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Darron Gibson’s the real deal
Thursday, 3 December 2009
enlargeDarron Gibson swapped the green shirt of Northern Ireland for the green shirt of the Republic of Ireland — and he won’t be the last to do so.
Gibson stroked home two stunning goals for Manchester United in the 2-0 Carling Cup quarter-final win over Spurs at Old Trafford on Tuesday night but, despite being Londonderry-born, is already lost to the Irish FA.
And the man who developed Gibson (22) from promising youngster to Old Trafford starlet is now involved in a constant battle to keep the Football Association of Ireland from poaching his charges.
Paul Kee coached Gibson at Maiden City Soccer, a feeder system for Institute FC, and is now manager of the Northern Ireland Under 17 team.
“There are a number of young players currently making the transition from Northern Ireland to the Republic of Ireland, which for me is disappointing,” said Kee who, along with fellow coach John Cunningham, played a major role in the midfielder’s development.
“It’s a choice for the individual but when we at the IFA invest a lot of time and effort to develop young players, and then the FAI come along and take them, it’s a real kick in the teeth.
“That time and effort should be recognised — particularly by the FAI. FIFA should be looking at the situation as well. The FAI shouldn’t just be allowed to come along and take a player for free.
“So one of the main jobs we have is to try and keep kids who are born in Northern Ireland within the IFA system.
“We hope they will feel an affinity to the country.
“We have to basically provide a service from which young players feel they will get something back and hopefully they will have the desire to play for Northern Ireland.
“It’s an issue we have to keep working at though, although if a young player feels a stronger affinity to the Republic of Ireland then that’s the way it is.
“Darron and his family made a choice at the time although the circumstances behind it appear to be that he had a chance to go on trial with United and he was then left out of an IFA team as a result.
“Darron and his parents had to think about his career and they took his talents to the Republic of Ireland,” he said.
Kee, formerly manager of Institute and Limavady United, first encountered Gibson as an 11-year-old.
“We always knew he was a bit special and told his parents that he could go all the way.
“John Cunningham and I have contacts from our time in England and just before Darron joined United, Leicester and Sunderland were showing big interest in him.
“But then United brought Darron and his parents to Manchester, they met Sir Alex Ferguson and that was that. When Manchester United come in it’s difficult to turn them down,” explained Kee, who was as immensely impressed by Gibson’s Carling Cup contribution.
“After his performance against Spurs I saw Darron called ‘the new Lampard’ on one of the internet forums and that’s a pretty good description. Like Frank Lampard, Darron tends to score spectacular goals.
“Darron is a modest, level-headed lad and that’s a huge factor in his success. He has never forgotten his roots. He’s always willing to lend his support to coaching courses in Derry in any way he can.
“He always took on board everything you told him and he was very disciplined,” he said.
“It’s not by chance that you reach the heights Darron has reached — you have to put the work in to go with the talent.
“Ability has never been an issue for Darron. But watching him against Spurs, it was obvious that he has consciously upped his work-rate.
“He was making challenges, tracking back, winning headers and making interceptions. It’s obviously only a matter of time until he’s a United regular.”
And how Northern Ireland would have welcomed a few Gibson goals during the World Cup campaign.
They could have made all the difference.
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Comments
30 Comments
Why would Sean turn up at Winsdor with a foreign flag? I'm suprised that sean, dublin, tony are getting so worked up about "Foreign English Soccer". I'm a bigot because i don't agree with tricolur flying Sean who supports a "foreign" (British) sectarian team like Sean. Get real. You should support the country your born in. Just because you don't like the border, doesn't mean it isn't there.
Posted by Keith | 07.12.09, 10:41 GMT
"Mr Dublin, the ulster banner is no more a bigoted symbol than the irish tricolour."
Right, that would be why one is a defaced version of an ancient Irish symbol, substituting an English flag for the yellow one and sticking a Loyalist star and a British crown above the Red Hand of Ulster while the other is a symbol inclusive of both main cultures on this island, Green and Orange.
The words intellectual delusion come to mind.
"the ones making jokes of themselves by begging their way to the world cup."
Jealousy at other's success is an awful thing ain't it.
The validity of the Irish position has been recognized by everyone from the French Federation to FIFA. While Sepp Blatter inexcusably brought up a proposition, out of context, made by the FAI at a press conference in SA, this doesn't detract from the validity of their position.
That would be why French people massively supported Ireland's call for a rematch.
Don't let the facts get in the way of your delusions.
Posted by Dublin | 04.12.09, 11:07 GMT
The rugby lads can be professional and mature enough to put there differences aside. Why cant the FAI/IFA?
