Millwall’s destiny in safe hands

FA CUP SEMI-FINAL: Wigan v Millwall

It was last summer and the Irish squad were just about to fly out for Euro 2012. Forde, of course, was travelling as third-choice goalkeeper.

“Dunny had been in the same sort of scenario in Japan for 2002 and he said, ‘look, Fordey, you mightn’t get much game-time but just go and enjoy the experience’.”

How things have changed for the Millwall goalkeeper — and not just from last summer. Consider Forde’s situation in 2004. Back then, at 24, he was at the stage of his career when most goalkeepers finally kick on. Instead, he was departing West Ham United to return home to Galway United.

At that point, could he have possibly imagined a future in which he was his country’s number one and about to play in an FA Cup semi-final — at the age of 33?

“Well, I always said, once I left, that I had unfinished business in the UK and I was always determined. I always believed I’d be back in England again, doing what I love, which is playing in goals. It’s been a fantastic few years for me.”

Forde, however, could reasonably expect it all to get even better. While he remains confident Ireland can qualify for the 2014 World Cup, Millwall have an even better chance of defeating Wigan today and reaching the FA Cup final.

There’s certainly an excited atmosphere around the club’s Calmont Road training ground this week. Indeed, for all the perceptions of Millwall, the club itself is friendly and welcoming — if not without the occasional good-natured edge. At one point, as Forde is talking, a voice behind just goes “bloody Irish”. It turns out to be a laughing — and self-deprecating — Sean St Ledger. Forde shakes his head with a smile.

With St Ledger on loan from Leicester City, they form part of a decent Irish contingent that also includes Andy Keogh and Alan Dunne. They aren’t, however, a clique. The Millwall squad is too unified for that.

“There’s a real brotherhood,” the goalkeeper says.

“It’s a very close group of players and there are a lot of friendships. It’s a fantastic place to work. It certainly helps as well that we’re one of the smallest clubs in the division, to galvanise us.”

In that sense, Millwall’s notoriety is anything but a negative.

“It brings everyone together. At times, the club gets a raw deal. There is a small element that maybe gets out of hand but that’s no different to what you get at other clubs. And when you get 31,000 Millwall fans going to Wembley — and I’ve played there when they’ve had over 50,000 at a play-off final — it’s a unique experience, the atmosphere they can create.”

Today, Millwall are up against a Wigan side who create a lot of chances.

“It could be a busy day,” Forde concedes. “That’s what you want as a ’keeper though. You’d rather be involved and busy rather than have something sprung on you.”

It’s also the kind of situation the club have revelled in during this run, given how they defied expectations to defeat Aston Villa and then Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park.

“Certainly, playing against bigger sides, everyone’s got each other’s backs. We’re a good side as well. Wigan break pretty fast but leave holes I think we can exploit.”

While fellow Irishman James McCarthy and Forde will be in opposition today, they form part of a new core for the Irish team in the long term.

“People seem to forget that transition,” Forde argues. “And that core of players were very successful. I’m confident we can qualify, especially with the likes of Seamus Coleman and James coming through.”

For Forde’s part, the greatest compliment that can be paid is that Shay Given’s absence is no longer really mentioned. It certainly wasn’t mentioned after the last-minute save in Sweden which secured a point for Ireland on Forde’s competitive debut.

“I was really looking forward to that game. I’d gone on the back of a good week with Millwall, three clean sheets in-a-row so I’ve gone in there high in confidence and prepared.”

No matter how prepared Forde was, though, he couldn’t have done anything about a similar moment at the same stage of the next game. David Alaba’s deflected strike for Austria to make it 2-2 illustrated the kind of minor touch that can make such a major difference at that level.

“It’s one of them things. I think we probably should have gone 3-1 up and then we kind of hung on. It was just very disappointing because I thought we were in control of the game and then the manner of the goal. But we didn’t get beaten, we’re still in which a chance.”

Should Ireland qualify, Forde will expect a very different kind of involvement to 2012. In Poland, at least, he took Dunne’s advice.

“They were wise words. I did enjoy it, even if it was bittersweet. The results hurt but, for any player to get to a major tournament, it’ll be hard to beat. What always stands out, being a Galway man, is the Fields of Athenry when 4-0 down to Spain; that connection with the song, wow. Even thinking about it now gives me shivers up my back.”

Forde will be hoping for a similar effect today — for all the right reasons.