Charlton wants no return for Ireland

If Jack Charlton was still manager of the Republic of Ireland soccer team Stephen Ireland would not be getting a call to rejoin the international set-up. Instead the talented, mercurial midfielder would remain in international exile where, it seems, he wants to be anyway. Speaking to the Meath Chronicle in Athboy on Friday night Charlton had no qualms in expressing his view that he would not pursue Ireland if the player did not want to turn up and wear the green. Charlton would have asked once and left it at that. Recently Ireland said that he would 'consider' making a return to the international fold over the summer after he had a meeting with current boss Giovanni Trapattoni. He would not have been allowed such latitude under Charlton"s reign. Playing for your country is, according to the former Irish boss, still one of the greatest honours in a game that has changed so much since he wore the white of Leeds Utd and England. 'Stephen Ireland is a good, decent player but if he didn"t want to play for his country I wouldn"t pursue him,' said Charlton who otherwise feels Trap is doing 'a terrific' job. 'I remember when I was the Irish manager I would pick my squad of players but I would have to leave three or four out and those three or four would call me up and say 'Can I come anyway?" All the lads would want to meet up.' Charlton was the guest speaker at a function in the Old Darnley Lodge Hotel to raise funds for RNLI and Meath Specialist Palliative Care. A few year ago Big Jack also spoke at an Athboy Celtic FC event and apparently brought the house down. The communications have been maintained and he looked happy to be back meeting familiar faces. If Friday night was anything to go by the warmth between the Irish people and 'Wor Jack" is as strong as ever. He moved easily from one group to another, happy to shoot the breeze with people. His people. Referring to the Irish as 'us' he said he considers the place his home especially since he was made a citizen. He still has a house in Ballina which he uses as the base for fishing forays on rivers all over the country. Charlton, looking fit and dapper and now in his 70s had flown in from England on Friday afternoon. He was met at the airport by Athboy businessman James Bird and brought to the Old Darnely Lodge. Charlton was catching a flight back to England very early on Saturday morning to attend a event for disabled young fishermen. It was very much about football and fishing at the Athboy event with former Meath player Graham Geraghty among the 100 or so who showed up. It was because of what happened on a fishing trip earlier this year that eventually led to Charlton making another appearance in Athboy . A group of friends from the town including builder and business man Paddy Kerrigan were fishing off the Irish coast. Kerrigan, a big Meath football supporter, landed a giant lobster. It was suggested that the lobster should be stuffed and auctioned for charity!! Somebody put forward the idea that Charlton could be invited over to speak at a fund-raiser. A committee consisting of Kerrigan, James Hesnan, Bird, Padraig Staunton, Frank Higgins and David McLean was formed and the idea became a reality. The RNLI and Meath Specialist Palliative Care were chosen as two charities to benefit from the night. As part of the fund-raising exercise the person who found a name for the lobster won a day fishing with Charlton. The winner came up with 'Larry the Lobster.' It was all part of the fun. There was some traditional music to welcome Charlton provided by a troupe of local musicians. The line-up included Shane Durcan, Caitriona Durcan, Deirdre O"Reilly, Tara Canny, Emer Staunton and Hannah Quirke. Before sitting down to the dinner Charlton spoke to the Meath Chronicle about Ireland, the player, Ireland, the country, and other topics. Charlton said he still keeps busy speaking at functions, going to games. He feels there are 'too many foreigners' in the English game, stifling native talent. He still meets up with many of the players he toiled with in the past especially the England World Cup winning team of 1966. They meet up every year although the numbers have dwindled. At one stage he looked wistfully out the window as he remembered the days of yore, and colleagues he played with who are now gone. 'Two of the lads have passed away, Bobby (Moore) and Alan (Ball). Sir Alf (Ramsey) is gone, Harold Shephardson. Once a year we all meet up at the beginning of June. We went to Liverpool this year.' Just about everybody it seems who attended the event on Friday night had memories of 1988, Stuttgart and Ray Houghton"s winner against England. One local woman Mary Morgan recalled winning a trip to Germany in 1988. She went there with her husband Donal and was the only woman on the plane. Charlton says that these days he dosen"t go to Elland Road much. He 'occasionally' goes to see Newcastle or Middlesbrough. He is saddened to see the demise of both clubs and their relegation from the Premier League although he feels they will come straight back up again. At least he hopes so. He still enjoys coming back to Ireland and he has been doing for 22 years now, the first 10 of those when he was Irish manager. The people who attended the fund-raising event on Friday night looked happy to welcome him back to his spiritual home. Whether Stephen Ireland gets a welcome back to the international scene is another question.