Umeh brothers quickly climbing the Ringmahon wall of fame

Franco Umeh is now at Crystal Palace and brother Jaden became Cork City FC's youngest senior player last season. Andrew Horgan met them at their old haunt in Ringmahon Rangers.

Tue, 09 Jan, 2024 - 17:45

Andrew Horgan

A quick kickaround on the Ringmahon Rangers pitch soon brings the memories flooding back to both Franco and Jaden Umeh.

From there it’s just a short walk up the stairs and into the main room of the clubhouse where they find pictures of them wearing the Cork side’s colours hanging on the walls.

Only once did Franco and his younger brother Jaden – there are three years and two months between them – represent the Mahon club in the same fixture, although Ashton School had the benefit of combining their services more often.

They instantly recall one game, a Preston Cup final – a tournament organised by Ringmahon Rangers – defeat to St Joseph's on penalties.

It doesn’t take long for Jaden to remind his older brother that he missed the decisive spot kick that day.

“It happens,” responds Franco before recalling a chance his younger brother squandered in normal time.

“I tried to get an assist, but the fella over here missed. I tried to get an assist but this striker over here is just a littler dosser!”

They laugh. It’s clear that it’s a close bond the two brothers share, and it is a similar journey in football that they have enjoyed up until this point.

Franco has spearheaded the way given his seniority. His decision to leave Ringmahon to join Cork City was replicated by Jaden when he was presented with the opportunity.

“Yeah 100%, everything he knows is from me,” jokes Franco.

“No, he’s a mature player. He teaches me stuff I don’t know, and I teach him stuff he doesn’t know. It’s a good bond we have, there’s no competition really.”

It only takes a few seconds for the 18-year-old to backtrack on that last remark.

“Besides the competition between ourselves. He’s trying to score, I’m trying to score. He’s trying to be the best player, I’m trying to be the best player.

“He’s trying to be taller, I’m trying to be taller. But it’s a friendly competition obviously. We help each other but I think that competitiveness makes us better players.”

So, during their time at Ringmahon, which of the attackers scored more goals?

“I never won that,” admits Franco. “I’ve probably more assists though.”

“Ah he’s trying this…” interjects a smiling Jaden. Again, their strong bond becomes clear.

Franco is playing at Crystal Palace and Jaden was a recent signing for Cork City FC.

But whatever about the goals and assists, there is one landmark Jaden beat his brother to achieving.

Last November against Bohemians, Jaden became the youngest player in the history of Cork City Football Club to make his debut at just 15 years and 230 days old.

“I was delighted getting the call-up,” he says. “First it was Cobh in the Munster final, I got a few minutes on – about 20 - but we still managed to lose though so I was disappointed.

“But then I got another call-up for Bohs for my first League of Ireland game. To get a chance to go on the pitch it was like…. I was proud, it was a good moment for me in my life.”

Jaden was in Wales helping the Republic of Ireland Under-16s retain the Victory Shield when City were consigned to the second tier of Irish football following their relegation/ promotion playoff loss to Waterford.

“I was just looking at Livescore, just checking the score every few minutes and seeing it was extra time and then the final result.

“You just feel devastated because that’s your team, you play for the seniors, and you train with these guys as well.

“Seeing them go back down is a big disappointment but I know this will be our year to go back up.”

First Division football for City in 2024 may ultimately provide Jaden with more opportunities to play for the senior side than would have been the case had they retained their Premier Division status.

But the youngster, who turns 16 in March, is already attracting interest from a number of clubs on the continent, including Portuguese giants Benfica, whom he has visited on four occasions.

He is unable to follow Franco’s lead again for the time being as Brexit rules mean he can’t move to the United Kingdom until he turns 18.

So the question he must ponder now is should he remain with City or make the move to another club in Europe?

“It's still a big question for me now. I’m still thinking about it, honestly,” he admits.

“I don’t know yet, I’m still thinking. I’m still trying to decide if I should move at 16 or 18. I’m looking at my development.

“I want to improve as a player and play at the highest level that I can so that’s in my thoughts as well, I’m just trying to find the best club for me.

“I will probably get more game time as we are in the first division now. I think so, but we’ll see.”

Franco decided to remain on Leeside when he was faced with a similar dilemma but after making four League of Ireland appearances and just five days after his 18th birthday last January, he made the transfer deadline day move to Crystal Palace where he has already trained with the first team and held conversations with manager Roy Hodgson.

“Pre-season with Cork was going really good and I could see myself in the squad and possibly starting. But then Crystal Palace came calling and opportunities like that just don’t come around, you have to take it,” says the Republic of Ireland U19 international, who will now be looking to progress into the U21 set-up.

“The club fits me really well. It’s really good. Even like the smaller stuff is way harder. If you are doing a passing drill with the U21s it’s alright but when you do it with the first team you have to stay concentrated the whole time.

“The passes are harder; everything is just quicker. (Michael) Olise and (Eberechi) Eze are the two players I look up to, there wouldn’t be too much conversation with them, but they are nice people.

“They welcome you, but you just get on with the training session. I’ve spoken with him (Roy Hodgson), he’s a nice fella. He’s a good manager, definitely.

“He is a little old school. He’s strict at times but he will encourage you as well and he does really well with the young players.

“He’s always encouraging us in training, and he gives a small bit of leeway to the younger players as well which is like a safety net for us.

“I still have a year and a half left there but my goal is to get a new deal.”

After spending Christmas together amongst friends and the rest of their family, while also training with each other to stay sharp, the two brothers soon had to go their separate ways.

For Franco, it was back to London on New Year's Day ahead of a return to training with Palace the next morning.

For Jaden, he has a bit more time before he returns to pre-season training with Cork City although his long-term future is likely to dominate his thoughts over the coming weeks.

As the duo walk back down the steps in the Ringmahon Rangers clubhouse they glance at the framed jerseys of the club’s successful former players that tower over the stairwell.

Caoimhín Kelleher and Alan Browne are just two of the names that take pride of place on the wall. It’s only a matter of time before they are joined by both Franco and Jaden Umeh.