CULT HERO
JOHN GILES

BY Brian Farrell

THOSE lucky enough to be in Dalymount Park on Sunday, November 1st 1959 (your humble scribe included) witnessed the debut of a player who would go on to grace the Republic’s green jersey for almost 20 years, and who, gave us all a glimpse of the pearl within the oyster. The occasion was a ‘friendly’ between the Republic of Ireland and Sweden. The Swedes, host country the previous year for the World Cup, (losing a dramatic and intriguing Final, beaten 5-2 by two-goal Pele and Brazil) arrived in Dublin full of confidence, having disposed of a strong England side (3-2) at Wembley the previous Thursday night, where their centre-forward, the Real Madrid-bound Agne Simonsson, had given the English defenders a lesson in finishing they wouldn’t forget for a while. Making his international debut on the Sunday for Ireland was John Giles, at four days short of his 19th birthday the youngest player to don the senior jersey, but already well bedded- in at M a n c h e s t e r United. Playing as an old fashioned inside-right, it took Giles just 16 minutes to make an impact, drilling a 30-yard ‘rocket’ past a transfixed Swedish ‘keeper, his goal being the inspiration for an Irish fightback (Sweden led 2-0 after 15 mins) which saw the home side ultimately triumph 3-2. It was the first, and, (according to John Giles) the most memorable highlight of a long and brilliant career that would see him earn 60 caps for the Republic, play for the team (scoring 5 goals), captain it, and manage it. Matt Busby didn’t make too many mistakes while holding the reins of power at Old Trafford, but even he was honest enough to admit that his biggest error of judgment was to let John Giles (99 app. scoring 10 goals) leave Old Trafford for Elland Road in August, 1963. This came a few short months after the wee man from Cabra had given an inspired display at Wembley, helping a United side (that included Bobby Charlton, Denis Law, David Herd et al) beat Leicester City 3-1 to take the FA Cup back to Manchester. If his time at Old Trafford had shown promise of things to come, at Elland Road it really bore fruit. Switched to midfield by manager Don Revie, and partnered by the mercurial Billy Bremner, the abrasive duo, allied to
the ‘bite’ of Norman Hunter at centrehalf, the phenomenal shooting power of Peter Lorimer, and the craft and guile of Mick Jones and Allan ‘Sniffer’ Clarke up front, helped the Yorkshire side enjoy their most successful period, during which time they became, indisputably, the leading English team. REVIE'S stewardship had started in difficulty, the club being in some financial difficulty, and in the 1961-1962 season (the year before Giles arrived) only a win in the final game of the season saved the club from relegation to the old Division 3. However, under Revie’s guidance, a new team developed around the Scottish midfield genius Bobby Collins, unleashing a crop of outstandingly talented youngsters, including Giles, Norman Hunter, Paul Reaney, and Billy Bremner. In 1964, Leeds United won promotion to Division One. Their reputation was built on strong organisation, physical toughness and considerable skill. By 1970, the squad contained 17 full internationals. Under Revie, Leeds won two League Championships (1968-69, 1973-74) , The League Cup in 1968, Fairs Cup (1968 and 1971) FA Cup in 1972 and FA Charity Shield the same year. Revie’s last season at Elland Road, before leaving to manage England, concluded with Leeds' winning the Championship. Revie, recognising talent when he saw it, recommended Giles as his successor. The board disagreed, giving the job instead to Brian Clough, (who lasted just 44 days) the Short Life of Brian being followed by the appointment of Jimmy Armfield. The logical choice, a badly-done-by John Giles, left at the end of the following season, to spend a couple of years at West Bromwich Albion as player-manager. Having dragged the Baggies back up to Division One, Giles went on to m a n a g e S h a m r o c k Rovers (winning the FAI Cup), and then travelled west to Philadelphia Fury and Vancouver Whitecaps. He would later return to have a second stint at West Brom, while still playing for, and managing, the Republic of Ireland team. He finally quit playing for club and country in 1978. Nowadays, he serves on RTE’s panel for The Premiership, and International Matches, as arguably one of the most astute analysts around, his august observations being somewhat smothered by the inane claptrap from Dunphy, and Liam Brady’s obsessive sycophancy towards Anything Arsenal. Watching The Premiership on Saturday evenings, I sometimes sit in bemusement, listening to Dunphy’s pathetic attempts to don the cloak of greatness while sitting quietly beside Dunphy is Michael John Giles, As a player, as a man, as a manager and as a pundit, John Giles, YBIG Salute You.