Turlough O’Connor is a man close to the hearts of all Dundalk and Athlone Town fans. O’Connor led his hometown team to their only two League titles in 1979/80 and 1981/82 along with three League Cups and the Tyler Cup. In his eight year spell as manager at Oriel Park between 1985-1993 O’Connor won two Premier Division titles, the FAI Cup and two League Cups. As a player, Turlough graced Oriel Park between 1968 and 1972 scoring 86 goals.

Who were your football heroes when you were growing up?
My earliest heroes were men who played for Athlone. We were not even a senior team at the time but I remember the likes of Jackie Quinn and Bomber Green. When I got a bit older it was the Irish Internationals who played in England such as Johnny Giles, Charlie Hurley and Joe Haverty.

You moved to Fulham in 1966. Did you enjoy that experience?
The football side of things was most enjoyable. I loved being a full-time professional footballer playing in the First Division. I played with so many great players like Johnny Haynes, Alan Clarke, Bobby Robson and a World Cup winner in George Cohen. However, what I didn’t enjoy was living in London. Even though this was the “swinging Sixties” it was not easy to be Irish in London at this time. It didn’t matter that you were a professional footballer. A Paddy was a Paddy. I was from a small-town and I just couldn’t settle in a city like London. The vastness of the area was very difficult to get use to.

So it was it mainly homesickness that led you returning back to Ireland?
Yes. When I signed with Fulham from Bohs I went over with Jimmy Conway. He stayed on after I left but I really wanted to return home. Bobby Robson had just taken over as for his first managerial job. I remember going into his office and telling him that I wasn’t going to be coming back for the start of the 1968/69 season. He wasn’t too happy and told me that I was under contract. However, it ended up okay for me and I was able to come home.

How did you end up signing for Dundalk at this stage?
My situation at Fulham received some attention in the papers and Tommy Rowe made an inquiry to sign me. It cost Dundalk £4,000 to bring me home which was a hell of a lot of money in those days.

Did you enjoy your spell at Dundalk as a player?
It was very enjoyable. We played a very attacking style of play which was great for me and Paddy Turner. We had some excellent players like Kevin Murray, the McConvilles and Derek Stokes. We had some great nights in Oriel in that time. The Utrecht game stands out in my mind.

Moving ahead to 1979 and you were appointed manager of Athlone. The success you achieved at St Mel’s Park was remarkable. Did you think such success was possible?
No. But I was lucky enough to bring some player from Bohs to St Mel’s Park. I brought my brother, Padraig, to the club along with the likes of Johnny Fullham and Mick Smyth. The mixture of youth and experience worked well for us. The league successes were fantastic. Nobody thought we had a chance. I thought our team was as good as anybody else. I put £150 on Athlone winning the league at 20-1 that year! The second league title in 1981 was actually more satisfying. It was great to prove that the first league title was not just a flash in the pan.
 
Was the expectations level different when you arrived at Dundalk in 1985?
Yes it was totally different. They had come through a great spell under Jim McLaughlin but things didn’t work out under John Dempsey. When I arrived there were a few established players and I needed time to stamp my authority on the club. We changed the system and built up a momentum. I had some great luck in that, as with Athlone, I had some great local players already in the squad. Dessie Gorman, Barry Kehoe and Tom McNulty were outstanding players and it was great to have local players like that represent the town as well as the club.
What was it like to pit yourself against Johann Cruyff when we played Ajax in 1987?
We acquitted ourselves very well in Amsterdam. It was 0-0 for an hour or so until probably their physical fitness came through.

The Double Winning Year of 1987/88 was very memorable for Dundalk fans. What are your memories of that time?
I remember I enjoyed the tense finish to that season. We had been great that year. I remember the last game against Pats and how we went a goal down to a harsh penalty. After Dessie equalised they didn’t create many chances but our defence was outstanding. Then we went to Dalymount to play Derry City in the Cup Final. They had a massive support in those days and a lot of full time players. I remember when John Cleary scored the penalty he ran behind the goals right up to the Derry fans. He had to turn around quick!!!

The 1990/91 season began with a 5-1 home defeat by Shelbourne. Could you have imagined that we would recover to win the league on the last day?
It’s amazing how things work out. I remember at the time the club was under a lot of financial pressure. Men like Eamonn Hiney and Enda McGuill had put so much money and time into the club but we had to sell players such as Jim Gannon, Dessie Gorman and Tony Cousins to make ends meet. That summer we had sold Paul Newe to Shels. He then came back on the first day of the season in Oriel and scored four goals against us in that 5-1 game. I remember after the match I went up to the boardroom to have a cup of tea. I was not in the best of moods as you can imagine. I recall how people went out of their way to avoid me and not talk to me!!

Yet it all came good the following April…
Yes we went down to Turner’s Cross in front of an 11,000 strong crowd. Dundalk fans were vastly outnumbered. But it was one of those matches that I had absolutely no fear about. I had no nerves. We had Alan O’Neill in goal. Dave Mackey at right back who played out of his skin all that season. Ronnie Murphy, James Coll and Martin Lawlor….I knew that we could go to a place like Cork and get a positive result with a defence like that.

Another player you sold was a certain Stephen Staunton…
Yes, although of course he never played a first team game with us. Believe it or not I actually was talking to Stephen about selling him to Liverpool just this week! I told him that he probably didn’t realise that with all the add-ons in the deal that he probably kept Dundalk FC alive for many years! He laughed and said “I didn’t see any of the money that’s for sure!!” I replied “Sure you didn’t need any of it!!!”

Was your departure from Dundalk amicable?
Yes it was very amicable. For a manager to stay at a club for 4 or 5 years is an achievement. I stayed for eight years which I am very proud of. It’s a credit to the supporters at Dundalk for sticking by me for so long. But eventually supporters want a change.

There have been rumours since you left that you could make a return. Did it ever come close?
Yes it had been discussed a few times. Football is in my blood so it would have been very tempting to return to Oriel Park.

What do you think of John Gill?
He is another great football man who has done a wonderful job at Dundalk. He pretty much had to rebuild the team when he arrived. He survived the pressure and did an outstanding job last season. Dundalk really should be in the Premier Division following their efforts last year.

Have you visited the new Athlone stadium?
I was at the launch of the ground and it is fantastic. It’s funny. I remember back in about 1984 Athlone decided to go back to amateur in order to finance a new stadium. The plans fell by the wayside eventually. But here they are now in a brand new stadium.

Finally, what is your opinion of the FAI Eircom League of Ireland today?
I think it is great. I think the standards are very high. I live near Dalymount Park and go to see Bohs most Fridays. The full-time setups have made a big difference. I would love to see both Athlone Town and Dundalk back in the Premier Division.