Gs delight to two former players

to Oriel Park, indeed John, now aged 56, and living in England has not been back to Dundalk since he played with the town, and Brian only joined him for the match with Derry because John had been invited by the sponsor, Gerry McNamee to be his guest at the match.

Naturally I had to approach the players, and they were as astounded as I that pictures that narrowly escaped the rubbish skip had been unearthed only that day.

Brian, who lives in Dublin, had joined Liverpool from Dundalk with Synan Braddish and Derek Carroll in 1977, made 80 appearances for Dundalk while John Archbold made 81, memorably scoring the first goal in a 2-0 win over Sligo in the 1981 Cup final.

John left for England shortly after that and having played for a further ten years in non League football is happily settled in Leicestershire.

Understandably both players sought copies of the newly uncovered pictures which they will receive, and having enjoyed their return visit to Oriel with a great win over Derry were delighted to recall some of their own glory days in Oriel.

One such story, related by John, is worth recalling and concerns the night Spurs played in Oriel.

John recalled that the players met as usual in early afternoon in an hotel at Dublin airport before their journey to Dundalk. One player, Sean Byrne turned up driving his work van and explained that he had to make a delivery in Dundalk before the game.

John, and another player, decided to accompany him to give him a hand, and to their surprise they were wheeling in the consignment of goods into the foyer in Ballymascanlon Hotel when they encountered the Spurs players lounging around as they awaited getting on the bus for Oriel.

The Dundalk players were wearing their branded jumpers and went up to the Spurs players and chided them with the remark “see you later”.

The surprised Spurs players did not know what to make of this, but they soon found out in Oriel when they were held to a 1-1 draw by the team of van drivers and others.

Another of life’s coincidences.