Wolverhampton's Irish Revolution

Never mind Sundireland, if it’s footie teams in exile you’re after look no further than Wolvéirehampton Wanderers.

Sorry, it’s an excruciating pun, but at times this season Wolves have had so many full and Under-21 Irish internationals playing for them that you’d swear Mick McCarthy was back on the FAI payroll.
While it’s Darren Potter and Andy Keogh who’ve made the biggest impact here with their respective blnders against Ecuador in May and Germany in September, it’s 23-year-old right-back Kevin Foley who’s been leaving Molyneaux with the Man of the Match bubbly. A good thing too given the legendary ferocity of his manager’s half-time bollockings.
“I haven’t had one yet – touch wood! – but, yeah, they’re pretty spectacular,” he laughs.
What do you when one of your teammates is getting the hair-dryer treatment?
“Sit there as quietly as possible, and hope to God you’re not next! Some managers scream and shout for the sake of it, but Mick only bollocks you if you’ve made silly mistakes or haven’t followed his instructions. I’m just made up that he liked what he saw when Wolves played my old club, Luton, last season and brought me in a couple of weeks before the transfer deadline. There’s a great atmosphere here, and enough talent and depth in the squad for us to really press for promotion.”
Steve Staunton has obviously joined Mick McCarthy in the Ex-Ireland Manager’s Club, but what was it like being an international rookie under him?
“Really, really good,” Kevin enthuses. “Everybody, regardless of whether or not you were likely to play, got the same attention and encouragement. Him and the rest of the coaching staff were always talking to you and making sure you knew what you role was, which is great mentally ‘cause it keeps you switched on.”
Present company accepted, who are the young Irish lads Stan’s successor should be running the rule over?
“I’m not just saying it ‘cause they’re my teammates, but all the Irish lads at Wolves could hold their own at international level. Stephen Gleeson, who scored a couple not so long ago for the under 21s against Germany, is only 19 and already a huge presence in central midfield. He’s got good technique and an eye for goal, so he’s definitely one to watch.”
That’s a pint of whatever Kevin’s having the next time Stephen Gleeson goes to the bar. Born and bred in Luton, Foley joined his hometown club in his early teams, won a YTS Scholarship and ended up making 151 first-team appearance for The Hatters. Whilst at Kennilworth Road he experienced the highs of winning the League One title in 2005 and the lows last season of being relegated from the Championship.
“Tell you what, it was a great club for music,” he reveals. “The lads chipped in and bought a system that you could hook your iPod up to. Usually we stuck a bit of hip hop on to psyche ourselves up.
“Pretty much everything I know about football I learned at Luton. When I was quite young we had Joe Kinnear as manager, and he taught me about getting in other team’s faces. It’s not always the prettiest football, but it gets results. Bizarrely, my big break came under Mike Newell when Luton was in adminstration and there was a transfer embargo stopping us bringing anyone in. It was bad for the club, but good for me and the other young lads who he had no choice but to pick.”
Talking of Mike Newell, was Kevin playing the day that he launched his “What are woman doing here?” attack on referee’s assistant Amy Rayner?
“Yeah, I was. He had a bit of a rant in the dressing-room about her afterwards, but I didn’t realise how big a deal it would become until the next day when I picked up the paper and, flippin’ hell, there it was all over the back-page. I honestly don’t think he meant anything bad by it – Mike was the sort to blow his top and say things in the heat of the moment, but he wasn’t the least bit nasty or malicious.”
Although blessed with a fine Home Counties accent, Foley is in no way a Plastic Paddy.
“Both my parents are from Kerry, and every summer me and my brother would be over in Waterville for six weeks,” he enthuses. “I used to go GAA training with my uncles and cousins who insisted on me calling football ‘soccer’ when I was with ‘em.”
Tony Cascarino always maintains that GAA players are far harder than their footballing/soccering counterparts.
“If you grow up playing it you get used to it, but I wouldn’t last a minute on a GAA pitch – especially if it’s hurling. It’s bloody lethal the way they wave those sticks around! I’m really, really proud to be playing for Ireland as all the lads in the squad are. It hasn’t been the best of years for us, but I’ve a good feeling about the World Cup qualifiers.”b