FORGOTTEN IRISH TALES OF 1992/93 CAMPAIGN

TURNER’S GOAL

Andy Turner was the youngest Premier League player when he struck a late winner for Spurs against Everton in September 1992 aged just 17. He held the league’s record for most youthful scorer for almost five years until Michael Owen struck for Liverpool. By then, Turner’s career was on the slide towards nonleague. His maiden season was his peak.

EDDIE’S HEROICS

Two Irish players earned moves off the back of starring roles for relegated sides. Roy Keane was a gem for Nottingham Forest and chose Manchester United and the rest is history. Eddie McGoldrick left Crystal Palace and went to Arsenal. He didn’t make the same impact.

’BORO BOYS

Middlesbrough were the Burnley of that era. Six Irishmen featured across that season with teenagers Graham Kavanagh and Alan Moore breaking through to a squad that included Chris Morris, Alan Kernaghan, Bernie Slaven and Curtis Fleming. Unfortunately, they couldn’t avoid relegation.

IRELAND’S CRAZY GANG

Joe Kinnear was flying the flag for Irishborn managers and he regularly called on the services of centre-half Scott Fitzgerald who was capped for Ireland at U-21 and B level. The Londoner is now academy manager at Millwall. Dubliner Paul McGee also figured for ‘The Crazy Gang’ but he failed to build on his early promise and ended up back in the League of Ireland via Linfield.

THE SKIPPER

Today, the captain of a Premier League side who played over 3,500 minutes in his club’s season would be thrust into Irish duty. It says something about Ireland’s options back then that Oldham skipper Mike Milligan only won a solitary cap for Ireland.

PEYTON’S CAMEO

Gerry Peyton is probably best remembered as Packie Bonner’s understudy but he was already a veteran by Italia ‘90 and was in his 37th year when he featured in the Premier League on loan from Everton to Chelsea. He came on as sub for Dmitri Kharine in a January defeat to Sheffield Wednesday.