Look at the success the IRFU have achieved since professionalism has came into rugby? Consitently top five in the world.
Remove all flags and emblems and start fresh. This is not a constitutional question. We all know the border is going nowhere. But how about we let it distinguish our differences not divide our people. And by people i mean everyone who shares this Island, Irish, British, Scot, Polish etc
Posted by Éamonn | 04.12.09, 10:42 GMT
Sectarian symbols Paulo rants, deluded as ever yet convinced in his righteousness.
Do tell Paulo, what more sectarian symbol is there than the Butcher's apron?!! Where, I pray thee, is the inclusiveness in the Ulster Banner?!
Why indeed would any proud Irishman wish to play under such flag(s) and sign an anthem pledging allegiance to a foreign Queen?
Unless the six-county team (or should that be "two-county" being that most have Nationalist majorities) gets its own non-sectarian flag and anthem, then the chances of the Nationalist community ever lending it any kind of support are minute indeed.
Posted by Titus Andronicus | 03.12.09, 23:09 GMT
Nordern Eire a team for both communities...hmmm so I can turn up at Windsor Park with my tri-colour and Celic shirt then can I???
Posted by sean from co down Ireland | 03.12.09, 19:06 GMT
I get the impression that most N.Ireland fans simply don't wish to see an all Ireland team and I also get the impression that most Republic of Ireland fans wish to see an all REPUBLIC of Ireland team. If we ever get round to fielding one team it will be an IRELAND team incorporating emblems from both associations. Although from the Republic of Ireland I definitely want to keep the Northern Ireland jersey with the Celtic cross, one of the most distinctive in the world. Let the Republic go back to the old days when we had a bunch of Shamrocks as our emblem, we'll put that on the shorts. There will have to be alternative matches in Belfast and Dublin. Let's have Danny Boy/The Derry air/The Londonderry air as our anthem. A flag? Why not the four symbols from the four provinces. OK? have we all agreed? Can my dream of the last 50 years now come true?
Séamus (58) Germany.
Posted by séamus macclelland | 03.12.09, 17:29 GMT
All these people criticise Gibson, yet say nothing about Brian McLean, Lee Hodson and Oliver Norwood I see. Anyway, it doesn't matter they haven't qualified for anything this century and are unlikely to anytime soon.
Posted by Reality | 03.12.09, 17:13 GMT
Neil Lennon was quite content to let some moron with a 20 pence piece finish his international career.
And as for Northern Ireland's awards for their fans, the fact that the IFA are making a strenuous and committed effort to cross the community divides and have a team that represents all communities in Northern Ireland - something that we all can be proud of.
If Tony, Dublin et al are serious about offering an alternative to Northern Ireland fans and how they can be incorporated into an All Ireland team, then please show us the way.
Posted by Strucker | 03.12.09, 16:37 GMT
death threat? one IDIOT phones into a police station and suddenly every northern ireland fan will forever be labelled as a bigot. maybe its about time you woke up Mr Dublin, the ulster banner is no more a bigoted symbol than the irish tricolour. Maybe you should look at the two teams representing NI and ROI and which team contains both sides of the community? i will give you a hint they arent the ones making jokes of themselves by begging their way to the world cup.
Posted by belfast | 03.12.09, 16:05 GMT
"nowhere do I see any attempt to represent both communities within the Rep Of Ireland team - flags, emblems, anthems, understanding."
Look at the flag for starters you imbecile - Orange for the Unionist community, Green for the Nationalist and White for peace.
What are these other "noninclusive" emblems you speak of? The FAI badge? What utter tripe.
Let's take the NI symbols, where exactly in God Save the Queen is the Nationalist community represented? Where in the Ulster Banner is the Nationalist community represented? Where in the Union Jack is the Nationalist community represented? (And don't try and mention St. Patrick's Flag, an Edwardian-era British invention which was never used as a flag by the Irish).
The Nationalist community is not represented in any sense by the Northern team, a team solely focused on servicing "its" community. Hence, those who are Irish will obviously want to play for their country and not a miniature imitation version of England.
Wise up.
Posted by Dublin | 03.12.09, 16:00 GMT
Footy-mad, we have moved on from the Neil Lennon years - just look at the reception for McGivern, McCourt et al. As N.Ireland progresses (slowly) from its devisive past (perpetuated by the likes of Tony on here) so we can force out the bigots on all sides and make Northern Ireland football a place where everyone is welcome. I do agree that Windsor Park should be abandoned and a more 'neutral' venue found.
