Paul McGrath to play at Eamonn Deacy testimonial
Eamonn Deacy pictured playing for Villa against Italian striker Roberto Bettega of Juventus when the sides clashed in the European Cup of 1982/83.
By Kernan Andrews
Paul McGrath, one of the great figures of Irish football, is coming to Galway next month to take part in the Eamon ‘Chick’ Deacy testimonial game in Terry Land Park.
The testimonial takes place on Saturday August 18 and will see the ground, located on the Dyke Road, renamed Eamon Deacy Park. Kick-off is 5.30pm.
In a playing career which lasted from 1981 to 1998, McGrath won 83 caps for the Republic of Ireland and played with Manchester United, Derby County, Sheffield United, and from 1989 to 1996, he was with Eamon’s former club Aston Villa.
McGrath contacted organisers of the game offering to be involved, and he will line out with the Aston Villa legends Alan Evans, Ken McNaught, Des Bremner, Colin Gibson, and Tony Morley, who all won the English league title with Chick in 1980/81.
Other players taking part are Ray Walker, David Norton, Martin Carruthers, Lee Hendrie, Pat Heard, and Neil Rioch, as well as another former Irish international, Gareth Farrelly.
Ron Saunders, the man who led the Villa team to that league title, is also travelling over for the game with his wife, daughter, and grandchildren. Other Villa players will be confirmed closer to the game.
Tickets for the game are €10 for adults and €5 for students, while admission for children under the age of 12 will be free once they are accompanied by a paying adult.
Tickets go on sale this week and are available at Corbett’s Londis in Newcastle; Zhivago, Shop Street; Ernie’s, Sea Road; The Square Inn, Athenry; O’Brien’s Hardware, Loughrea; The Brogue Inn, Tuam; Kerrigan’s Londis, Kilcolgan; Joe Francis’s, An Spidéal; and Holland’s Londis, Oughterard.
For more information see the Celebration for Chick page on Facebook or call Keith on 087 - 2870821.
