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Mahon (centre) facing Hartlepool United during his time at Vauxhall Motors. PA Archive/PA Images

'I cried almost every night for the first six months and worried about what I was missing back in Dublin'

Dubliner Craig Mahon, whose family has a rich history in professional football, on his time at Wigan Athletic and how he ended up with Chester.

TIMING IS KEY in any professional football career, and the door to the Premier League never stays open for long for any young player.

It is a cruel world and the margins between ‘making it’, and not, can be as thin as a matter of weeks.

Three weeks at the back-end of the 2008-09 season were to define the career of Dubliner Craig Mahon, as he was released from Wigan Athletic by manager Steve Bruce.

The former Lourdes Celtic man signed for the Latics on a YTS contract in 2006, but after three years at the club, the Manchester United legend decided he was surplus to requirements.

“Bruce and reserve team boss Keith Berchin called me in and told me I wasn’t being kept on,” Mahon tells The42.

“They both said I had enough to make a career as a professional, but they were looking to go in a difference direction.

“I think with the situation Wigan were in then, as a Premier League side, they could look to buy a winger if they needed to. Maybe the youth set up wasn’t as much of a priority.

“But a few weeks later, Bruce was gone and Roberto Martinez came in and that is always something I think about. Would he have given me a chance?

“When I look at the way Martinez’s teams play, I would have suited that.

“There are moments in football where you think about what ifs, but that’s the big one for me. If I could have stayed on, and been given a chance by Martinez, things could have been very different.

I suppose it was a bit of sliding doors moment very early in my career.”

The news rocked Mahon, who had signed his first professional contract at the start of the season, and trained with the first team, either side of a loan spell at League Two side Accrington Stanley.

“I got so much from working and training in that environment, alongside the likes of Antonio Valencia, Emile Heskey and Chris Kirkland.

“The Irish lads in the side were always great as well. Kevin Kilbane and Graham Kavanagh would chat to me a lot, see how I was getting on, and offer advice.”

Soccer - FA Barclays Premiership - Wigan Athletic v Manchester City - The JJB Stadium Antonio Valencia and Kevin Kilbane at Wigan. PA Archive / PA Images PA Archive / PA Images / PA Images

Mahon was faced with a decision that has faced hundreds of Irish players released from English league sides – to return to, or stick it out in England, as he had planned?

“It had been a hard few years of work at Wigan.

“I had found it very hard at first, and cried almost every night for the first six months in my digs and worried about what I was missing back in Dublin.

“I knew I had to make a decision, and quick, so I decided to give it another year. Bruce had said I could make a career in England, and I wanted to stick with it.”

However the initial shock was something that the 19-year-old struggled with, finding it difficult to tell his family what had happened.

I was embarrassed to ring home and tell them that I’d been let go.

“Everyone had been so proud of me going over to England and that first phone call to my parents was very difficult.”

The Mahon family is one with football running through it, with Craig’s uncle Alan Mahon and cousin Andy Reid – then at Sunderland – offering advice on the next stage.

Andy Reid and Cafu Andy Reid, pictured alongside Brazilian legend Cafu, is Mahon's cousin. INPHO INPHO

“I spoke to both Alan and Andy about the situation and they were both really positive.

“Alan had always encouraged me to have an education alongside football, and he told me to make use of the coaching badges I had got at Wigan.”

After leaving Wigan, Mahon embarked on four season stint across the fringes of the English league system, with spells at Salford City, Burscough and Vauxhall Motors.

The demands of non-league football meant Mahon kept his youth coaching role with the Wigan Athletic Community Trust, as he looked to balance football, work and travelling across England’s north west.

“There was a lot on, of course, and physically it involved a lot of driving.

But I kept positive, as for me I was doing two jobs that I loved and kept me playing football.”

For a player that had already experienced his own football sliding doors moment, he found himself in the right place at the right time in the final weeks of the 2012-13 season.

“Towards the end of the season, Vauxhall played against Chester and I had really good game.

“Then at the end of the season, I got a phone call from manager Neil Young asking if I’d be interested in joining and I jumped at the chance, as it meant playing Conference again.”

Mahon has gone on to be an indispensable member of the Chester side, through some difficult times at the club, including a reformation in 2010, after the previous club Chester City went under.

With over 200 appearances under his belt, the 29-year-old has come full circle and is relishing the chance to pass on his experience to the club’s younger players — these days playing in the National League North (the sixth tier of English football).

