‘Today’s players don’t seem to care about NEFL future’

In the 40-year history of the North Eastern Football League (previously Meath & District League) Gerry Gorman has been involved in various administrative roles, mainly as secretary.

He is currently the longest-serving member of the Leinster Football Association (LFA) after he was first elected in 1984.

In this, the fifth and final part of a series on the story of the NEFL, sports editor Conall Collier discovered that the Kilmessan native , nor surprisingly, has a big interest in hurling, a game he was introduced to by his late grandfather.

How did you develop an interest in soccer?

I can trace it back to the latter stages of the 1970 season, listening to to local man who was in the know at the time, Seamus (Jimmy) Walsh from Kilmessan, he was always going on about the exploits of Chelsea and players like Peter Osgood, Peter Bonetti, Bobby Tambling and others.

I was curious to the point of actually watching Match of the Day on the BBC on a Saturday night, and the Big Match on ITV on a Sunday, I got the bug from there.

However, my earliest memory of sport would have been listening to tales from my grandfather (Christopher) about the great Tipperary hurler Jimmy Doyle.

As a result I can recall Tipperary's comprehensive victory over Kilkenny in the 1964 All-Ireland SHC final in which Doyle was the star man.

I have followed the fortunes of Tipperary ever since. Other clear early memories were Meath playing in the 1966 All-Ireland SFC final against Galway.There was great local excitement in the village as one of our own, Dinny Donnelly, was a key member of the team.

Meath lost that final, but we were back the following year to make amends against Cork and claim the Sam Maguire Cup in 1967.

Despite all my involvement in soccer for the past 40 years, with many great memories going to games in England and experiencing some great days watching the Republic of Ireland from the late 1970s, I would still regard hurling as a greater spectacle.

Each spring and summer, along with my wife Deirdre, we attend as many hurling games as possible at various venues throughout the country, places like Thurles, Kilkenny, Wexford, Limerick, Parnell Park in Dublin, and Croke Park.

Thanks to the generosity of our friend Tony Reilly we have had the privilige of attending the vast majority of All-Ireland hurling semi-finals and finals over the past 15 years and watching the action from the comfort of a top quality viewing area in Croke Park.

On some occasions we get to see the Meath hurlers in action and I can certainly remember the excitement of that Christy Ring Cup final sage against Antrim a few years ago..

You were an enthusiastic supporter of West Ham Utd?

I was, back in the 1980s anyway as they were one of the first teams I saw on television following the prompts to check out this game from Jimmy Walsh.

However, branding me as a West Ham fan would not be an accurate description any more. I would not have watched them or any English Premier League for the past 15 years or so since the 'greed is good' mentality really took hold.

Maybe the present Covid-19 emergency might bring some sanity back.

Have you any interest in the League Of Ireland?

I would class myself as a Drogheda Utd fan and since my interest in watching English premier football waned, I would have devoted more attention to the League of Ireland.

The standard is quite good and those who knock it have, for the most part, never tried to embrace it.

It wasn't always like that, look back at the huge crowds in the late 1960s, early 1970s. You could cringe at the way the FAI somehow managed to make a mess of not developing the game to its potential when it was all but laid on a plate for them.

Football enthusiasts the length and breadth of the country were badly let down by a totally inept administration at the top level of the FAI at that time.

It was summed up in a remark from a potential link up in that period with a high-profile business representative.

The FAI had invited him to a meeting in Merrion Square, but never went back for a follow up. He stated the reason being: 'Too many bicycles chained to the railings'

The impact of Jack Charlton - was it just a lucky break for the FAI at the time?

No question it was a lucky break.

The manner in which he was appointed was comical and resembled a scene from Jacksie's Bar in Killinaskully with other candidates eliminated on a first count.

Thereafter the eventual appointment was greatly aided by a large number of members doing a U-turn on voting preferences within the system they had devised to narrow it down to one candidate.

No convictions to what they were about then and 34 years later it seems to be the same general approach.

The only difference on this occasion is that we are treated to a lot of spin and selective embracing of matters to suit the agenda of the day.

With equal disdain, selectively ignoring other matters that would be crying out for intervention, a policy that is in common with the norm in an era which allows perception cloud over reality.

You only have to look at the leaders of USA and the UK, and wonder how could those appointments have come about in so-called democracies?

Scary stuff!

If the application from the Kilmessan club to join the Leinster Junior League or Louth League was  accepted do you think the MDL would not have started?

I have no doubts that junior football would have taken off in the Royal County with established clubs like Parkvilla, Trim Celtic, Stackallen Rovers, Ratoath Harps and others with somebody else kick-starting and driving it on.

You only need to trace back and look at all the rural areas that came on board in the first five years, so it just happened to be kick-started by myself along with my comrades in Kilmessan.

We quickly established close associations with neighbours from Skryne, Moynalvey, Robinstown, and Navan.

Why was there such an influx of clubs from the Louth League?

The MDL had gained a reputation for formulating a decently run set up.

At the time (1986-1988) It boosted the standing and profile of the MDL to such a degree that the standard was recognised as on a par with other top leagues in the country.

Once the MDL was established Meath-based clubs like Kentstown, Duleek, Navan Cosmos, Newtown Utd transferred.

It was only a matter of time before high-profile Louth clubs such as Dromin Utd, Square Utd, Albion Rovers affiliated.

We also attracted Dunboyne, Ratoath Harps and Stackallen Rovers who transferred from the Leinster Senior League.

There was a lot of GAA opposition to clubs across Meath, did that just make people more determined?

