As Galway United battled to save their place in the Premier Division in a home match with Shamrock Rovers I heard a cry from the crowd. "Come on ‘Chick' Deacy!" If only.... many of us thought! Chick was the kind of player you would pencil in first on the team-sheet, not just at a time like this, but on every occasion. Galway's most popular player, both with Rovers and United, Chick Deacy lived the dream. His sole ambition as a kid was to be a professional footballer and when he wasn't kicking a ball, and opponents around (only joking Chick!), he was writing to clubs across the water for trials. Before Galway Rovers entered the League of Ireland he played with Sligo Rovers and Limerick and went to Clyde on trial, but when Galway Rovers kicked off the League Cup campaign in 1976 nothing would stop him from lining out in maroon and white! The following season Galway Rovers entered the League of Ireland and the midfield dynamo fittingly scored the team's first goal in the League against Thurles Town. After a trial at Aston Villa Chick was signed by Ron Saunders in 1979 and made his full debut against Leeds United. As I reminded him that he gave away a penalty he chuckled. "Yeah that Welsh lad Carl Harris was very fast and I took him down in the area." There was fierce competition for places at Villa and Chick contested the left back spot with Colin Gibson and Gary Williams who subsequently lined out for Manchester United and Leeds respectively. Amazingly when Aston Villa won the First Division Title (now the premiership) in 1980-81 they only used 14 players over the course of 42 league matches. Deacy's versatility at full-back or midfield made him a vital component of the Villa squad. The following season Aston Villa won the European Cup (now the champion's league) but despite featuring in the earlier rounds Deacy missed the final choosing to play for Ireland on a trip to South America.

"I played four times for Ireland. In 1981 I played against Algeria and on the 1982 South American Tour we played Brazil, Chile and Trinidad&Tobago." I recalled that Liam Brady had said that Chick was man of the match against Brazil, despite the 7-0 drubbing. "Well Mike that was the team that played such great football in the 1982 World Cup Finals in Spain featuring Socrates, Falcao, Zico, Eder and Junior and they could play a bit!" Always a master of the understatement! The Irish team at that time had some fine players as well including Brady, Mick Martin, Michael Robinson, Gerry Daly and Gerry Ryan. Chick certainly mixed with the best playing against a Juventus team in the European Cup featuring Platini, Gentile and Tardelli (I wonder whatever happened to him?). "In fact that Juventus team featured 7 of the Italian World Cup Winning team of 1982 with players of the calibre of Rossi, Altobeli and Zoff as well as Boniek of Poland." "I actually have all 4 caps that I won for Ireland as Joe Hanley was friendly with Louis Kilcoyne in the FAI and he made sure I got them." That is quite an achievement because most Irish players were only ever physically given the odd cap here and there as opposed to Bobby Moore of England, who actually had all 108 of his!  Deacy left Villa in 1984 going on loan to Derby County before re-joining Galway United under John Herrick.

However I get the feeling that despite all his foot balling accomplishments that his greatest satisfaction was being part of the Galway Rovers team that entered the League of Ireland and returning to further establish the team in the League after his success in England. Chick played for Galway United until 1991 and even had a spell as assistant -manager alongside Tommy Lally.  He still talks fondly of all the players he played alongside as Galway Rovers cut their teeth in the League. The memories come flooding back when he recalls the likes of Miko Nolan, Jimmy Duffy, Gerry Daly, Kevin Cassidy and far too many more to mention. Chick was always mad into sport and if it hadn't been soccer then he would have been equally competitive in Gaelic or Rugby. The last time I spoke with him he was still turning out as sweeper for West United and I'll bet he is still as competitive as ever!

- Mike Geraghty        http://www.mgwords.com/