“I have been through the lot at Chester. Going from part-time to full-time, to hybrid and back to part-time.

“I try to use that experience to help the younger lads. To show them how professional football is dog eat dog and it requires mental strength and a willingness to work your nuts off every day.

“There are not many industries that you can be told from one day to the next that you are not wanted, but that’s football.”

Despite being intertwined with his time at Wigan, Mahon fondly remembers playing for Ireland at underage level in the 2007-08 season, alongside future internationals Harry Arter and Cillian Sheridan.

Craig Mahon Representing Ireland at U19 level in 2007. Lorraine O'Sullivan / INPHO Lorraine O'Sullivan / INPHO / INPHO

“To pull on that shirt and represent Ireland at any level is brilliant,” he says. 

“I remember my first game, at U18, at St Pat’s in Inchicore it was even more special. Being from Drimnagh and representing Ireland – with all my family there – just across the canal, was something else.

My caps went home with my mam and dad and they’ve stayed up on the wall ever since.

With cousin Andy taking over the reins as Ireland U18 boss earlier this year, Mahon is confident he can provide the same advice to Irish future stars as he did to him.

“I always keep an eye on Ireland, and with Andy in charge, even more so,” he adds. 

“Playing for Ireland is such a proud moment and he will make them well aware of that.

“As for me, I will be watching on, as I always do. It is something I always have done, whether it’s X Factor or the Olympics, if there is any Irish person in it, I am right behind them.”

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    Mute Minamino
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    Jan 27th 2020, 12:08 AM

    Fantastic news. Things are finally looking up

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    Mute garfarkle
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    Jan 27th 2020, 12:18 AM

    About time. To treat this man in such a way was appalling. We need all the help that we can muster.

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    Mute John S
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    Jan 27th 2020, 6:53 AM

    @garfarkle: the way John Delaney treated everyone was appalling

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    Mute Dan2078
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    Jan 27th 2020, 7:33 AM

    @John S: not exactly true; he treated himself very well (and still prob does)

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    Mute Brian Murphy
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    Jan 27th 2020, 12:54 AM

    Proper order…a football man

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    Mute BewaretheBeardies
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    Jan 27th 2020, 8:38 AM

    When will Delaney be charged?

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    Mute Paul Mcnevin
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    Jan 27th 2020, 3:54 PM

    @BewaretheBeardies: He won’t, it would be a house of cards then.

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    Mute simplysuperman69
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    Jan 27th 2020, 1:35 AM

    It’s criminal he was left out, the man’s got good experience and great knowledge within Irish football and has a passion to improve it. If everyone in the (hopefully) new FAI has the right intentions and they get the right people in there could be a great future for football in Ireland.

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    Mute Ricky
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    Jan 27th 2020, 10:50 AM

    @simplysuperman69: John only wanted his ‘yes’ men and his personal stooges within the FAI. Someone like Brian Kerr who would upset the whole party was a no-go..

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    Mute Tricksy
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    Jan 27th 2020, 2:06 AM

    About time he is back , a good honest guy , who the FAI were waiting to get rid of at the first chance they got .great news .

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    Mute Gary Kearney
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    Jan 27th 2020, 5:27 PM

    @Tricksy: Not the FAi but the bar stool fans who know nothing and Delaney. Sadly Brian was not the only one or club he tried to destroy.

    2
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    Mute nicknack
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    Jan 27th 2020, 9:04 AM

    Quinn and Kerr are the right people to help the fai back and more importantly get the league of Ireland up to its potential

    66
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    Mute Red wine and chocolate cake
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    Jan 27th 2020, 4:17 AM

    A multi winner coach/manager. About time

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    Mute Quentin Tarantino
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    Jan 27th 2020, 2:16 AM

    Would be great to see Kerr involved. But it might be too late for the fai to survive . Right now they’re giving the public what they want. Possibly to reduce the backlash of any government assistance/bailout

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    Mute Now or Never
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    Jan 27th 2020, 10:46 AM

    @Quentin Tarantino: looking forward to the film

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    Mute Connoroconner
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    Jan 27th 2020, 10:50 AM

    @Quentin Tarantino: at this stage, most people, I would say, are in favour of a govt bailout. The alternative is insolvency and that cant be allowed to happen.

