Dave Rogers Interview
by Colm Murphy, 5th May 2009
One of Dundalk’s best performers this season has been full-back Dave Rogers. The vastly experienced left-back/central defender signed for Sean Connor last January having spent last season at St Pats (along with a short spell on loan at Sporting Fingal). Unfortunately, Dave will not be playing tonight as he pulled up sharp after tearing a hamstring last Friday night in Dalymount Park :“It was like I was stabbed in the back of the leg with a knife”. Unable to train – He made use of his time last Monday afternoon speaking to the Dundalk FC Magazine.
How did you begin in the game?
When I was young I was always lucky enough to be involved with the best teams around Merseyside. The first team I played for was a team called Breeze-Hill. I was six years of age but it was an under-11 team! I always used to be put in teams with players that were older than me and bigger than me. I just happened to be good enough to play at that level. I was spotted when I was eight years of age by Everton and they invited me to their school of excellence. With the help of their terrific coaches – I kept on developing as a player and at the age of 14 Everton signed me on schoolboy forms. In those days that was a massive thing.
Are you an Evertonian?
I am a big Evertonian so it made it even better for me. It was a big thing for me and my family. I grew up five minutes walk from Goodison Park. The lads will tell you that I have no red blood in my veins – it’s all blue! But it was great that Everton rated me so highly. I used to go training with them three times a week. It was a fantastic experience.
How long did you remain at Everton?
I stayed until around my 17th birthday. I was actually doing very well. Everytime there was a school holiday I would train with the reserves. When I was 15 I was part of the reserve team which meant that they rated me highly. The manager at the time was Colin Harvey. He had only had me in his office with my parents when I was 16 telling me that if I kept listening, learning and progressing that I will be in his first team squad when I was 18. I couldn’t believe that he rated me so much. I came home from school one day and my Mum asked me if I’ve heard the news. She told me that Colin had been sacked. This had an effect from the reserves team down to the youths. Colin’s coaches and backroom team were all sacked also. It was about the time I was about to be given an apprentice contract. We were asked to go to the training ground on Friday to meet the new manager which just so happened to be Howard Kendall – a big hero of mine – making his return to the club. He introduced himself and unfortunately out of 14 of us he only kept one of us as a professional. That was a good friend of mine – Tony Grant – who went on to do well at Everton.
That must have been a shattering experience…
It was a huge disappointment. I had been there since I was eight years of age. They were my boyhood team. Plus – it was made worse by the fact that I rejected two approaches from Liverpool to sign me! I remember when I was 13 meeting Kenny Dalglish in person. It was a huge thing for me – even as an Evertonian – to get the call from Liverpool asking me to meet with Kenny because he wants to sign you. Myself and my Dad went in to meet him. It was a great feeling and nice to know that people rated me at that age. But my heart was with Everton and I hated Liverpool!!! Half of my family wanted me to sign! But when I was released by Everton I had a number of clubs approach me to sign. Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest, Grimsby, Crewe, Norwich…I could go on.
Where did you eventually sign?
I went to Tranmere Rovers. I knew they had been interested in me since I was 14. They were also well known for brining young players through. That was a big factor. I went to Tranmere on a Saturday and watched a first team game.
You went to a lot of clubs after that!
I had three great years at Tranmere. I learned my trade. I was captain of the reserves and travelling with the first team. I broke my wrist and when my contract was due. I missed four months. I remember John Aldridge was playing there at the time. I was his bootboy! But he told me that if he got the Tranmere job he would look after me. But he didn’t get the job for another few years. I was then offered the chance to play first team football by one of my boyhood heroes – Kevin Ratcliffe. He was a great player in the 1980s for Everton. He was the same position as me – a left sided defender. He offered me a chance to go to Chester City. It was a great opportunity as I thought I was ready for first team football.
After Chester you then went up to Scotland. How did that move come about?
I spent two years at Chester getting first team experience in the 3rd Division. I got a phone call from my agent telling me that Dundee wanted to sign me. They had just been relegated from the Premier League. I went to the agent with my father and it seemed genuine. I went up to meet the manager, John McCormack, and look around the city. It was a massive club. I couldn’t believe it when I saw Tannadice, the home of Dundee United, just across the road on the same street! It turned out to be a good move. We won the First Division title. I played every league game. In 36 games we only conceded 8 goals. The chance to play against Celtic and Rangers was fabulous. The Premier League was then an even bigger challenge.
You then decided to make a move to Ayr…
I played for two years at Dundee and my contract was up for renewal. They offered me a three year deal but I was at the age when I could move on a Bosman deal. I was under some bad information from the agent. I turned down Dundee’s contract to sign for Ayr because they were offering a better deal. But it was a big mistake. I should have stayed at Dundee where I was happy and enjoying my football. I should have listen to my father instead of the agent.
What went wrong at Ayr United?
I went there as captain but had a fall out with the manager after about three months. There was just no way back. The manager used 56 players in the first season which tells its own story. It happens in football. But that’s why it looks like I have played with a lot of teams because I went out on loan to a lot of clubs in that period. I went to Partick Thistle, Peterborough….I am not the type of person who can just hang about. I needed to play football.
