Historical significance is not lost on David
6 April 2002
From the Dundalk Democrat
The historical significance of the Cup final on Sunday has not been lost on Dundalk’s captain, David Crawley. He is fully aware that should he lead the team to glory, he will be first Dundalk-born captain to lift the FAI Cup for his home team in 60 years.
Looking to the future
The last Dundalk man to have that honour was Joey Donnelly in 1942. The 24-year-old Crawley has already made history – he was the first Dundalk-born captain to lift a League trophy since John Murphy in 1963.
But while many people are looking to the past, David is looking to the future – and the Cup final on Sunday is uppermost in his mind. “A lot of people have said it to me over the past few weeks about the historical aspect of the occasion, but I have been trying not to think about it too much,” said David.
Success
The Crawley family are no strangers to winning medals, with David’s older brother, Willie, winning a Cup medal with Dundalk in 1981. Willie has been a great source of inspiration to his younger brother and David is very grateful for all his help.
“In the early days, it was Willie who kept me going,” he says. “He kept saying to me, ‘Come on, get training’, even in the winter evenings.”
All the hard work paid off and after a while with the youth side, David got the chance of a lifetime. When he was just 15, he signed a three-year contract at Manchester City. But like many before him, the teenager became homesick and returned to Dundalk after just nine months with City.
It is not something that he thinks about often, especially as he is now captain of his home side. “My mother always supported my decision to go, but I think I was too young,” he says. “It’s very hard being away from home at that age, and I think that if you’re good enough at 15, you’re good enough at 19″.
On his return to Dundalk, the 16-year-old made it to the Reserve side, thanks, in part, to the faith that Tommy Connolly placed in him. He worked hard to keep his place on the reserves and it was the thought of playing in the first team that inspired the young man through tough training schedules.
Debut
It was under Dermot Keely, in 1995, that David made his debut for the senior side, playing, as always, left-back. In the interim, he has played under six different managers. This is a unique record for any veteran, never mind someone at 24. He has been captain for almost two years now and this is a source of great pride and honour, for both himself, and his family. The Cup final means a lot to him and the team, he says.
Mistakes made
He talks frankly about the team’s awful start to the season. “It has to be said that we were making stupid mistakes and players were getting suspended. We had no chance to gel together as the team was always changing. Garry Haylock has made a huge difference and his experience is always a help to us. For the last couple of weeks, we have been fielding more or less the same team and that has made all the difference.”
Out of the limelight
The Dublin media have not gone overboard in their praise of Dundalk, especially in their Cup run, but this has had a positive effect on David and his team mates. “In the semi-final, everyone was saying that Rovers just had to turn up,” he smiles, remembering the 4-0 thrashing they gave the Dublin side.
“We have been listening to all those who have been knocking us over the last few weeks and that has got our adrenalin pumping.”
He admits that the Cup run has been the turning point in the team’s season, with a pivitol role being played by the semi-final defeat of Rovers .
“The buzz around the town in the run-up to this Sunday has made an impact on the players.”
Twelfth man
David says that the local support at Oriel Park has been like a 12th man for the team in times of need and he is hoping that a big crowd will travel to Dublin on Sunday.
The Quay man has come a long way in a relatively short period of time and has matured through the ranks, relishing the responsibility and pressure that comes with his job as team captain.
Despite the prospect of a promising career with the Sean O’Mahony’s, David hasn’t played any Gaelic football this season, preferring to concentrate on Dundalk. He hopes to get back to the Gaelic after the soccer season is finished, however.
As a new Dad, with a son of nine months, he has settled down and become a mature and happy person, delighted that the hard work he has put in over the years at all levels in the club, has paid off. Lifting the Cup on Sunday would be the icing on the cake for a young and talented footballer.
