On This Day in the LOI | April 2

On This Day in the LOI | April 2

On This Day in the League of Ireland

April 2, 1937: Theo Foley was born on this day in Inchicore Road overlooking Richmond Park, the home ground of St. Patrick’s Athletic. He joined Exeter City from Home Farm before moving to Northampton Town whom he helped to rise from the Third Division to the First Division and where he won his nine Republic of Ireland caps (1964-67) before finishing his playing career with Charlton Athletic. He managed Charlton for four years and had coaching spells with QPR and Millwall before becoming assistant manager of Arsenal under George Graham for four years (1986-90) followed by a two-year spell as manager of Northampton Town.

April 2, 1952: In a FAI Cup semi-final replay match at Milltown, Dundalk defeated Waterford by 6-4 after extra-time in one of the most famous Cup ties in history. Dundalk had trailed by 3-1 and fought back to take the tie to extra-time. The English referee, Mr. T.W. Glendenning from Sunderland mistakenly played fifteen minutes each way (as in England) rather than ten minutes, under FAI Cup rules. Due to the failing light, it was necessary to turn on the training lights and all available car lights in order to let the match continue from the start of the second period of extra-time.

On This Day in Irish Football

April 2, 1963: Gary Howlett was born in Dublin on this day. He played for Brighton & Hove Albion in the 1983 FA Cup Final and replay v Manchester United at Wembley Stadium. There were seven Republic of Ireland international players involved in both matches – Grealish, Howlett, Robinson and Ryan (sub) for Brighton and Moran, Stapleton and Grimes (sub) for United. He won a senior cap v China in Sapporo, Japan in June 1984. He joined Coventry City from Home Farm and later saw service with Brighton & Hove Albion, Bournemouth, York City and loan spells with Aldershot and Chester City. He won a Premier Division League championship medal with Shelbourne in 1991/92 and today is manager of Leinster Senior League side Killester Donnycarney.

April 2, 1997: The Republic of Ireland lost by 3-2 to FYR Macedonia (now known as North Macedonia) in a World Cup qualifying match played at the Gradski Stadium in Skopje. It was a nightmare result for Mick McCarthy’s charged who were kitted out in an orange strip. Alan McLoughlin put Ireland ahead in the 8th minute, but the home side replied with two penalties from Mitko Stojkovski and a goal from Gjorgii Hristov before David Kelly reduced the deficit in the 78th minute. Jason McAteer and Stojkovski were both red carded following a 90th minute altercation.

April 2, 2003: The Republic of Ireland drew 0-0 with Albania in European Championship qualifying match played at the Qemel Stafa Stadium in Tirana.