hinder their slumber searching.
Eventually they joined the course and on his first day of teaching them Eamonn was obviously a little on the apprehensive side.
"There were about six different topics I had the choice of doing on the first day - heading, crossing, this that and the other. So I said to them "Right lads you're really going to like the first day, we're going to do something you'll really enjoy- we are going to start with a little shooting practise! It went down like a lead balloon and I was off to a good start."
It is great fun coaching the lads in the prisons. Last year when the course finished they presented me with a fancy mirror and they all signed the back of it. One of the lads wrote: "Thanks Eamonn for a great course - tell me when the pole vaulting course is on!"
It is clear from Eamonn's demeanour that he enjoys what he is doing. He exudes a tangible enthusiasm for the game which evidently ran off on the boys and girls who attended the course during the week and left on Friday with vast smiles on their faces.
The coach is better placed than many to evaluate the current state of youth football in Ireland, the sheer volume of players that would pass through his hands. He was genuinely impressed with the standard in Milebush Park. And his parting words to the group were of encouragement - to keep playing football and keep enjoying the game.
Eamonn left Dublin at the age of 13 and with the promptings of his father, was to create quite an impression in his first club, Brighton. So much so, his League debut came just a year later. He is extremely proud of this achievement and indeed of the fact that he was the first Irishman to captain a team to the World Cup Finals - the youth championships in 1984. On his team were present stars like Denis Irwin and Niall Quinn - "we had a good side.
It was at these championships that Eamonn began to get to know and appreciate the talent of Brian Kerr who was part of manager Liam Tuohy's back room staff. Eamonn is comforted by Kerr's high standing in the youth scene at the moment and enthuses that "everything Brian touches turns to gold". Under Mick McCarthy's watchful eye, Eamonn maintains that Kerr will bring out the best of the young players under his control.
Darren Anderton was one of the many top class players that passed through his hands and although Eamonn believes that the Irish coaching organisational structure is only slowly catching up with the English system, with more funding becoming available every year (and every penny vital), our country will eventually catch up, and the challenge will then be to keep the players in the country.
Eamonn plans to go into management in the not-so-distant future. He has received a number of offers from League of Ireland clubs but is waiting for the "right club" to come along before he takes the plunge.
For the moment though, for Eamonn Collins, the circus moves on, and the camp travels to another footballing haven to brighten up an otherwise ordinary week for the many boys and girls who will no doubt leave with smiles.
