PACKING A PUNCH
Walsall defender Luke Leahy aims to do the family name proud
HIS grandfather was a famous boxer who beat the great Sugar Ray Robinson in the 1960s – and now Luke Leahy aims to do justice to the family name by punching his weight on the football pitch.
The 24-year-old full-back signed for the Saddlers this summer after five years at Falkirk and has already made his mark.
He netted his first Walsall goal in a 1-1 draw at Portsmouth a couple of weeks ago and scored at both ends in last week’s dramatic 3-3 draw against Bradford City.
But he’s still going to have to go some to match the achievements of his late grandfather, Mick, who was a successful professional boxer in the 1950s and 60s, culminating in that points win against Robinson in 1964.
Sadly, a car crash ended his career a year later and he later developed Alzheimer’s before his death in 2010, aged 74.
“I’ve read and watched so much about him – he’s a huge inspiration,” said Leahy. “He had a car crash and wasn’t very well after that so I never really got to see the proper Mick Leahy, but I’ve seen videos and images.
Inspiration
“He believed in himself for many years and I want to keep the name going in sport. I never give up and I always give 100 per cent – that’s what my grandfather did to win all his boxing matches.”
Leahy has shown fighting qualities in his own career, having to overcome rejection as a youngster to carve out a career as a footballer.
“I went on trials at Bradford, Peterborough and Birmingham,” he said. “I got knocked back from all of them but I never give up.
“I went for two weeks to Falkirk and I got a contract there. The best thing I ever did was move up to Scotland and play 160 times because it has made me the player I am today – and the type of player I am. I became a leftback when I was up there.”
Having played as a striker, midfielder and even once in goal for Falkirk, Leahy has now settled in defence. Last week, he was tested to his limits against Bradford. His own goal early in the second half gave the Bantams a 3-0 lead and it looked like gave over.
Yet five minutes later Leahy came up with the perfect response with a bullet header to trigger an amazing comeback. He then had an assist for debutant Tyler Roberts’ goal before Amadou Bakayoko’s 87th minute goal earned Jon Whitney’s Saddlers an unlikely point.
“I couldn’t do much about the own goal, it wasn’t a massive error,” he said. “There was no better way to respond than by scoring and setting up the comeback. It’s something my dad said after the game – most players would have just crumbled at that point and gone into their shell. However, I scored the goal straight afterwards and set up the next one so I know I’ve got the character to get me through those times.”