Wanderers
Eoin Goulding is a current front row player at Wanderers and a club sponsor with his company Integrity 360.
He told us, “I played rugby at St Marys and subsequently was invited to play for Wanderers which I duly did.
The club have made a magnificent contribution to my life and my own personal development and in some
ways opened up my circle of great friends globally. Having played all over including New Zealand and France
I am forever grateful for the catalyst which was Wanderers FC.”
“At the 150 Gala Ball, on 23 November 2019, Wanderers’ President John Fitzpatrick presented the Wanderers’ 12 attending former
playing internationals, 3 former Irish coaches and 2 former international referees with a special silver medal.”
Back Row - David Burnett, Gordon Black (both international referees), Gary Halpin, Phillip Matthews, Ronan Kearney, Andy Slack
- Captain of the Australian ‘84 Grand Slam team, Paddy Kenny, Freddie McLennan, Mick Fitzpatrick, Kelvin Leahy, Gerry Murphy
(Ireland coach 1992-1995).
Front Row - Tommy Doyle, Joe Brady, Roly Meates (Ireland coach 1975-1977), Ronnie Dawson (Captain of Lions 1959, Irish player &
Ireland coach 1969-1972), Robbie McGrath.
Michael Gordon grew up around Lansdowne Road
and played on the pitches as a boy, telling us, “I played
rugby for Trinity before moving to London and back to
the West Coast of Ireland where I continued playing.
Both my brothers Robin and Aidan turned out for the
Wanderers too and my dad Bob was captain of the
1978 team who won the Leinster cup. Wanderers are
a great club who were always about driving standards
and providing players for Leinster and Ireland squads.
They are a very family orientated club with the likes of
Simon Hoffman and Liam McDermott who have been
a huge and positive influence on the club.”
We also caught up with Michael’s dad Bob who lives
in Cape Town South Africa, “I played my initial Rugby at
The Methodist College Belfast and, when I left, initially I
played for Collegians, which was the Methody old boys
club, now merged to become Belfast Harlequins. I then
moved to play for Ballymena, when I went to live in
Coleraine, and in 69/70 we won the Ulster Challenge
Cup with a team which included Irish internationals,
Willie McBride, Syd Millar, Ian McIlrath and Wallace
McMaster.
As I moved to work in Dublin, the following year I
joined Wanderers in the 70/71 season and Captained
the side when we won the Leinster Senior Challenge
Cup in 77/78. As mentioned, we had a good sprinkling
of internationals on this cup winning side, six in all,
(when I re-looked at it) – Tony Ensor -full back, Freddy
McLennan – wing, Joe Brady -centre, Ian Burns – Out
Half, Robby McGrath – Scrum Half and Mick Fitzpatrick
– Prop.
Over my playing career I have had the great fortune
of playing alongside the likes of Ian Burns, Mick
Fitzpatrick, Joe Brady and many others and living in
SA now I have good friend likes Freddie McLelland,
Roger Young and Brendan Deegan who live locally to
me also. Having worked in business and management
most of my life I have to say that my rugby experiences
have been a great help in understanding people
and managing each as an individual. I had the great
experience of playing no 8 for a few seasons after
semi retiring in 1978, with both sons Aidan and Robin
as flankers.
Wanderers and the many great friends I have
met there will always remain close to my heart and I
wish everyone at the club the very best of continued
enjoyment.”
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