Langan’s ball
But you don’t have to journey all the way back to the 1950s to encounter international footballers whose life experiences are light years removed from the wealth and glamour and privilege which permeate the upper reaches of the game nowadays.
Just over 20 years ago, Dave Langan was a regular for the Republic of Ireland, a whole-hearted, rampaging full back who featured prominently in the 1988 Euro qualifiers but who, sadly, failed to make the cut when Jack Charlton assembled the squad which would go on to hit unprecedented heights in Germany.
By the time the country was celebrating the historic victory against England in Stuttgart, Langan was already in decline, his body struggling to cope with a succession of injury blows sustained in the course of earning 26 caps for his country — the first had come in 1978 — and a club career which had seen him beloved on the terraces at Derby County, Birmingham City and Oxford United.
His career finally ended at Peterborough United two years later but his troubles were only just beginning — injury, illness and depression making for a rough passage which, last year, found him temporarily homeless and living in a store room at Peterborough Town Council. (He has since regained employment with the council).
Injury problems, of such severity that he is officially registered disabled, had their origins in October, 1981, when Langan’s knee was caught by a late tackle in the course of Ireland’s famous 3-2 win over France at Lansdowne Road.
Recalling that day, Langan has eloquently expressed the pride of playing for one’s country — and also the heavy price it can entail. “Just playing for your country was an awesome thing,” the Dubliner has said.
“When you put on the green shirt, you just wanted to die for it. When the knee got smacked, I was all fired up. I thought, ‘Ah, it’s just a knock’. It was killing me but I thought there’s no way I’m coming off. I lived just across the Dodder and I was struggling afterwards so they strapped it up and I got a lift down to my Ma’s.
“I was in terrible pain, desperate pain it was. I got the flight back to England to see the physio and then I started the treatment.”
An operation on the knee allowed him resume his career but, in 1983, a cracked vertebrae in the back exacerbated his problems.
A full 25 years later, he struggles to cope with the consequences every single day. “I am struggling with my legs,” he said in Dublin recently.
“There is a lot of fluid and they think it might be rheumatoid arthritis. It feels like my shins are on fire, it’s horrible. Sitting is really uncomfortable, standing is better. There are times in the morning when my wife has to put my shoes and socks on. It’s all to do with the spine, there’s fluid on the cord.
“I have had three major operations on my spine. I had a disc taken out, I had the vertebrae fused and I had two nuts and bolts put it but they had to be taken out after two years.
“I have had nine operations on my left knee and I could do with a new knee joint but the doctor won’t do it because of my age and because they only last for six years. I could get it done a second time but that would only last six years and then I would have to get the leg off so they’re delaying it as long as possible.”
The 51 year old was speaking ahead of a tribute dinner in his honour taking place early next month.
The FAI had previously received some flak for raising the testimonial bar from the old 25 caps to 50, thereby excluding the likes of Langan, but they deserve credit for putting their weight behind this initiative — as too, do the hundreds of soccer supporters who had petitioned on the player’s behalf in recent years, ensuring that he would not become the “forgotten man” of Irish football.
Having only started on this beat post-Italia 90, I’ve never met Dave Langan in person and was unfortunately unable to attend the recent launch but, as someone who was a fan long before I became a hack, I’m glad to take this opportunity to remind anyone that the Tribute Dinner takes place on Saturday, October 11 at the Burlington Hotel, Dublin.
Tickets cost €150 per person or €1,500 for a table of 10. For booking or further information contact Julie O’ Leary at 01-8999514 or e-mail davelangantribute@fai.ie
Hunt testimonial
ON THE subject of great servants to Irish football, a reminder that Kevin Hunt’s testimonial game will take place at Dalymount Park on Sunday, October 12.
It’s a measure of the former Bohemians captain’s standing in the game that many ex-internationals will be donning the boots for a game between a Bohs X1 and a team managed by former Ireland manager Eoin Hand.
For more information check wwwkevinhunttestimonial.com or www.bohemians.ie
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