STEPHEN BRADLEY GOT into his car outside Tolka Park on Monday night and knew that Shamrock Rovers were League of Ireland champions.
He had spent much of the previous 90 minutes watching Shelbourne play UCD to try and take his mind off what was happening between challengers Derry City and Sligo Rovers.
As he explained yesterday morning, moving from spot to spot around Tolka trying to avoid being recognised didn’t quite work.
Then a phone call from his wife, Emma, confirmed the news once and for all: Shamrock Rovers were champions.
Bradley had delivered the three-in-a-row of league titles.
He hung up the phone, got in his car, and drove home in silence.
The phone was turned off, the radio too. No music, but some tears.
“It was a nice moment,” he says. “It was emotional thinking about the whole year. I was just excited to get home to my wife and kids because like everybody’s family, they’re the ones who see you at the highest and lowest points. We’ve had some personal issues too, so I wanted to get home and give them a hug.”
Bradley revealed earlier this year that his eight-year-old son Josh had been diagnosed with leukaemia.
His treatment is continuing and it was Josh, Bradley laughed, who was the one keeping an eye on Derry’s game with Sligo and relaying the details to his Mam so she could be the one to let her husband know.
What Bradley and his family have been dealing with makes this success all the more remarkable.
“I wasn’t sure where I’d be going, staying on or what way my family would approach it. When they told me to stay on, I met the players here and had a chat,” he explained.
I explained everything that was going on and asked them if they would do everything possible to allow me to be able to celebrate it for Josh. Yeah, it was special.
“He’s the reason you come in. When stuff like that happens it makes you re-evaluate what you’re doing, and why you’re doing it. He’s the reason you get up every morning, why you stay up late at night and watch all the games.
“When you’re traveling home from games and people are sleeping…you’re watching your next opponent because I’ve always been thinking of getting a medal for him.”
When he got home, Bradley was met by Josh wearing a jersey that had been given to him by centre back Roberto Lopes before they headed to assistant Glen Cronin’s house to toast the club 20th title.
“It was like a night dress on him. He didn’t take it off him all night. We went down to Glen to celebrate. He had it on all night, which was brilliant.”
It was during the summer that Bradley turned down the advances of English League One side Lincoln City to continue his work at Tallaght Stadium.
Despite the emotional toll of the last few months, he’s adamant his work is not done with the club’s four-in-a-row in the 1980s in his sights. “No, the aim was always to try and beat it, that’s still the aim.
“Two stars [for 20 titles] and then can we beat it, it’s going to be difficult. We know there are teams coming but it’s our job to keep improving and see can we go again and again, and that has to be the aim.”
Rovers welcome Gent to Tallaght in their penultimate Europa Conference League game tomorrow before facing Derry on Sunday.
While winning the Premier Division is only worth €110,000, the benefits that come with access to the Champions’ Path during Euro qualifying means there is a bounty in the millions up for grabs.
“When we sat down four years back with the board, that was the conversation. It wasn’t by fluke that we came through the year we came through,” Bradley explained.
“We spoke about it in great detail, we knew about the changes that were coming down the line [with introduction of Conference League] and the aim is now, like I’ve said this year, we’ve won the league and got group stages.
Next year again, and the year after that, so we’re not waiting 10, 11 years for the next one to come around. The Champions’ Path guarantees you nothing but offers you real opportunities if you are successful early.”
For Bradley, the third title was the sweetest, especially given the added pressure that came with trying to deliver in Europe.
“This one was the hardest, because of the group stages. This was definitely the hardest. You take the group stages out of it and I think we’re very difficult to get close to, but we want to be there.
“This has definitely been the most difficult but that makes it the most enjoyable, when you know you’ve had to go to the well, you’ve had dig deep when bodies are down.
“We’ve had players playing over the last two months with injuries shouldn’t be playing with, they should be out for a few weeks, a couple of months in some cases. Alan [Mannus] should be out for a couple of months but when you have players where the physio are saying they’re out, they’re done and they’re saying ‘I’m playing’ because they understand what we want to do and where we want to go.
“That makes it all the more enjoyable when you see what people put into it. They’ve had to block out noise and focus on what we do. It’s definitely been the most enjoyable because of the challenges it’s thrown up.”
On Sunday, Bradley will hold aloft the league title before handing his medal to Josh.
“Yeah, this one is for him.”
– First published 06.45, 26 October.
