Terry helps Irish star on his Rice to prominence
AN indication of Declan Rice’s standing as a defender of rich potential came when he was let go by Chelsea at 15. For who should ring him to offer support and pointers to the future? None other than John Terry, the former Chelsea captain and rock of the rearguard.
That Terry even knew who Rice was came as a shock to the rookie Irish defender.
‘When I got released from Chelsea, John gave me a call, and we spoke for about 45 minutes. I told him I was going to West Ham. He’d been there.
‘John was my idol growing up — the whole family are Chelsea fans — so, to ask him a load of questions on the phone, I’ll always remember that call to this day, and the stuff he said,’ recalled Rice.
Terry, 37, is now at Aston Villa but the contact between the veteran and the rookie continues.
‘We live locally to each other. Now and then we meet up,’ said Rice.
‘When John is back down (in London), we meet up. We met the other week and had a catch up. It was good. He’s always going to help me and pass on his experiences.’
For tips on how to survive in the Premier League, none has a better handle on things than Terry, a grizzled veteran of 717 first class games for Chelsea, 492 in the top division.
Rice is only starting out, but his promise is immense, as reflected in his 25 first team appearances for West ham this season — impressive for someone who only turned 19 in January.
Articulate and affable, Rice comes across a likeable chap, for whom this international window offers irrefutable proof of his startling progress.
On Sunday night, he was recognised as the Irish Under-19 Player of the Year, on Friday he should make his senior debut against Turkey here in Antalya, before dashing to Dublin for a Euro U21 qualifier against Azerbaijan next Tuesday.
After that, it’s straight back to West Ham to assist the club in their fight for Premier League survival.
There are games for Ireland at end of term to come too, against France and the USA.
It’s all go and Rice, a strapping six-footer, is taking it all in his stride, intent to build on his stint training with the seniors in Cork last summer.
‘I was only around the squad for three days in Fota. To get the feel for it with Roy (Keane) and Martin (O’Neill) and some of the top players, it was just a dream come true. Now to be here in Turkey before the start of the new campaign is something I’m really looking forward too.’
Rice was spotted by the FAI’s London-based scout, Mark O’Toole, and has been inside the Irish set-up since the U16s following a call by O’Toole to his father Sean.
Rice, who regards O’Toole as akin to ‘a father figure’ qualifies for Ireland through his Cork grandparents, Jack and Margaret Rice from Douglas, who saw him play for the U16s but passed away shortly afterwards.
‘It’s all on my Dad’s (Sean) side and my Dad is really, really proud. He wants me to play for Ireland and I’m really happy to play for Ireland.’
So committed is Rice that he knows Amhrán na bhFiann off by heart — something not every Irish senior player can lay claim too.
It reminds me of the story of Terry Mancini, a balding centrehalf who was almost 30 when he made his Irish debut against Poland at Dalymount Park in 1973.
As the band struck up before kick-off, Mancini turned to Don Givens and whispered, ‘Blimey, I hope ours is better than theirs’, to which Givens replied, ‘that is ours.’
Rice, another Londoner, has done his homework on Peadar Kearney’s handiwork. ‘I know the song well. It’s such a good national anthem, it’s so catchy,’ he said.
It helps that he has stood to attention, by his reckoning ‘for over 40 games in all for Ireland since I was 16.’
While it’s early days, there are signs that Rice will go on to play many more times as he is delivering on the talent which Terry identified at Chelsea in his early teens.
Not many teenagers born on these islands are in the first team at any Premier League club and Rice puts his elevation down to a positive attitude, as much as anything.
‘I think it can be done by anyone, if you have the right mindset, and the ability. Hard work always beats talent.
‘I wasn’t the best when I was younger, I worked hard and the talent came through. There are a lot of boys, Irish, English, out there, they can definitely break into a first team. It’s just about getting the chance.
‘I went away in pre-season and managed to change the manager’s (David Moyes) mind and that was just through hard work and wanting to play at the top. ‘Twenty-five appearances later, I want to end the season well and rack up more minutes and appearances.’ At 16, Rice felt his chance was slipping away from him when he was let go by Chelsea, only to be snapped up by West Ham on a two-year scholarship. ‘When you’re young you think it’s all set up, but it’s not. Now, it could all change for me at any moment. ‘I’ve come away here with Ireland but I don’t stop when I get back. I’m only 19 and want to push on.’ West Ham’s situation is precarious, especially in light of the toxic atmosphere which engulfed their last home game against Burnley. ‘The fans pay their money and they’ve every right to not be happy. We haven’t been performing in recent weeks. ‘I think we’re going to have a strong end to the season. We have got some tough games coming up but I’m pretty sure the manager and the team can get together and pull through.’ It West Ham survive, Rice will be in a strong position when it comes to contract talks — his current deal runs out at the end of 2019. If he wants advice on that front, he knows who he can call.