Cup win made Rogers’ decision much easier
WINNING the FAI Cup five days earlier was the ultimate catalyst for Gary Rogers in deciding to hang up his gloves after 21 years in the game.
The 39-year-old announced his decision to retire on Friday night, just 24 hours after playing what would prove to be the 752nd and final game of a career that began back as a teenager at Shelbourne back in 1999.
Spells at St Francis, Drogheda Utd, Dublin City, Bray Wanderers, Galway Utd, St Patrick’s Athletic and Sligo Rovers would follow before his arrival at Oriel Park in November 2014 where he won 14 trophies in 225 games, keeping 115 clean sheets in the process.
Rogers admitted at the weekend that he had been weighing up the decision to call it a day for some time but made his mind up in the wake of the 4-2 extra-time victory over Shamrock Rovers - returning home to his family in Bohermeen rather than joining the rest of the squad on a bus tour back to Dundalk where they were greeted by fans at the Market Square.
“It has been in my mind for a good bit of the season,” he told The Argus at the weekend.
“It wasn’t a decision I came to lightly or rushed. I spoke to a few people close to me between my wife and others. I even met Stephen Kenny for a coffee and had a chat with him and told him what I was planning on doing. I also spoke to Pete Mahon, who was a manager who I had a great deal of respect and time for having worked with him at St Pat’s.
“I have floated the idea with a few different people and sounded them out but at the end of the day it came down to my own gut on it and how I was feeling about continuing on. At the end of the day I am 39 and while I was delighted to be still playing well, it’s a nice time to go off the back of the Cup success.
“I think that was probably key to the decision. I think if we had lost the Cup I wouldn’t have come to the decision as easily. I wouldn’t have been as content signing off on that note.
“When we qualified for the group stages, I had it in my mind that it would be a good way to go out with a Cup final as well. To go out on the back of them performances and
the success of the Cup final was perfect.”
Rogers had so many highlights over the years but pinpointed Dundalk’s 3-0 win over BATE Borisov at Tallaght Stadium in August 2016 as one of the best moments in his storied career.
“The BATE win for the team would be a highlight for everybody but there have been so many good wins from getting our first point in the group stages, to getting our first win.
“For me personally, the penalty shoot-out wins in Riga and Sheriff this year were real highlights. The Cup finals too have been brilliant. We’ve been on the wrong side of a couple of close ones as well but I’ve really enjoyed the Cup finals. I’ve always treated each Cup final as if it was my last and this year that turned out to be the case.”
Rogers said the one regret was that he didn’t get to savour playing in front of a big crowd one last time before packing it in due to Covid-19 restrictions.
“I think football is missing fans and our club, like every club, is the same. That probably is the most disappointing aspect of going out in this manner, the fact there are no fans. Football has missed them and I’ve missed them.
“It was even nice to play in Molde in front of a few even though they weren’t our own. We’ve had some terrific occasions this year and we haven’t been able to share them with the people who it matters most to and that’s the supporters of the club. League of Ireland supporters in general are a special breed.”
Rogers’ playing days might
be over but he said he would be a Dundalk supporter for life.
“I’ve had great times at Dundalk. I’ve always said I support whoever supports me and Dundalk have been supporting me now for a long time. I do consider myself a Dundalk fan. It is my local club.
“I know Drogheda is too but I would have family ties in Dundalk between Liam Devine and I’ve an aunt living there. Michelle McCormack and her husband Paul are big Dundalk fans and when I was growing up as a kid I’d have passed by Oriel on the way to their house so it is very special. The history as well that I’ve been lucky to be part of makes it that bit more special.
“Dundalk will be forever in my heart,” he said.
So what does the future hold?
“The future holds a bit of rest. I want to have a good Christmas with no fears of coming back for pre-season training for the first time in a long time. I’m going to explore all opportunities. I’ve already had a few different things thrown at me over the last 24 hours or so.
“It’ll be interesting to see what I do. I’m not going to open or close any doors just yet. I’ll wait and see what opportunities present themselves because I haven’t been able to actively look for a future career outside of football because football has always been my number one priority so it will be interesting to see what I can do off the back of having a Sports Management degree and an A Licence in goalkeeping. We’ll see where that takes me,” he said.