For who, he’s better than Jones, and, while he played very well there, I Don’t think Schmidt will trust Zebo at 15 at the business end of the pool stages
I don’t necessarily disagree with you, but why do you say Kearney is better than Jones?
Cian, I think it’s at this stage it’s based only on experience. Leaving that out, I think they’re possibly on a par.
Very much so
Kearney is better than Jones. He may not be playing well at the minute but apart from a dip in form for most of last season he’s clearly one of the best fullbacks in the world.
No coach has ever picked Jones ahead of him, he’s been on lions tours, won a grand slam, triple crowns and six nations titles as well as HC’s with Leinster, he also won ERC player of the year in 2012.
No doubting Jones is a good player and playing well but really he’s not in a on form Kearneys class
I agree with Chris.
Players aren’t robots they are human like anyone else.
Form is temporary but class is permanent.
Kearney will be at 15 for Ireland when it counts.
He’s clearly behind Dagg, Falou, Halpenny, brown, Le Roux, Hogg so consider your statement Chris. He’s not near the top.
as u said your self Kearney’s not in form! Going in the WC Would u prefer a form player playing out of his skin or a player who’s as u said was out of form all last season n his last world class game was 2/3 years ago
Going by current form, there is no way you can consider Kearney as being one of the best fullbacks in the world. It might not be nice to hear but he’s not that great and is living off his 2009 form. The man does nothing in attack, hasn’t been that dominant in the air and has never been great defensively. The best fullbacks in the world know how to run with the ball, step, pass. He’s a very rigid player.
He’s a better footballer, better in the air, more experienced and a good option for a drop goal. I like Jones but think Kearney is better. For the record I reckon Zebo would be a great option at 15 if Kearney isint doing his stuff
If you took an on form Kearney and on form halfpenny, then, aside from the kicking of halfpenny, I’d say Kearney is a lot better. But other than that I agree with you.
No way! halfpenny all day (kicking is really important BTW)
Kearney could be under pressure for the 15 spot
We’ll see how “mentally tougher” media darling Kearney is when Schmidt eventually drops him. Could happen in the next few weeks…
so bitter!
Pretty odd comment to make but each to their own.
It he carries over this lack of form from last season, he shouldn’t make the starting 15. Form players win theses tournaments
I am not pro or anti any province, I only give my honest opinion on players regardless of where they play their club rugby. Might I suggest lonestar that u take the blue tinted glasses off any call players on face value for the next 7/8 weeks
Philip you are without doubt one of the most anti Leinster trolls on this site.
I’m far from anti Leinster, maybe ur too pro Leinster to see it, I’ve a feeling ud like to have Shane Jennings in the back row
Philip you are getting embarrassing at this stage…you call it as you see it? All you seem to ‘call’ is the faults of any Leinster player in the Ireland set up.
I’ve been very critical of Kilcoyne & Hurley, I’m always saying I don’t think Matt Healy deserves as much praise as he gets and I’ve never rated touhy or cave as nothing more than journey men but caves last outing did impress me. Alex u seem to get hyper defensive when someone criticises a Leinster player. Do u think my criticism
of R.kearney is unjustified?
The majority of your comments on Leinster players are negative. It’s a trend noticed by many on the42 and I am by far sensitive. Kearney had dipped in form by HIS standards but I’d have him starting 15 everyday of the week over Jones and Zebo and I’m guessing Joe will pick him too ps he knows more that you and me.
As someone once said…I’m just calling it as I see it….
Kearney is 100% nailed on at FB so the majority of this debate is completely pointless. Get behind the team!
I agree with the majority of the comments about Kearney. He is desperately out of form. The only problem is we don’t have too many viable options. Joe doesn’t seem to trust Jones fully, while Zebo lacks experience, something that Kearney has in abundance and one of the reasons he is still in the driving seat. Experience will only keep him in the team for so long because on form he doesn’t merit the jersey. Zebo might turn out to be a fantastic full back but he needs to start there consistently for Munster. Kearney is a media darling, he is in the indo every second day, this is gonna make his fall even harder. let’s hope he recaptured some form in time for the world cup.
Shocking comments for the most part. Drivel.
Maybe the reason he is the starting fullback is because he has the full trust of Joe, whereas the other options don’t. Plus he know the systems and power plays inside out. If Ireland were playing one of the big teams tomorrow in a match that mattered, I know who I would want at fullback