The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Busy Bee: John Egan making impact at Brentford
Ger Mulvihill spoke to John Egan – who has strong Kerry connections – about life in the English Championship with his new club, Brentford
Aproper centre back with a hunger to keep the ball out of the net” is how Brentford manager Dean Smith described John Egan after the Bishopstown native signed a three-year deal with the English Championship side in July.
Since then, the stellar centre-half has produced a number of eye catching performances at the heart of his side’s defence.
While still only 23, quite a few chapters have already been written in the John Egan story. Son of the late Kerry footballing legend, John senior, he first travelled to England in 2009 to sign for Sunderland, then under the stewardship of former Ireland manger Mick McCarthy. Four loan spells ensued before a highly successful stint at League One side Gillingham, where Egan netted 11 goals in 92 appearances. A rise to the Championship represents another forward movement in a career rapidly gathering momentum.
While he first became aware of a potential move to Brentford in January, the deal wasn’t rubber-stamped until July.
“I first heard of the interest when it was reported in the media, I’m not sure if a bid was put in or not but it never happened at that time. I knew that my deal at Gillingham was coming to an end and went to talk to Brentford. I sat down with the manager and met some people at the club. It all went pretty quickly after I passed my medical,” he told The Kerryman this week.
A leader of men on the pitch, Egan wanted more that just a move to the Championship – he wanted to become a permanent fixture in the Bees’ defence.
“It’s going fantastically so far. I came here to play games and thankfully I managed to impress in pre-season and the manager has stuck with me since.”
While on that tour, by means of an initiation he performed a wonderfully entertaining rendition of the Scissors Sisters’ I Don’t Feel Like Dancin’.
An obvious talent from an early age, Egan honed his craft with Greenwood FC and unsurprisingly professional clubs came knocking. John was easily enticed by the allure of a Premier League club, but his mother Mary on the contrary was more sceptical at first.
“Mom was a little bit apprehensive at first about the education side of things but once she got that sorted with Sunderland it was fine.”
His move to England was a source of immense pride for his late father.
“Dad came over with me to look at the facilities, he loved it. I think it’s something he would have loved to have done himself,” he says.
While now enjoying his wellearned success, John has encountered many challenges. While on loan at Bradford City he suffered a horror leg break – the road back was a long one but the Irish contingent at Sunderland was a great help to him.
“I got on very well with all the Irish lads, John O’Shea, (Kieron) Westwood and (James) McClean. David Meyler was particularly good to me. Being a Cork fella, he took me under his wing straight away. He was the first one up to the hospital with a bundle of DVDs for me.”
His four year association with the Wearside club came to an end in 2014 when he signed for Gillingham.
Egan’s maturity is obvious, perhaps a direct consequence of leaving home so young. Of his Sunderland experience he says moving on was a positive career move.
“To be honest, I think leaving Sunderland was a step forward in my career. I went from playing reserve team football at Sunderland to first team football at Gillingham. I believe that given the chance I could have made it at Sunderland”.
Perhaps his lack of first team opportunity was largely down to bad timing.
“When I came back from my injury Gus Poyet was manager at the time and I knew I wasn’t going to get a chance under him.”
Egan’s ethos is one of hard graft and commitment.
“I’d be up at 8am and in the training ground for 9. There we’d have breakfast and go through various screening tests to ensure we’re okay to train. We have a team meeting at ten and from there it’s out onto the training pitch at 10.45. We train until lunch and after that the day is your own.”
While remaining in the London area was convenient, Egan insists it had no bearing on his decision to join Brentford.
“It was just a coincidence, I have no emotional attachment to anywhere in England, Ireland is home. I’ll go wherever is best for my career,” he says.
Daily flights from Cork to London mean there is often a strong rebel contingent in the stands at Griffin Park. Similarly, John gets home as often as possible,
“It’s hard to get back during the season but I spend lots of time at home in the summer, back in Cork and also in Sneem. I have a lot of friends in Sneem and I also like to meet with dad’s friends.”
His home debut for Brentford was certainly one to remember - he scored twice with his mother watching from the stand. A winner of a League of Ireland medal with Cork Rangers, John says she has been a rock of support for him.
With 11 games played the Bees sit in seventh position, just two points off the play-offs. Egan is now a lynch-pin in one of the Championship’s meanest defences that has conceded a mere nine goals thus far - a tally bettered only by Brighton and Huddersfield Town.
After registering another clean on Saturday, Egan - a GAA fanatic - dashed home to watch the All-Ireland final. Speaking on Friday he said: “We play Wigan at home tomorrow so I’ll be watching the All Ireland when I get home. Being able to watch the games on Sky Sports is great.”
From there it was off to the Channel 5 studios were he appeared on Football on 5 – a typical Saturday for a professional footballer.
With his sights set on promotion to the Premier League, should his performances remain at their current level a phone call from Republic of Ireland manager Martin O’Neill is surely not too far away.