Martin Keown was an England captain but he also played Gaelic games in his youth, and cheered on Galway in the All-Ireland hurling final at Croke Park nine years ago.
Hurling fans heading to the 2015 All-Ireland final replay between Galway and Kilkenny did a double take outside Croke Park. That's because a familiar figure was posing on Jones's Road for snaps.
"I had to listen to the Chieftains every Sunday morning with my cooked breakfast. I think I felt Irish when I was young. Most of the people I went to school with had Irish parents. Some children spoke with Irish accents. But he never regretted his decision to opt for the three lions, even though Jack Charlton tried to recruit him for Ireland."I could very easily have played for Ireland and at one stage efforts were made to try and switch."But the rules in those days were that if you played at under-18 level then that was that. The decision was made very young.
When Ireland played England in the ill-fated abandoned friendly at Lansdowne Road 29 years ago, eight of Jack Charlton's team were English-born. Legend has it that Keegan wrote to the FAI when he was at Scunthorpe United informing them of his eligibility but got no reply.A few years back, the economist David McWilliams explored the impact of the ex-pat Irish on English life in an article for 'Prospect' magazine.
McWilliams's point is well made. Mick McCarthy is a proud Irishman, the man who led Ireland at their first World Cup, but he is also Yorkshire to the core.
Republic Of Ireland National Football Team England Football Team Martin Keown Mick Mccarthy Declan Rice Jack Grealish Jack Charlton
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