Wanderers
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Dublin’s Oldest Independent Family-run Hotel
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www.sandymounthotel.ie
John Loughran was born in Dublin 100 yards from Lansdowne
Road now the Aviva Stadium and has enjoyed a long and positive
association with the city and Wanderers FC. John is also the
owner of the excellent Sandymount Hotel and has been a valued
club sponsor for over fifteen years. He recently told Rugby Club
Magazine, “In 1974 I was in my late teens on a trip with friends to
Achill Island off the West coast of Mayo when I got chatting with
Michael McLaughlin in the early hours of the morning whilst enjoying
a drink at the Valley House Hotel. Michael invited me along to play
for the Wanderers which I duly accepted and continued playing,
mainly number 10, up until the age of 33. Due to work commitments
and the risk of further injury I decided to hang my boots up after I
ended in hospital after a nasty stomach collision from both knees
of my opponent during a match. I remember my eyes were glued to
a high ball when the clash happened, resulting in the experience of
feeling my spleen being pushed out of my back!
I also played a season at Wanderers with my brother Paul, three
years my junior, who was an excellent number 10 and chosen for the Ireland Schools team of 1976. Our family business The Sandymount
Hotel overlooks The Aviva Stadium with our magnificent bronze
Line Out sculpture. We have always enjoyed a great association
with the Wanderers as well as the many well-known reporters and
match officials who reside with us on international match days. We
also enjoy looking after many IRFU guests, including the Ireland
U20s squad who use us as their training base hotel!
I have to say the club’s 150th anniversary ball has to go down as
one of the proudest in the club’s history, what a magnificent effort
the organising committee contributed!
Myself and my wife Audrey, our children Lorraine, Gerard,
Oisin and Sinead plus all the staff at the Sandymount would like to
congratulate everyone at Wanderers FC on being chosen as `Irish
Club of the Season 19/20’ while recognising everyone associated
with the club on their historic 150th anniversary, may this great and
historic Dublin rugby club continue for at least another 150 years!”
Simon Fay played on the wing for Wanderers FC and was part
of one of the finest teams ever to pull on the famous jersey for
the U19s in 1991. He is originally from County Meath and went to
school at CUS in Dublin.
He told us, “I started playing my rugby around age 12 and
as I progressed had some great years in the late 80s and early
nineties with Catholic University School. Around that time Michael
McLoughlin invited me onto the U19s team at Wanderers which
was a real honour especially when I heard the names of some of
the players on the team sheet being read out. I had played against
these lads before and was aware of their quality. The experience of
walking into Wanderers was one of awe as I recognised the wealth
of history the club had and now I had a chance to be part of that.
“The experience was indescribable and with every one of the 25
players having an opportunity to be selected motivation was high.
However, it didn’t seem to matter if you were picked for the team
or not such was the attitude and unity. There was a tremendous
level of respect, bond and camaraderie amongst us all and as
I pulled on the Wanderers jersey it was apparent I was involved
in something quite special. During mid-season I strapped up two
fingers I had broken just to make training as I didn’t want to let the
team or myself down. Over the following months quick ball from our
forwards allowed us to run in many tries culminating in winning the
league and the McCorry Cup.
“My rugby career continued at University and later I spent time
playing in Brisbane, Australia with the great Ireland and Leinster prop forward Emmett Byrne. I also had the privilege of spending
time with Pat Howard and his parents in fact on one occasion Pat
was playing third team rugby one minute and was called up for the
Barbarians the next.
“Pat’s grandfather - was, Cyril Towers - the father of the running
game and someone who vehemently stood his ground. His mother,
Marguerite, coached numerous Brisbane clubs. My memories of
Marguerite are still quite vivid as she would forcefully verbalise
tactics to myself and my teammates across the dining table whilst
shifting salt and pepper shakers. His father, Jake, a Wallabies
Test prop, spent many years in the coaching ranks, working with
numerous Australian teams.
“Powers Irish Whiskey, part of the Irish Distillers Group, have
sponsored Wanderers for over twenty-five years and I remember
the Powers logo as I first pulled on a Wanderers shirt. IDL (Irish
Distillers Ltd) have always had a great association with the club
with many directors involved over the years including Richard
Burrows.
“My hope is that in ten to twenty years Wanderers FC will be at
the forefront of influence amongst rugby clubs, certainly in Ireland,
but hopefully further afield that can champion the great values and
message rugby offers the world. I don’t feel that a better club with
such a great history and experience can be found to lead such a
mission!”
58 Issue 89