Posted by Paulo | 03.12.09, 15:59 GMT
"cheered on by fans that never win any awards (more FIFA bias, no doubt)"
That would be why Irish soccer fans have been persistently rated as some of the best in the world (including at the 2002 World Cup) and were widely lauded by the French after the recent game for their upstanding behaviour and fantastic support.
As for NI's "award", well it's good comedy material if little else. Your fans were given awards for actually being able to refrain from indulging in their legendary sectarianism, or at least, not getting noticed for it. Though with the Loyalist paramilitary banners ("Lambeg Loyal", Stormont era Ulster Banners et al.) on show at every game, it seems those at FIFA must be even blinder than once thought (now there's a surprise).
A long way we've come since Martin O'Neill was booed onto the field as captain of the NI team because he was a Catholic, oh wait, the death threats against Neil Lennon a few years must be all a blur dream which never happened, eh Peter?
Posted by Dublin | 03.12.09, 15:42 GMT
The UK should have only one team, as it is really only one country, as recognised by the UN, with our Queen as head of state. The fact that FIFA allowed the UK 4 "home countries" teams is a historical error to get the UK back in the FIFA fold after their 20 year snub, and this ridiculous UK exception should be abolished....
Posted by Mavis Poole | 03.12.09, 15:10 GMT
Err doh! Tony, nowhere do I see any attempt to represent both communities within the Rep Of Ireland team - flags, emblems, anthems, understanding. Even when half the team was English, they played the pseudo-Irishman, singing republican songs. Your comments are wrong and devisive. The Northern Ireland team has equal representation from the 2 main communities and we welcome supporters from all sides. Maybe Darron, like Alan McLaughlin will end up regretting his decision.
Posted by Paulo | 03.12.09, 14:23 GMT
Tony, why don`t you show some respect for your fellow citizens and call the team Northern Ireland. Or would that be just too much for you. Still stuck in the past? The Northern Ireland football team is the only national football team on the island of Ireland that is truely cross community. Therefore Tony`s comment that Northern Ireland only represents one community is his usual inaccurate, twisting of the truth. Stick to the facts Tony. Don`t tell lies.
I am amazed that the Belfast Telegraph allows such a well known rabid poster such as Tony, address other posters as numbskulls!
Posted by Cliff | 03.12.09, 14:01 GMT
Yes, Tony, when will certain numbskulls get the picture? They are pure loyalist bigots who are clearly in the Orange Order and eat Cafflicks and how dare they suggest that people from Northern Ireland should be oppressed through not being allowed to play for a dififerent country on the other side of an internationally recognised border. They clearly come from the one community in the north (sic) represented by the North of Ireland (sic) team.
What's that you say? They're Cafflicks themselves? No, that can't be right, sure the IFA are bigots and only employ Prods, only pick Prods and are only supported by Prods, and no Cafflkick would ever encourage anyone to play for them when there's an all-Island utopian team for them in Dublin, cheered on by fans that never win any awards (more FIFA bias, no doubt) but would, categorically, never be involved in sectarian, anti-semitic and racist chanting. I know this because Tony told me and he can't be wrong, can he?
Posted by Peter | 03.12.09, 14:00 GMT
I think that if an neutral stadium such as the maze site had been developed then young catholics would be able to feel part of the N. Ireland set up as there would be more of a mixing of supporters instead of the sectarian cauldron that is Windsor park. This is a place certain sections of the community are afraid to go to. There is still a feeling that players would be targeted just like Neil Lennon was.
Posted by FootyMad | 03.12.09, 13:37 GMT
The FAI does not represent the all of Ireland. It represents the Republic of Ireland and that's it. It doesn't represent myself or my family. The fact that FIFA allows this cheating and thievery sure goes against the FAI's moaning about being hard done by doesn't?
FIFA should have the spine to stop this but they don't. Gibson should be sued for all the monies invested into him as he has no problem donning the IFA shirt as a player in the U17, U19 and U23 systems.
Posted by colin | 03.12.09, 13:21 GMT
What community does the Northern Ireland football team represent Tony?
Posted by Strucker | 03.12.09, 13:08 GMT
Darron was only headhunted by the Republic because he is at Man Utd. If he was at Derry city they would ignore him, such is the mercenary disgrace that is the FAI. The chumps at the FAI would pick anyone from anywhere they thought could get them into tournaments, usually they are very wrong. One Irish team with the best of north and South, would perform well in the World cup or European championship. At present either team will forever struggle to qualify for anything. Also, Roy Keane should be the first coach of an all-Ireland team.
Posted by Sherlock | 03.12.09, 13:08 GMT
30 Comments