The ‘Veteran’ Neale Fenn

by Shane Murphy

(first published in the June 2010 Dundalk EA Sports Cup programme)

When I started following the Blues, I looked up to players like Mick Bennett, Pascal Keane and Alan Barry. Even better, there was the 43 year old Al Finucane playing against Bordeaux. Nowadays I look at the programme and see Josh Byrne (born 1992)!!! The sorest point for me though was when I first saw players my age being described as ‘veterans’.
 
While most of us like to keep tabs on budding Irish stars, my interest in Neale Fenn was stirred when I saw his date of birth: 18/1/77. We were born on the same day as each other. I always looked out for his name after that although I couldn’t have predicted that his path would take him to the RSC as both a hero and a villain. Our footballing careers haven’t quite run parallel. While Neale has played in the Premiership, been called up to the Irish senior squad and won three League of Ireland titles, I’m still waiting for my big break!
 
Fenn was born within a stone’s throw of White Hart Lane and must have fulfilled his boyhood dream by making his debut for Tottenham against Manchester United in the 1997 FA Cup third round. Faced with an injury crisis, Spurs boss Gerry Francis put his faith in Fenn and fellow youngster Rory Allen up front. Neither looked out of place, but United won 2-0 with goals from Beckham and Scholes. Whilst at Tottenham, Neale learned from the likes of Klinsmann, Sheringham, Ginola and Les Ferdinand. However, when he scored his only Spurs goal against Carlisle, his strike partner was a young Sol Campbell. Fenn won a bronze medal with Brian Kerr’s under-20s in Malaysia that summer and was even called up to the senior squad against Lithuania when Mick McCarthy was faced with an injury crisis. Despite not winning a cap, the manager told him to keep up the good work and that he would keep an eye on him.
 
He disappeared off my radar for a few years. With chances limited at White Hart Lane, he made a series of loan moves to Leyton Orient, Norwich, Swindon and Lincoln. Then, in January 2002, he was back on my TV screen playing for Barry Fry’s Peterboro in the FA Cup Fourth Round against Newcastle. Two nil down to Bobby Robson’s side which included Shearer, Bellamy, Given and Solano, Posh’s chances looked bleak, but inspired by Jimmy Bullard, they fought back to 2-2. Then, with less than fifteen minutes remaining, Fenn went through one-on-one with Given. He hit a lovely dinked shot, but Shay pulled off the kind of brilliant save that only he can. The big chance had passed and Newcastle ran out 4-2 winners with late goals from Shearer and Aaron Hughes.”We were a long way from Cardiff when Fenn went through,” Bobby Robson said afterwards. “Peterborough did themselves proud today and I’m a bit sad that they haven’t got a replay at St James’. Sad but glad.” 
 
I’m not sure if I ever thought I’d hear of Fenn again. Little did we know that Peterboro’s sub keeper in that game would help bring Fenn to the RSC. Dan Connor had joined the Blues in April 2003 and kept in contact with his former teammate. When Gary O’Neill suddenly quit the Blues, Jimmy McGeough needed a replacement. Connor texted Fenn and a trial was arranged. McGeough (known as a shrewd judge of a player) liked what he saw and signed Fenn up in August 2003. Even though he only played with us for four months, he made quite an impression. Within two minutes of his debut as a sub against Derry, he set up a goal for Mark Clifford with a pinpoint pass. One famous night was when we beat Bohs 2-1 that September. From a goal down, Neale set up Daryl Murphy for the equaliser, then scored the winner himself. McGeough was chaired back onto the pitch by the fans after the final whistle. A goal in Dalymount that November helped us pull off a huge shock with a 1-1 draw that scuppered Bohs’ chance of retaining the title.
 
That winter was arguably the most turbulent in the history of Waterford United and Fenn signed for Cork amidst all the uncertainty over Jimmy McGeough’s future (or lack of it) with the Blues. Pat Dolan signed him to create goals for John O’Flynn and Kevin Doyle. While Neale’s goalscoring prowess will never rival a Jason Byrne or Gary Twigg, he must have more assists than almost any player in recent years. He won his first league medal with Cork in 2005 and was outstanding in their European games. Next up was a move to Bohs in 2007. There he won two more league titles, an FAI Cup and, of course, the EA Sports Cup last September when he came back to haunt us with the third goal.
 
Now, he is supposedly in his twilight years – although his excellent form with Dundalk belies it. He is preparing for life after playing by winning the Irish licence for the just4strikers coaching course. Meanwhile, my career has rarely progressed beyond the Astroturf pitches in Dublin and Waterford. With our current defensive injury crisis, I’d like to let Hendo know that, veteran or not, I’ve my boots ready and I’m waiting for the call!