VETERAN IRISH GOALKEEPER Barry Roche has announced his retirement after 20 seasons of competitive football as a professional.
Roche hangs up his gloves at League Two side Morecambe, where he took his tally of career appearances to 619.
The 38-year-old played more club games in England than any other Irishman who was active during the 2019-20 Football League season, with senior internationals Richard Keogh and Glenn Whelan next on the list.
He made his professional debut with Nottingham Forest in the Championship during the 2000-01 season. The former Ireland U21 international also spent three seasons with Chesterfield, before beginning a 12-year spell at Morecambe in 2008.
Roche, who’s staying on at Morecambe as the club’s goalkeeping coach, said: “It’s been one hell of a journey and I’d like to thank everyone at Nottingham Forest, Chesterfield and especially Morecambe for everything you have done for me along the way. Time to focus on the next chapter in coaching.”
At the age of 18, Roche made his debut off the bench for Forest against Crystal Palace following the sending-off of ex-England international goalkeeper Dave Beasant. With his first touch in professional football, the Wicklow native saved a penalty from Julian Gray.
At Morecambe, where he was named Player of the Season twice, Roche was appointed club captain in 2010 after helping the club to reach the League Two play-offs. He also made headlines in 2016 by scoring a dramatic 94th-minute equaliser against Portsmouth.
Last October, he shared interim management duties with Morecambe team-mate Kevin Ellison for one game following the departure of Jim Bentley.
In an interview with The42 after he was awarded a testimonial by Morecambe in 2018, Roche said: “It’s incredibly difficult to make a career in the game here. The numbers and statistics prove that. It’s a very cut-throat and ruthless game to make it in. I’m one of the lucky ones who stayed in the game and earned an okay living from it.
“I wouldn’t say I don’t have any regrets. I feel that if I had knuckled down and worked harder a lot earlier in my career I could have achieved better things. But that has happened and you can’t change the past. Overall I think I’ve done pretty well and it’s something I’m very proud of.”
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Should have had his ban increased for a frivolous appeal. A stonewall red card. Now Munster face the appalling vista of 36 year old Stephen Archer potentially playing a full 80 mins, otherwise they’ll have to throw in the academy prospect Donnelly. Still think Northampton are vastly overrated and Munster can and will win this one.
@Aidan Farrell: Jesus Christ, you’d swear no team ever appealed a ban before. How can you say it was frivolous without knowing what their grounds for appealing was?
@Aidan Farrell: irrespective of what you think, Munster were within their rights to appeal. Two minutes on the pitch and gets what he deserves for such a tackle.
@mark sheehan: I don’t believe he really deserved the red card but Sean O’Brien (who was wearing 14 jersey) deserved it instead. He effectively lifted the right leg which made Ryan’s situation look worse (IMHO).
@Aidan Farrell: You cannot have a process without the opportunity to appeal… The only reason that the sanction can be increased is if the appeal panel felt the original ban was too lenient. It would set a dangerous precedent otherwise.
@Aidan Farrell: Northampton are actually very very good this season. Top of the premiership, already beaten Munster in away in Thomond, haven’t lost a champions cup game and have won 12 of their last games in a row. Saracens thumped Harlequins the week 2 weeks ago by 45 pts and then Northampton beat Saracens by 11 pts last week. They are full strength for this weekend at home so I cannot see how Munster will get by them this weekend. They’ll need to be exceptionally good to do so.
@Aidan Farrell: tell me your from leinster without telling me your from leinster.
@Aidan Farrell: Are you a recent convert to the oval ball?
@Aidan Farrell: I thought you were being sarcastic last time. Unfortunately not :|
Lots of high and mighty Leinster fans online today crowing about how Munster shouldn’t be allowed appeal, the ban should be extended etc.
I wonder were they as critical of Leinster when they appealed Shane Jennings ban for gouging Nick Kennedy
@mWhSNsK2: Wow, don’t you know how to blow things out of proportion! You have “fans” plural when there’s only one person who raised an issue. Get real lad!
@Con Cussed: is The 42 the only place that’s online or are you that dim?
@mWhSNsK2: For somebody pretending to be smart you are commenting on the42.ie and making generalisations without facts most of the time. Which you have a habit of doing and is not making you seem so bright!
Furthermore you bring up something that happened way back in 2009 in relation to a recent event. Get a life or better still a job!
@Con Cussed: I said online, you’re the one that made presumptions that I was talking about the 42 only. No, I’m good for now. I’ll keep sustained at the expense of the taxpayer for a while longer
@mWhSNsK2: Well, there were plenty of high and mighty Munster whinging about Antoine Frisch yesterday. WoUlDnT hApPeN tO lEiNsTeR :/ I’m sure you went out of your way to challenge them, too.
@Andrew Martin Farrell: speak when you’re spoken to
@Andrew Martin Farrell: does Luke McGrath come to your mind this evening ?
@mWhSNsK2: course they should be allowed to appeal. I’m ashamed that we did though
@Andrew Martin Farrell: Tony doesn’t understand how an online forum works, he thinks he’s having a quiet one on one conversation with someone here. His default response when he doesn’t like being challenged with points he can’t refute is that he wasn’t speaking to you. This is tony. Don’t be like tony.
@PJ Smith: I understand quite perfectly. It’s when clowns like you butt in with nothing worthy to add to the conversation is when I have a problem
@mWhSNsK2: Wasn’t speaking to you there tony
For God’s sake, lads stop this Leinster v Munster bull. I sincerely hope they both win. Are they not both Irish. This is probably why we are considered the Isle of begrudgers. As a die-hard Leinster fan, I hope Munster win ever match they play other than against Leinster and I hope visa versa for Munster fans.
Otherwise, don’t call yourself Irish or a true rugby supporter. You are just very sad.
@Tony Connolly: nothing wrong with a bit of friendly rivalry
@Tony Connolly: could not agree more. How can we be seen as some of the best live fans in the world, but among the most miserable online?
I felt it was a yellow but have no arguments with the upgrade to a red. Two players cleaning out a ruck without knowing what the other is doing can have dangerous results, without it being intentional by any one player.
I’d be a bit fearful for Munster scrum time without Jager and Ryan there now. Should be a good game but I’ll go with home advantage winning out.
@Dave Murray: They’re missing props aswell. Back row is a war tho
Was worth a go I suppose. Can see Loughman move to TH at 60. Donnelly is on the bench but that’s probably a break glass option
@mWhSNsK2: Donnelly has played TH prop for Ireland U20s. Im not so sure loughman has. It easier said than done. Big opporunity for Donnelly.
@Steve Mccarthy: Loughman has shifted to TH a couple of times for Munster. He definitely did in the 2022 game vs Leinster in the Aviva. He was sub TH for a couple of games in 2019/2020 too
@mWhSNsK2: Donnellys decent (imo)
Why is there a rumour that there is a spilt in the Munster camp.
@David Jackman: Jackman has been saying he’s hearing of some dissent in the camp, mentions contracts, transitions, etc. Maybe something to do with PoMs contract, he’s not the most charismatic lad perhaps it’s having a wider effect (the the whole thing has been handled horribly by Munster tho), also mentions something with Frische? no idea what went on there. Don’t need it tbf. It seems like every department in Munster has needed an overhaul from 10 years ago and were gradully working our way around the organisation. Also seems like Jackman and co could potentially get a weeks work out of it if they cant find a win on Sunday… hard to know
Other Jackman ;)