BARRY’S IN THE ELITE 500 CLUB
League career began with penalty stop
WITH 89 minutes on the clock, Barry Roche left the bench to replace veteran Dave Beasant, who had been sent off for chopping down Fan Zhiyi as he shaped to score.
Facing off against Julian Gray from 12 yards, he was powerless to prevent the Crystal Palace striker scoring neatly into the corner of the net but, after the spot-kick was ordered to be retaken for encroachment, the debutant goalkeeper guessed correctly and sealed a dramatic 3-2 victory for Nottingham Forest. That was in August 2000. Last Saturday, 17 years later, Morecambe’s Roche toasted 500 Football League appearances on his return to the city where he played his early football.
The 35-year-old reached his towering career landmark as the Shrimps were beaten 2-0 at Notts County.
Roche insists he will never forget a second of that breathtaking debut at Selhurst Park, though the Dublin-born stopper has enjoyed plenty of other memorable moments en route to 500 not out.
Take his 93rd-minute headed equaliser against Portsmouth two seasons ago, for example.
“I finally got the goal against Portsmouth, but I’d actually come close on a couple of occasions,” remembers Roche.
“I remember when we played down at Torquay about five years ago and I was up for two corners in a row.
Special
“I got my head on both of them. One was cleared off the line and one landed on the roof of the net.
“I’m 6ft 5in, so I’ve got a jump on most people and I always thought I’d have a chance to get my head on it.
But scoring against a club like Portsmouth was very special.
“I could never forget my debut against Palace at Selhurst Park. Then, starting at Hillsborough the week after as an 18-year-old was unbelievable.”
Roche, who also had a threeyear spell with Chesterfield, joined Morecambe in June 2008 and, having become a bona fide Shrimps supporter during his time on the Lancashire coast, he can’t think of a better place to have brought up the 500.
“It’s something I’m very, very proud of,” he said. “Up until the end of last season, I had no idea I was getting close to it until Derek Quinn (Morecambe press officer) pointed it out.
“My wife, family and a couple of friends came down on the Sunday for a little private celebration – very, very low key because we had a game on Tuesday (against Yeovil) – and we had a few presents and some cake and things like that.
“You want to play as many games as you can, but the one thing it did was make me feel bloody old!
“I made my debut when some of the members of our squad were only a year old!
“The dressing room is a very special place. I don’t think you get that kind of atmosphere in every workplace because, effectively, you’re working with your mates.”
Morecambe may have endured a tricky start to the campaign – before the weekend they had failed to win since an opening-day 2-1 triumph over Cheltenham – but Roche is still enjoying every second of life at the Globe Arena.
Testimonial
And, while the Irishman isn’t contemplating retirement just yet, he certainly doesn’t envisage playing for any other club before hanging up his boots.
“I absolutely love the club,” he explained. “This is my tenth year, so it’s my testimonial year, hopefully.
“I get on with everybody at the club and I’m settled in the area.
“So are my wife and kids, so I don’t just play for the club – I’m a fan as well.
“I love it up here. I’m 35 years old now and I don’t know how much longer I’ve got to play but I’d like to finish my career here.”