The feeling amongst fans when Sam Allardyce rocked up at relegated Limerick City FC at the start of the 1991/’92 season was one of bemusement.
With Big Sam being relieved of his West Brom assistant gaffer duties after the Baggies were dumped out of the FA Cup by then Conference minnows Woking - hands up who remembers that amazing Tim Buzaglo hat-trick? - there was a whiff of desperation about the appointment.
Having regularly played in front of 25,000-plus people at the Hawthorns, how would he adapt to life in the League of Ireland’s second tier where 400 was considered a bumper crowd? The answer was, “Brilliantly!”
Big Sam made 23 appearances and scored three goals as The Blues returned to the top-flight at the first time of asking.
As well as being the local stringer for Hot Press, I was gainfully employed by Radio Limerick One to present Saturday’s Top 40 countdown followed by the 1pm Death Notices (“new entry”, “down six feet” etc. etc.) and then push the buttons for the sports team.
Although rugby was and always will be King in Limerick, Big Sam would either pop into the studio or ring up every week to discuss that massive six-pointer against Monaghan United or their tricky away visit to Cobh Ramblers. He had massive Man Love for his top scorer, Billy Ryan, and spent a whole ten minute slot raving about how brilliant the Limerick groundsman was.
Not once did I get the sense from Sam that he felt like he was slumming it in a footballing backwater. Whether playing at home at Rathbane or sampling the delights of Monaghan United’s Gortakeegan, he was always 100% up for the task; routinely hoarse after 90 minutes of screaming at his players, and beyond delirious when City finally pipped Waterford to the title.
Sam always took time out to ask me how my Mum was and joke about those highly lucrative obituaries. “Death and disaster seem to follow you around, mate,” he joked one day. "I certainly wouldn't get in a car with you."
I believed him when he said he wanted to stay on for a crack at the League of Ireland title, but the funds he felt were necessary weren’t forthcoming and he took the coaching gig at one of his old clubs, Preston North End. He left Limerick in good enough shape for them to finish a respectable sixth the following season, and win the League Cup.
Had his stay in Limerick not ended in promotion, I very much doubt that he’d have found his way via-Preston, Blackpool, Notts County and Bolton to the Premiership and now been hired by the FA as the man to end 50 years of England hurt.