Legend On The Line: Joe Delaney

by Tom Flynn

(first published in the October 2010 Athlone Town match programme)

Joe Delaney was born in Ferrybank in 1940. Married to Joan, he has two sons and three daughters: Paul, John, Mary Patricia, Jane, and Joan. Joe recalls “there were three forms of transport to travel to the City from Ferrybank – bike, bus, and a ferry crossing from the slip at Hall’s (that term was used because it was near the Waterford Boat Club) from which you would disembark near the clock tower.” He lived in Ferrybank – to be precise the cul-de-sac in Marymount. Some of the people he grew up with from the area were Noel Dalton, who went on to be a “top class” ref with the GAA, and Al Breslin, whose nephew Barry went on to represent Ireland at rugby. Other pals were Donel Foley, editor of the Irish Times and Charlie Matthews of Royal Showband fame. Jimmy Searson was another who just lived down the road.  Joe also recalls he helped the older men in Ferrybank erect the grotto at Rockenham in mid 1955.

Joe has been in many a business venture, too numerous to mention all, but including Kiely’s Bakery, and as co- director with Dave Savage Bookmakers. It was through this friendship that Joe recalls “the club needed some financial help to acquire the services of Al Finucane, and the deal was done.” Of course Joe informs me not only did he get a seat on the board but ended up Chairman, and with people like club secretary Dick O’Brien, Willie Tomes, Billy O’Sullivan and Tim Galvin to name but a few he had a very good board. Yours truly can recall the time we won the Cup. It was magic going to the games when we won it, and when we came home very special, everybody wanted to be part of the club, but in 1980 it was much the same as now – when the Chairman addressed the crowd in Red Square to come out and support the club it fell on deaf ears.

Joe also informs me that he never sacked a manager and there was some great ones in his time: John McSeveney, Peter Fitzgerald ex Leeds Utd, Paul O’Donovan known as the “Golden Boy” from Cork, Colin Harper and Tommy Jackson. In fact Colin had just left a week, when he realised he had made a mistake and asked if it was possible to have his job back, but unfortunately for him the day before Joe had appointed Tommy Jackson to the post.

Joe also recalls when Shay Brennan decided to leave. “I am going to the airport tomorrow, would you like a lift?” asked Joe, and so they departed. Joe was on his way to the 1974 World Cup finals and on their arrival at the airport the pal who was organising the trip told him three people had left him down last minute, so Joe did a deal and brought Shay to the finals. On his way home to Dublin Joe received a call that a member of staff had left from his pub and offered Shay a job for two weeks that turned out to be for five years, and as we know Shay then went on to develop his transport company. Because of Shay Brennan’s involvement with the club Joe had the opportunity to sign two Manchester United greats. Passing on George Best (I suppose you could not depend on him), Joe signed Bobby Charlton, and when it came down to a fee Bobby asked what kind of gates the club received, and just said “treat me out of the extra you might get.”

He recalls the European tie when we drew Hibernians of Malta, to which as Chairman he felt obliged to go, but he had booked a family holiday to Australia and then had some explaining to do when we won the tie and had to contest round two! I remember it well, we were at the Ardree Hotel and word came from the FAI. “The good news is you are drawn first to play at home”. The bad new was it was against Dynamo Tbilisi of the USSR. Joe asked where that was and got the reply “well when you get to Moscow you are half way there!”
 
In addition to his service to the Blues, Joe has served as Chairman of the Munster FA and is a also a life member, and of course has been a member of the executive committee of the FAI for 20 years, also serving as Honorary Treasurer, Security Officer, and Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee.

In conclusion Joe will always be remembered for his leadership off the field and his love for football at all levels, something I hope he can enjoy for a long time to come.

Three generations of Delaneys at the RSC (pic with thanks to Paul Elliot / Waterford Soccer Monthly)