Daniel Carey
I’VE always had a soft spot for Phil Babb. When I was compiling a project as a first-year student at Presentation College, Headford for the PE Awards, I sent off a blast of letters looking for signed pictures. Babb was among the handful who wrote back. An autographed photo of him in his Liverpool jersey still adorns my childhood bedroom wall.
We’ve become used to occasional flashes of footballing celebrity making their way to these shores over the last decade. John Giles, Giovanni Trapattoni, Marco Tardelli, Liam Brady and Ray Houghton are among the famous Republic of Ireland heads to have popped up in Westport and/or Castlebar. But Babb was one of two heroes of yesteryear to pop up in Achill last Saturday, alongside former Cameroon midfielder Joseph N’Do.
The pair were in Fr O’Brien Park to celebrate Achill Rovers being named the Aviva FAI Club of the Year.
It’s hard to believe that 17 years have passed since Patrick Francis Gallagher guided Achill to the league title, a year before the dawning of the Super League era controversially forced them out of the top flight.
In a place that has suffered more than most from emigration since the economic downturn, the islanders can point to a huge success story in turning around their fortunes. A 1-0 victory over Premier ‘B’ Division leaders Bangor Hibs put the seal on a weekend to remember.
And in case you didn’t know, N’Do – who teamed up with the club in the spring as part of his coaching badges training – will be in the dugout when the Mayo League play the Roscommon and District League in the Oscar Traynor Trophy on Sunday week.
We’re pretty sure he’ll be the first two-time African Cup of Nations winner to sit in the dugout at Milebush Park!
See more on Achill Rovers’ big day on pages 26-27 of The Mayo News.
