Patsy Freyne: Great player and huge character enters Cork AUL Soccer Hall of Fame
Hall of Fame winner Patsy Freyne with Denis Crowley, Cork AUL and Jim Cashman, Murphy's Irish Stout at the Cork Athletic Union Football League Soccer Honours at The Kiln, Heineken Ireland. Picture: Larry Cummins
Back in the mid-'70s Shandon View defeated Leeds in the U12 Schoolboy Cup final at Turner’s Cross.
For decades the schoolboy game had been dominated by Glasheen, Tower, Tramore, Ringmahon and Casement, who all played in the old traditional direct style centre-half, wing-halves, stay-at-home full-backs, wingers, inside forwards approach. Shandon View were different, a breath of fresh air, perhaps not as strong, but they appeared to have bought into a system where neat passing was a prerequisite.
Midfield wizard Patsy Freyne displaying maturity beyond his years was like a young conductor baton in hand, directing his orchestra.
His talent hadn’t gone unnoticed and at 16 he went to Bolton for a month’s trial. It turned out to be a nightmare for the youngster who couldn’t wait for the opportunity to hightail it home from Lancashire.
After a few weeks back home with the lads from Shandon View he recovered his appetite for football and by the time they moved on together to Central Rovers his star was shining brighter than ever.
Central performed a giant-killing act in 1983 by reaching the AOH Cup final and completed the job, in style, defeating Ringmahon Rangers 2-0.
Two years later Newcastle West entered the new League of Ireland Division 1 and when Noel O’Mahony was appointed manager, he signed Patsy. He took to the higher grade like a fish to water and when O’Mahony returned to Cork City as manager in 1986, he brought Patsy along.
It didn’t take long for Patsy to become established as one of the top midfielders in the league and this new-found fame led to offers from Dublin’s top clubs all of which were politely declined.
Highlights of his first spell with City (1986-’91) were the League Cup victory over Shams at the Cross in 1988, and the memorable European Cup Winners Cup matches with Moscow Torpedo.
Disappointing was the FAI Cup final defeat by high-flying Derry City but more so, even though he didn’t play that day, was their failure to clinch the League Championship in '91 when defeated by Dundalk at Turner’s Cross.
Patsy left Cork City at the end of that season for Cobh where he remained for over two years before leaving to help Avondale in the second half of the ’94 campaign. He signed for Everton that August and played with them in the senior league until 1996.
His talent was wasted in non-league football and was snapped up by Dave Barry who became Cork City manager following the sacking of the ill-fated Rob Hindmarsh.
He had thousands of new fans too and as the old proverb says, 'Absence makes the heart grow fonder'. His first major honour arrived in 1998, when City, with Patsy on fire, defeated Shels after a replay in the FAI Cup final.
They were in championship fights until the death in 1999 and 2000 when pipped by Pats and Bohs respectively. He was 39 when he sadly hung up his boots in May 2002.
It brought the curtain down on a great League career.
The 'Hero of the Shed' had moved on and even now the passing of time has served to increase the affection the fans have for the great Patsy Freyne.
In retirement, Patsy successfully managed Castleview and Douglas Hall and is currently enjoying his career as a referee. He’s a man who finds it hard to say no.
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