Issue 6 Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Ireland v. Czech Republic

Cult Hero:

IT wasn’t only Christy Brown who had a gifted left foot. Evertonians and Irishmen the world over fondly remember Kevin Sheedy. Sheedy epitomised the consummate left winger/midfielder, able to make it to the by-line and then whip in a ball at pace. This as well as his trademark free kicks were the reason he was referred to as having “the sweetest left foot in the whole of the Barclays League
 Division One”. For any younger readers Sheedy’s glory years for his club were at a time when Chelsea had the likes of John Bumstead playing for them — enough said. Sheedy was born in Buith Wells in October 1959 in Wales. He began his career at Hereford United and after a spell there joined Liverpool where he only made two league appearances and promptly made a move across the right side of Stanley Park to Everton for £100,000 stg in 1982. 

It was at Everton where Sheedy became a house - hold name and flourished as a footballer. All in all he made 357 appearances scoring 97 goals in his time there which is pretty impressive as a midfielder. He was an expert at deadball situations and many of his goals arrived via freekicks. It was at this time that he began his international career as well with the Irish. Many questions have been asked in the past as to why he hadn’t chosen his birth country of Wales to play for. Sheedy points to the fact that Wales had shown no interest up to that point and that Ireland had spotted him early on. He was more than happy to play at international level. His debut came against the Dutch on the 12th October 1983 where he appeared as a sub in a defeat for the Irish 3-2. It was from here on in that Sheeds, sporting the no nonsense haircut, became endeared to the Irish faithful.

Back at Everton, the mid to late eighties brought with it a flurry of trophies that included a Cup Winners Cup and FA Cup medal as well as two Championships. It was during this period that Sheeds really cemented his relationship with the Toffee faithful when he gave the Kop “a flying V salute” after scoring against them. Sheeds was hauled up in front of the FA to answer the charges but was let off with a caution when he claimed it was only his index finger to celebrate the goal (FA hearings were much cosier back then kids and we didn’t have the benefit of playercam and Andy Gray’s space-age gimmicks) The National side went from strength to strength after the arrival of Jack and the green revolution. He still had to break in to the first eleven as the mighty Tony Galvin wouldn’t give up his stomping ground easily. And it wasn’t until after the heroics of Euro ’88 that Galvin stepped down — paving the way for Sheeds to enter the fray.

Roll on 1990 and our historic first World Cup. On a sticky night in Cagliari on a rain sodden pitch, we faced the old enemy in our first game. Linekar (in typical fashion) bundled a scrappy goal in for the English to lead at half time. Ireland never crumbled however and with 20 minutes to go up popped Sheeds with a powerful sweet strike from outside the box that beat the outstretched arms of Peter Shilton, nestling itself in the bottom right corner of the English net. Sheeds had made history, the first person to score a goal for Ireland in the World Cup. About it Sheeds has commented: “That was my favourite goal ever. As a kid you always dream of scoring a goal for your country on the biggest stage possible — the World Cup.” Sheeds will always be remembered for that goal and his contribution to the Irish effort. After Italia 90 Sheeds began to appear less and less as another generation of young Irish carried on the mantle. During his time playing for us he won 45 caps and found the net nine times.

As a player and as a man, Kevin Sheedy, We Salute You.
RICHIE WHYTE