Tributes paid to ‘ Busty’
SLIGO Rovers have paid tribute to their former player Eunan Blake who passed away on Wednesday last.
Born in Letterkenny in July 1937 and fondly known as ‘ Busty’, he signed for the Bit O’Red in February 1956 and played for the club for seven seasons, eventually becoming club captain.
A full back who scored three goals for Rovers, he amassed 118 league appearances, lined out 13 times in the FAI Cup, 55 times in the League of Ireland Shield along with 4 outings in the Dublin City Cup.
He went on to represent the League of Ireland five times and also lined out for Derry City, helping them to the 1965 Irish League title. Eunan went on to manage both Athlone Town and Finn Harps.
In his series of articles celebrating the 75th anniversary of Sligo Rovers in 2003, former Sligo Champion sports editor Michael Moran spoke to Eunan of how he signed for the club. Michael recalled: “It was probably one of the most unusual signings in the history of Rovers.
“The then seventeen- years- old Eunan was standing with some colleagues at the normal pick- up point in Letterkenny waiting to travel to play for Strabane United in a North West competition.”
Eunan takes the story: “Suddenly a car pulled up and someone asked to speak to me.
“There were three representatives from Sligo Rovers present. I remember Christy Houze ( committee member) and Jimmy Batten, who was the coach at the time.
“They asked me to sign then and there and I was flabbergasted.
“It came out of the blue. I heard afterwards that a Freddie Boggs in Strabane may have recommended me.”
Sligo Rovers said they were “saddened” to learn of Mr Blake’s death while the club’s heritage group also posted a tribute on their Facebook page. His funeral mass took place on Saturday last at St Eunan’s Cathedral, Letterkenny before burial afterwards in Conwal Cemetery.
A minute’s applause was held at Finn Park in Eunan’s memory on Friday night prior to Finn Harps match against Bray.