I’m transformed to a different place when I hear the word ‘Saipan’.
Most people roll their eyes and especially so this month with the 20-year anniversary and all the trips down memory lane.
But when I think ‘Saipan’ I picture George Best in his budgie smugglers, swimming like a dolphin in a pool in Malta.
I think of Ollie Byrne and the favours he pulled in to get Manchester United to Tolka Park that summer.
I think of Roy Keane, in his first match since his World Cup went up in smoke, running rings around me.
I think of Tolka Park heaving like never before.
And I think of the magnificent characters we had in the League of Ireland and the soap opera drama that played out because of them.
The traction that Saipan still gains is remarkable, but it’ll be the same at the 30th anniversary, the 40th, the 50th and so on.
But my memories of it are selfish ones and I’m actually delighted Keane left the camp as I wouldn’t have got the chance to meet and play against my hero.
We were in Malta a few days before it, for a Champions League tie against Hibernians. George Best was there on holidays with his wife.
He’d be hanging around the pool with us, interested in what was going on. But it was hypnotic watching him swim lengths.
Watching Ollie wasn’t quite the same calming experience. He was pulling the United game together - and it was happening in just three days.
Shels had a good relationship with some of the big teams in England like Leeds, Liverpool and United and when this one was offered, he had to take it.
We knew Keane would be involved too, in his first game since Saipan and, as a United fan, it was a week from heaven for me. Best and now Keane.
Tolka Park was a circus. It was swarming with people, and almost under siege from the media. Roy ran rings around me that day, but I didn’t care.
I’m just waiting for ‘Saipan the movie' and I’d bet Roy could play himself because he's a star of the screen.
I often wonder would he ever pitch up in League of Ireland management, but I think he has found his niche with TV.
In a world where analysis and commentary is so mundane and templated, he changes it up.
But for my generation, he’s just speaking normally. And we were all like that in the League of Ireland 10 or 15 years ago.
You think of characters like Dermot Keely, Pat Dolan and Roddy Collins and this league had energy, it had needle between personalities and clubs and it pulled no punches.
People were in the papers every day saying what they wanted. It was honest and raw. Some of you young guns reading this have no idea.
It was rock and roll and pure entertainment. And we had it in our hands and let it go. Saipan is certainly best forgotten, but I for one am glad that Roy still has plenty to say.
Shels tipple of laughter
Useless fact but speaking of Roy Keane, he’s one of the reasons why red wine is my drink of choice.
Once he parked his wilder, more youthful days, he became one of the biggest advocates of a good diet and looking after yourself.
And so did the influx of foreign players to the Premier League, like Dennis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry, so I took it on board too.
Unlike Faustino Asprilla who famously had a glass of wine before his Newcastle debut, they regularly treated themselves to a glass after matches.
At Shels, the players and staff would often walk around to Fagans for a post-match drink and debrief.
I took a leaf out of Bergkamp’s book and started drinking red wine rather than pints, much to the amusement of some of the lads….and I haven’t stopped since!
The lords of Ringsend need a bigger stage
It’s the ‘Ringsend derby’ tonight with Shamrock Rovers and Shelbourne meeting…in Tallaght.
Both clubs were founded in that part of Dublin and I’d love to see some outside of the box thinking.
What about playing that fixture at Aviva Stadium sometime? Ringsend is only a stone’s throw away.
We’re trying to attract new fans to games all of the time but the TV promotion only works to a point.
If you ask me, this would be a good way of bringing neutrals to a live game in a proper stadium.
And showcase other games there too, like Shamrock Rovers-Bohemians.
Leinster rugby do it. They have a home ground at the RDS but move their bigger games to the Aviva.
It would be a revenue earner for clubs and you could even host double-headers on the one day.
Ambition is key
I met the Sligo Rovers chairman Tommy Higgins this week and really enjoyed his company.
With his music background, there’s a good vibe off him and it was a really refreshing chat.
I love that he has ambitious plans for the Bit O’Red because that’s exactly what we need in this league.
And the more ambitious you are, the more likely you are to get something done. You mightn’t get exactly what you want, but you will get something.
Let there be no more of this Oliver Twist approach of going to the FAI with the begging bowl and asking for ‘more please’.
I’m a broken record at this stage, but it’s the clubs rather than the association who are making things happen in this league.
They are taking the lead and good on them. And if the FAI tags along and tries to keep up, well and good
I'm a Maverick
I can only apologise to the drivers of the cars I was weaving in and out of cycling to work yesterday.
In my head, I was trying to reach Mach 10 - you know that ‘tear the skin off your face’ speed?
I saw Top Gun: Maverick the day before and was immediately transported back to my 10-year-old self watching the original.
It’s a brilliant movie and all I’ve wanted to do since is climb into a fighter jet.
