Charlie McGeever recalls how GAA game ended his hopes of making it at Tottenham

It’s 33 years ago but Charlie McGeever still has vivid memories of the Gaelic football match he should never have played in.

It was the summer of 1982 and having trained with FA Cup champions Tottenhan for a matter of months, the Donegal lad was well positioned to progress with a professional career before returning home.

A highly-rated county U21, McGeever was soon collared for a Gaelic football game. Disaster struck as he suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury that put him out for a year and ended his hopes of playing in England.