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So when you look at that, as a young manager coming in, in five years, achieving all that, there’s only one way you’re going, and that’s right to the very top. And unfortunately, that was prevented by very vindictive people. Life on the field was also far from plain sailing. He broke his leg on four separate occasions, including for Bohemians at 19 when he felt on the verge of great things as a footballer, having just made his European debut in a Uefa Cup tie with Sporting Lisbon. He was 22 by the time he returned and so Collins missed out at a vital stage of his development. Collins’ father Paschal had hoped he would pursue boxing like his younger brother Steve, a former super middleweight champion of the world.
Right, lads,’ I said, ‘this team is going f**king nowhere. Desire, passion, work rate, honesty – if you haven’t got those things to start with, you won’t be f**king here long.’ I copped one of the players smiling at me. ‘The f**k is so funny?’ I asked him. ‘What’s your name?’ And if you can get the crowd focusing their attention on you, well obviously that’s important to the team. So it’s all good. It’s no problem.” Knowing that I was good at it kept me going. And that’s why I’m still at it. I applied for a job yesterday in England because I still believe I can do it and I’ll keep doing it until I get another job.So the travelling boys needed training. I’m brilliant at it because I know my boxing and I’m a good motivator. I was able to be strict with them and they respected me. So yeah, that was done and I’ve no regrets — lovely fellows. And I still call them friends.”
A rollercoaster ride and a great read. It's hard not to love Roddy Collins after reading The Rodfather Tadhg Coakley, Irish Examiner To those in their senior years. This is a book I imagine you could relate to. Struggles, culture and community. While perhaps not being exactly the same, would still leave you feeling nostalgic. What a great book The Rodfather is. A walk on the wild side of football - and a few other games - terrifying and yet massively entertaining. Paul Howard is the best writer in the country Declan Lynch I do, gaffer.’ It was only later on, when I looked at a team shot, that I discovered he was our goalkeeper. Either he was too embarrassed to tell me or he thought I was a mad Paddy. But when your father goes, you never get over that. That’s impossible. Especially when you’re with him all day. And then he goes out that night, you tell him you’ll see him later and then he leaves you. You never see the man you love again. Horrendous!And boxing is something I still love to this day and I go to the Celtic Warriors Gym on a regular basis, mix with all the boxers, great people. But for me, the glamour of football, the razzmatazz was my thing.” Yet while modern players often get upset by supporters’ abrasive ways, the experienced League of Ireland coach does not take it personally. Everything you’ll need awaits you onboard ‘The Rodfather’ so just grab your sunglasses and sunscreen and join them for your next adventure!
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