Paul McGrath

IF THE current Irish team were to walk to Lansdowne Road for the match against the French, they would invariably be mobbed by the fans, some more so than others. If Paul McGrath was to do the same, he’d be equally mobbed, even more so than others. Why? Because everyone loves Paul McGrath. And when sports writer Paul Kimmage says, “Paul McGrath remains the most popular sportsman in the history of Irish sport”, You cannot but nod your head in agreement.

McGrath on the pitch was a joy to behold. Brilliant in the air, composed, calm, intelligent and his timing in the tackle was legendary, the superlatives when it comes to McGrath are endless. Above all else McGrath made everything look so simple and effortless. Just when a striker looked through on goal, he’d wisp the ball away from the striker, stroll a yard or three and nonchalantly pass it into midfield. As
Lansdowne breathed a collective sigh of relief you can imagine McGrath shrugging and thinking ‘what’s all the fuss about’. Smooth.

McGrath spent his early years in orphanages in Dublin where he began his obsession with football. He played his one and only year of football in the top flight of the National League with Saint Patrick’s Athletic in 1982. He excelled as a player that season, picking up the young player of the year award. It was also here that he picked up the nickname of ‘The Black Pearl of Inchicore.’From Pat’s he was snapped up for a bargain £30,000 (sterling) by Manchester United - winning the FA Cup in 1985. Strangely though, it wasn’t until 1985 before he earned his first of 83 caps for Ireland at the ripe old age of 25. He came on as a sub for Mark Lawrenson at Dalymount Park, where funnily enough we lost to Italy 2-1.

He got his first of eight goals against Iceland in May 1986. McGrath was instrumental in our Breakthrough onto the international stage as we qualified for our first tournament in Holland at Euro ’88. Somehow managing to We salute you Paul McGrath beat the English and losing to eventual winners Holland. It might have been so different if McGrath’s header which crossed the line, been allowed to stand. Instead Wim Kieft’s bizarre bouncing shot gave the Dutch a 1-0 victory in the 82nd minute. The Irish team returned as heroes and household names.

Sadly for McGrath, the off-field attention was unbearable. Completely shy, he would run a mile at the sight of a camera, microphone and even a tape recorder. This shyness lead to off-field problems where he had numerous run-ins with Jack Charlton as McGrath candidly admits. “Sometimes I reckon Jack wanted to smash my head of something. I didn’t mean to annoy him but annoy him I did.” Although I wouldn’t say it took much to annoy Big Jack. McGrath’s boozing drove Alex Ferguson demented at Man Utd where, Norman Whiteside, Bryan Robson and McGrath were constantly missing training and getting fined. In 1989 Ferguson had enough and sold him to Aston Villa where he played his finest club football in an average team.

The Villa fans nicknamed him ‘God’. He picked up the Player of the Year award in 1993, it’s a moot point but many argue it was a long time coming. For Ireland things got better as we qualified for the World Cup in Italia ’90, again going out to the hosts by a 1-0 scoreline. But it was the rematch four years later at the Giants Stadium at USA ’94 that stands out as McGrath was a colossus in defence. He made several unbelievable blocks, won every header, kept the Italians from scoring and won the Man of the Match award. After the game the great Roberto Baggio swopped his jersey with McGrath and congratulated him on a brilliant performance.

As a game of such importance, on such a world stage in New York (with the Irish and Italian communities steeped in history), it was the greatest performance by an Irish player of the modern times. Oh, and lets not forget that he was 35 and had numerous knee operations and barely trained. Remarkable is not the word. Inspirational is. As for the rest of USA ’94, we stuttered through the group and finally succumbed to the Dutch in the second round. But not before Big Jack entertained us all against Mexico. His rant at the fourth official who wouldn’t let Aldo onto the pitch was priceless.

With age catching up on McGrath, he retired after the nil all draw with Wales on the sad, sad day of the 11th of February 1997. It would be the final time Lansdowne would get to chant ‘Oh-ahh, Paul McGrath say Ohahh, Paul McGrath.’ McGrath in many ways reminds me of Phil Lynott. Both were supremely talented, charismatic, black and born in England. They were loved in equal measure by men and women alike and even grew up in similar circumstances. McGrath as a legend of the green jersey, for giving us so much and asking for nothing in return, we salute you!

words: Liam Murray