‘Terrier’ Colgan has his glorious day in the sun

WHEN Nick Colgan stood beside Mick Fairclough for the photograph on the right, on a fine evening at the Drogheda Boys ground in 1992, one could not imagine how apt it would become.

Colgan had just signed for Chelsea and Mick came along to express his support for ‘ the kid’.

How Colgan’s move came about is a story in itself. He was playing for the Drogheda Boys in an elite match in Dublin and his side were getting a mauling, at least seven goals going in.

But a scout watching the game was greatly impressed.

It was how the young Colgan reacted that caught his attention. Each time he picked the ball out of the net, he roared encouragement to the lads in front of him. A strong mind and an attitude of a winner.

A great career followed, at the likes of Chelsea, Bournemouth, Grimsby and Hibs, spanning 13 clubs.

As he went along, he picked up tips from such names as Peter ‘ The Cat’ Bonetti and John Lukic. He learned from the very best.

When he took over as head goalkeeping coach at Huddersfield Town in 2014, his career took another surge.

Then came last week and the €200m Championship play-off with Reading at Wembley.

It went all the way to penalties and suddenly it was Colgan’s time to put all that experience to use.

He took Danny Ward, on loan from Liverpool, to one side and whispered in his ear.

Across the way, the first man to save a penalty in an FA Cup final, ex Wimbledon star Dave Beasant ran Reading’s Ali Al-Habsi through his routine.

The pundits said Reading would win it, but when Ward dived to his left to save from Jordan Obita, the Brookville man’s guidance, the years of education, the highs and the lows, the mindset of a winner, had been decisive.

And as for the picture on the right, Nick Colgan will be heading to the Premiership and the great grounds of England next year.

The last time Huddersfield mingled with such royalty was back in the early 70s when Annagassan man Mick Fairclough wore the blue and white.

Full circle indeed....