Tony Springett: 'It means so much that people are proud of me representing Ireland'

'My mother left Ireland at six. I always remember asking when I was younger, ‘what is this green top?’ and she’d reply: ‘This is where you are from and remember that.’

Fri, 13 Oct, 2023 - 08:05

John Fallon

Tony Springett doesn’t have to pretend he’s a throwback – 20 minutes in his company testifies to that – but the new Ireland U21 winger was recently ordered to embrace social media.

Despite being hothoused by Norwich City for the last nine years leading to his present status as first-team member, the 21-year-old wasn’t interested in Facebook.

That was until the Londoner earned his first competitive caps last month, impressing in two Euro qualification wins over Turkey and San Marino at Turner's Cross.

His Dublin-born mother, Kim, morphed into his publicity consultant.

“She told me to create a Facebook account because there were so many messages she was aware of. Then my inbox started pinging with messages and I began to get overwhelmed.

“One message said: ‘Here’s my cousin on the Ireland team, we are so proud of him’. There were relatives in Dublin and Cavan I’d never met. My circle is getting bigger and bigger and I am grateful for that.”

Likewise is his profile. David Wagner installed new recruit Shane Duffy as his fulcrum for this season, Adam Idah leads the line for most games and Andrew Omobamidele just banked the Championship club £20m from moving to Notts Forest.

But another Irishman is rising at the club where Wes Hoolahan remains a legend and an inspiration.

Springett, who grew up in the New Cross/Lewisham area, midway between the heartlands of Millwall/Crystal Palace, is privileged to brighten the green hue long associated with the Canaries.

Even his English-born father of the same name had a fondness for Ireland, albeit through peculiar means.

“Being Irish was always drilled into me,” Springett said, ahead of Friday’s Euro U21 qualifier in Latvia.

“My mother left Ireland at six. I always remember asking when I was younger, ‘what is this green top?’ and she’d reply: ‘This is where you are from and remember that.’

“My Dad is an old-fashioned man but loves Vikings and stuff like that. They always told me that I have Irish blood in me. That feels so special.

“Throughout my career, people ask: ‘When are you going to play for England?’ But my mum has always told me, ‘just remember you are Irish’.

“A lot of people are half-this, half-that and there is always that controversy. But it means so much to me that people are proud of me representing Ireland. I’m doing this for mum and dad, my whole family. It gets to me.”

Friday: Euro Group A U21 qualifier: Latvia v Ireland, Jelgava (1pm, Irish time).