There was GAA opposition to clubs across Meath, did that just make people more determined?

Some high ranking individuals from certain GAA clubs appeared to have resented our presence and progress on the sporting landscape.

The majority of GAA members would have welcomed our inclusion and quite a number of players combined both codes.

In the early days players like Richie Melia, and his late brother Robbie, along with Mickey Regan, Paddy Kelly, and others regularly Gaelic football with Moynalvey, hurling with Kiltale and still gave great commitment to make Moynalvey the dominant force they became in the first six years winning four league titles, and four challenge cup finals

Such a scenario would be unlikely in the present era.

Was affiliation to the FAI and LFA important?

It was vital, as without same recognition as a credible League could never have been achieved.

The LFA (Leinster Football Association) in particular was very helpful in the early days with well- known secretary at the time, the late George Briggs, always available for advice.

What were the challenges faced in trying to develop the sports complex in Navan?

Initially we sought and received the security of outline planning permission as a pre-condition when purchasing the site in February 1988.

There were a number of obstacles in the following few years regarding specific planning for the proposed development.

The poor soil drain-off quality which was prevalent in the wider area was an issue, but we got around this by installing a Bord na Mona soakage treatment plant which serves the needs very well.

There was also some local objections at the time, but any fears have long since been put to rest

We enjoy a decent relationship with all the neighbours and in particular with the Fitzsimons family who border the site.

We were very saddened with the news of the recent passing of Donal Fitzsimons, a former great Meath hurler.

Can you highlight three key moments in the 40 year history that were crucial?

1. The period from November 1980 and the willingness and enthusiasm of so many to help out. To this day along with myself, John Gorman and Eugene Lynch still hold committee positions. Current chairman David Tully joined the committee in 1996 and we have a decent cross-section of personnel, some with ties to clubs while others are totally independent.

2. Helping out with the start of the Meath Schoolboys League in 1984 was also another milestone. We have very close ties now with the NECSL which is a big positive for the future.

3. Purchasing the 23-acre site in 1988, and the steady development since has kept us focused. It remains a great source of pride that within two years of the purchase, the loan was fully paid off.

You were subjected to a lot of negative comments over your support for John Delaney, how did you cope with that?

It was very sad the depths to which some individuals lower themselves to in the modern era of social media.

The views expressed by the vast majority of so-called ‘keyboard warriors’ did not bother me personally.

I was disappointed that some reputable sites provided platforms, with some appearing to keep stirring it, even when it became very stale news.

I would put no value or importance on opinions expressed in this manner.

One opinion I would value that sticks out was at the funeral of Fran Ray last September, the the highly-respected former secretary of the biggest league in the country, the Dublin & District Schoolboys' League.

Fran had a reputation for not dishing out plaudits too easily and in a statement read out by his son he wanted to especially mention six people who were very supportive to him in his life within football promotion and John Delaney was one of the six.

What is your overall assessment of John Delaney's tenure in the FAI?

Given that he had issues with a lot of individuals, some of whom were work colleagues who ended up leaving the Association, it was inevitable it was going to rebound on him.

When the time was right, as they saw fit, most went in with all guns blazing. While not passing any judgmental views, the fact that some of them, at times, went beyond normal boundaries to cosy up to him, saw fit to do a U-turn.

However, until such time as a balanced cross-section of reviews are seriously featured regarding all aspects of his tenure there would be little point in my specific views being featured in this, or any other forum.

Comparing the FAI then and now, for better or worse, I have a tendency to look at situations and ask myself ‘Is this all its cracked up to be? Is this person or group of bluffers or genuine? Can things be improved?

This questioning attitude has landed me in bother from time to time.

In a lot of cases change of personnel at administration level, especially chairpersons, are generally expected to keep things going as they always have.

This common approach (with exceptions) can be found from club level right up to and including the FAI.

I never accepted the custom and practice approach, and I never will.

The more experience I get, the more I am convinced that there are an awful lot of people in positions and their biggest contributions are with their tongues - talking up a good line in self-promotion, with little or no substance as back up.

In my view such people are basically bluffing their way up the ladder as they enjoy and savour the benefits of their positions.

I have no time for that.

Could we, with any degree of confidence, say that one of John Delaney's high-profile successors would not fall into those categories?

Challenges facing the NEFL at the moment and in the long-term?

A lot of challenges. Attitudes towards participation have altered dramatically in the last 10 years.

The NEFL is lucky to have different options to fall back on such as organising small sided casual leagues on our astro pitches, if that is where the demand might lie from to time.

Some individuals may view the involvement and all that goes with it for full participation within a club framework as too cumbersome.

Your son John is a referee, does he get advice from you?

Not required from me for his role at this level.

John is a proud member of the Meath Branch (ISRS) and the chairman is Conor Byrne who he has the highest regard for.

In my view Conor Byrne has been the best referee in the country for the past 10 years or so.

You had some health issues in the recent past, how are you now?

Feeling fine, as long as I follow medical advice. I have to highlight the great treatment I received in Navan hospital and the Mater hospital in 2017 and of course the help and support from my wife Deirdre.

How different is the landscape in 2020 compared to 1980?

Unrecognisable.

If you could combine the sheer raw enthusiasm, with the large numbers willing to help out in 1980 when there were no facilities of any kind with what is at the disposal today in relation to facilities, most problems would be eradicated.

The sheer joy and appreciation to get involved in whatever capacity would override all other issues.

Sadly, the majority of participants today take everything for granted with no care or thought as to how it came about?

More importantly, they don’t seem to be too concerned about how it will be sustained into the future.