Was it a difficult experience to travel around to different clubs?
It was crazy. I remember driving home from Scotland and I got a call from the secretary at Ayr. He told me that Barry Fry wanted to sign me and that they had agreed a loan deal. I thought he was having a joke with me. I drove on and my phone rings with a private number. I answered it and I heard “Hi Dave, Barry Fry here”. I said “yeah right – get lost!” and I put the phone down! But eventually I did sign for him!
What was it like working for Barry Fry?
He was absolutely mental! But he was a gentleman. He’s a legend. He was fantastic for me in my career. Baz was fantastic for me. He was a motivator. Everybody was asking me what it was like to play for the maddest manager in England. But I think I only played two games at Peterborough and he then wanted to sign me on a long term contract. But the money wasn’t as good as my deal at Ayr and to move to London – which is so expensive – turned me off. But it was then that Roddy Collins came in for me and signed me for the “Rod Squad” at Carlisle.
How was that?
It was great to be back playing in England. Roddy was great for me. He made me captain. He’s a great man. He did a lot for my career. That’s how I came to Ireland. Roddy was good mates with Pat Fenlon and he recommended me to him at Shelbourne. I actually went over to Holland for a spell to play for SC Cambuur before coming to Dublin. It was a fantastic experience. They treated me very well and I was offered a three year deal. But there was no real team spirit there. So then I ended up meeting Pat Fenlon and signing for Shelbourne.
How did you find Dublin?
My first experience was thinking that it was mad expensive! Especially as Holland was very cheap. The big factor for me when I signed for Shels that it was easy for my family to come over to see me. Also the chance to play in Europe was a great opportunity.
You became very successful at Shels…
I won three league medals in four years and played over 30 European games. It was great experience and it will be great to be able to look back when I retire and know that I achieved a lot in the game.
One of your most famous moments was when you scored that superb goal against Hajduk Split…
It is. It took me 28 years to score a goal like that! It wasn’t just for me but for the whole of Ireland. It helped put Irish football back on the map. It seems to be always bad news with teams going bust every year. But that was a good news story.
When you were with Shels did you think that it was going to end the way it did?
It wasn’t nice. When you have a mortgage to pay for and you are not getting paid. It was very disheartening. I had never experienced that in England, Scotland or Holland. It was a massive disappointment that you were working hard but not getting paid. It’s sad the way it turned out. Poor old Ollie Byrne lost his life over it. If only somebody could have helped him. But when I look back in my career I can say that I gave 150% no matter what was going on. I was brought up like that.
You ended up at Derry and St Pats…
Things didn’t work out at Derry and I was sold to St Pats. Johnny McDonnell made me captain and I was able to play in Europe again. They wanted to give me a new contract but the financial restraints meant that no player out of contract was given a new deal. I met Sean then and as soon as I met him I knew that Dundalk was the club I wanted to play for.
What is your impression of the club?
I always knew about the potential of the club. I knew that they had great fans and I am mates with Steve Williams and Dave Crawley who told me all about it and spoke highly of the club. I always enjoyed playing here. But when I actually signed and took a serious look at the club I couldn’t believe the potential. The fanbase is massive. The set-up is great. The Gaffer is a great manager. He has not got enough credit for what he achieved at Sligo and Bohs. He got Bohs into Europe and got sacked. It was crazy. I think some of the players that he signed are terrifice. Chris Turner is a fantastic player that should be at a different level. Michael Daly is another one who has a great chance. Tiaran also has a great chance if he keeps learning and developing. The likes of Burnsey, Myself, Thomas and Fabio are very experienced.
Who do you assess our start?
It’s been an up and down start. It will take time for this team to develop. We will continue to try and play the right way. We didn’t deserve to lose against Bohs, Rovers and Cork. We will eliminate the mistakes and become more consistent.
You were man of the match in the 1-0 win at Derry…
It was a difficult match. I was moved to centre-back but the Gaffer knows he can rely me in any position. I thought we fully deserved that win. Every team that goes to the Brandywell will be put under pressure. In seven years of playing in the League of Ireland that was my first win in Derry! So that was a great feeling. The young lads that came into the team did great. Michael Synott and Seanie Kelly were great.
Tell me about your injury at the Bohs game?
I just remember the ball going down the channel and I over-stretched for it. As soon as I connected with it I felt it –I knew straight away that I had torn the hamstring and that it wasn’t just a bit of cramp or a strain. The Bohs match was frustrating but we will bounce back. The lads are fine after it. We have to move on. You can’t dwell on a victory or a defeat. Football is full of ups and downs. There are enough characters in the dressing room here to say that we can get back on the training ground and put it right.
Will you be looking to move into management?
It’s certainly something I will be looking at. I have the B Licence and will do my A Licence badge. But I still think I have a few good years left to play at the top level. I played for some good managers and different leagues. I have taken bits from all of them and it will be next challenge when I retire.