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    Mute Tony Mcgrath
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    Jan 27th 2020, 1:14 AM

    Hopefully he will be off tv so

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    Mute The Grand Nagus
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    Jan 27th 2020, 9:11 AM

    @Tony Mcgrath:
    He’s brilliant on TV

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    Mute Connoroconner
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    Jan 27th 2020, 12:58 PM

    @Tony Mcgrath: he is the most insightful pundit on telly and radio at the moment and funny with it. Having a strong Dublin accent seems to be a crime these days. I hope he doesn’t give up his tv work.

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    Mute Paully kelly
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    Jan 27th 2020, 7:56 AM

    Great news, Kerr great football man absolute shame he wasn’t involved last 15 years, great have him back unwards and upwards.

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    Mute Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh
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    Jan 27th 2020, 9:05 AM

    There is a simple solution to this whole FAI debacle. Disband it, and get FIFA/UEFA to again recognise the IFA (the Irish Football Association, not the Farmers.) as the administrators of association football on the entire island. It would mean we would have a unified Irish team.

    We could take the names of the previous teams i.e. “Northern Ireland” & “The Republic of Ireland” and combine them to something snappy like “Northern Ireland”. Everybody wins.

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    Mute Wreck Tangle
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    Jan 27th 2020, 9:08 AM

    @Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh:

    Dead simple. I’m sure that the 40 something percent of protestant fans in NI will also feel they have won..

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    Mute Ebeneezer Goode
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    Jan 27th 2020, 9:14 AM

    @Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: Would need a new anthem too. None of that Ireland’s Call rubbish. How about Come out ye black and tans? Or Joe McDonnell? Or maybe we’ll just wait 5 to 10 years for reunification which is a certainty at this stage.

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    Mute Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh
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    Jan 27th 2020, 9:31 AM

    @Ebeneezer Goode: Nothing like a nasty bit of sectarianism to lighten the mood.

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    Mute Burn_the_Witch
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    Jan 27th 2020, 9:44 AM

    @Ebeneezer Goode: Certainty??? Are you trying to get a rise. You must be one of these people who hope for disaster.

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    Mute Declan Leonard
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    Jan 27th 2020, 11:02 AM

    @Burn_the_Witch: #Think32

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    Mute Ebeneezer Goode
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    Jan 27th 2020, 11:18 AM

    @Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: I didn’t want to highlight that Feardorcha, thank you for admitting it.

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    Mute Colm Patrick Doyle
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    Jan 27th 2020, 11:08 AM

    Best news ever … looks like we’re starting to get some real football men in there now. The swamp is almost drained ..

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    Mute Wreck Tangle
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    Jan 27th 2020, 8:57 AM

    Why are FAI only appointing people from within Irish football? Kerr, Quinn etc. all have blemish free characters but the fact is that creating a management/oversight team of people who know each other is a recipe for corruption.

    FAI needs support from the Irish taxpayer through a direct bail out and through BOI which the taxpayer is a shareholder. If Ross was able to do his job there would be no bail out until a diverse management/oversight team is established. At the very least this would be an expectation of a blended management team comprising of Irish, International and even stakeholders from outside football.

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    Mute Brian Ó Dálaigh
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    Jan 27th 2020, 9:58 AM

    @Wreck Tangle: your proposal regarding Ross is what is known as political interference, a big no-no from both UEFA and FIFA. Any such interference would likely scare off any potential investors and risk sanctions from UEFA and FIFA. Trying to pin blame on Ross (and I would agree he’s not fit for purpose) is either scapegoating or shows a lack of understanding.

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    Mute David Glynn
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    Jan 27th 2020, 10:08 AM

    @Wreck Tangle: like the FA in England is full of outsiders. Get a grip

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    Mute Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh
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    Jan 27th 2020, 10:44 AM

    @David Glynn: Tax payer’s money should not be bailing out the FAI under any circumstances.

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    Mute Wreck Tangle
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    Jan 27th 2020, 11:11 AM

    @Brian Ó Dálaigh:

    Any bail out is money belonged to the tax payer and diverts funs from elsewhere in society, therefore Ross is accountable to the electorate on this, not to FAI, FIFA or UEFA. He should 100% not state who should be appointed to these boards but a taxpayer bail out should be conditional on diversity within the management structure.

    FIFA/UEFA are not exactly role models to oversee integrity. If this is seen as interference, fine. Let them bail out FAI or let it go to the wall. Throwing tax payer money into a pit of corruption and no oversight is not the answer.

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    Mute David Glynn
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    Jan 27th 2020, 1:33 PM

    @Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: Are you so thick that you don’t realise that they don’t want a bailout. They want Govt support and restoration of funding that paid for development officer network. This sort of misleading guff helps no one.
    Get your facts right.

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    Mute Wreck Tangle
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    Jan 27th 2020, 2:11 PM

    @David Glynn:

    I would say you should look at your facts. Bailout by definition: An act of giving financial assistance to a failing business or economy to save it from collapse. Funding is normally associated with development. This money will stop the FAI going to the wall, i.e bailout.

    Feardorcha’s point is not misleading, it’s fair! FAI has squandered revenue, it’s become so toxic that it cannot attract sponsorship and why should the tax payer provide funding/bail out when the Govt ( a few weeks ago) was independently advised not to give money to this organisation.

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    Mute Brian Ó Dálaigh
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    Jan 27th 2020, 2:12 PM

    @Wreck Tangle: there shouldn’t be a taxpayer bailout, full stop. The FAI got itself into this mess. The FAI needs to get itself out of this mess. My apologies if I interpreted your initial comment incorrectly, but I was sure you were advocating for Ross and the government to intervene in the selection process. Even conditions of diversity could be seen by UEFA and FIFA as political interference. Any injection of money by the government is simply saying to other organisations – and the FAI itself – that there is no need for any accountability; the government will come to the rescue. So, no, there should be absolutely no bailout.

    2
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    Mute The Logic
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    Jan 27th 2020, 5:09 PM

    @Wreck Tangle: They have made five recent appointments at the top of the FAI. The chairman of the board, two further independent directors and the interim CEO are all appointments from outside Irish football, with a further independent director soon to be added to that. Quinn is the only one who has been appointed who was previously involved in Irish football and that was as a player, not with the FAI. So when you ask “Why are FAI only appointing people from within Irish football?”, what exactly are you talking about?

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    Mute Wreck Tangle
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    Jan 27th 2020, 9:47 PM

    @The Logic:

    Gerry McAnaney, new president, formerly chairperson of the Defence Forces Football Association and served as a member of the FAI board of management and the FAI disciplinary panel.

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    Mute David Glynn
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    Jan 27th 2020, 10:05 AM

    Great news. He could run Academy for youth.
    As to money sure the greyhound guys get 17 million euro and the horsey crowd 1.7 million for equestrian stuff.
    All FAI was looking was their grant restored and guarantees to Bank.
    This is the Bank we rescued.. BOI.
    All the Govt has to do is to say we’re happy with the new set up and back the revamped FAI. State money shoud be used for development of the game solely. After all, despite a decline recently it is the most popular competitive team sport in Ireland and with Chancer Delaney banished can come good again.
    Support the boys in green!

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    Mute Sean Fahey
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    Jan 27th 2020, 4:32 PM

    It’s crazy to think the FAI shunned the domestic league for years and fell out with just about every great footballing brain we have in this country. What did they think their remit was? National team only? The players were resourced from any scraps we could source from England and there was no money to pay a manager so a fan did it… what were they doing all those years and how did they get away with it? Baffling. The team I’m supporting is the Garda fraud investigation unit. Really, really hope they win.

    8
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    Mute Derek Corcoran
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    Jan 27th 2020, 1:34 PM

    Great news the man live’s for Irish football has true passion for it

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    Mute Woods PJ
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    Jan 27th 2020, 11:02 AM

    BleeDin Imelda Mayyyyys buddy. Get him in even just to here his lingo classic. “Dat yokes a cabbage in da ball”

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    Mute Joe mckenna
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    Jan 27th 2020, 12:04 PM

    When does Annie show up offering pictures of John Delaney being water boarded?

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    Mute John Travers
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    Jan 27th 2020, 9:42 PM

    Delighted for Brian and delighted for.everyone who loves soccer in Ireland. An Inchicore legend and a real football fan who gives his all to the game. His love and passion for the game is unrivalled.

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    Mute Greg Conway
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    Jan 28th 2020, 1:42 PM

    Considering that the association is financially struggling, why are these positions for Quinn & Kerr not on a voluntary capacity, they are not short of money and as stated the genuine staff are struggling.

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    Mute Greg Conway
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    Jan 28th 2020, 1:38 PM

    For an association that is financially struggling why can’t these positions ( Quinn & Kerr )be filled on a voluntary capacity if they are truly interested in the wellbeing of the association.

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    Mute Thomas Reilly
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    Jan 28th 2020, 12:01 AM

    Great stuff

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