Noel Larkin
Encyclopedia
Noel Larkin is a former Irish
footballer who played for Athlone Town, Shamrock Rovers and Derry City
.
Noel made his debut in 1971 at Tolka Park against Shelbourne as a left back. His versatility was a major plus for his hometown club as in his thirteen years at St Mel's Park he played in every outfield position.
Noel won the League of Ireland
twice and the League of Ireland Cup three times. He also represented the club in the European Cup
and memorably in the UEFA Cup
against AC Milan
in 1975. Noel describes his experience of playing at the famed San Siro:
"It was some experience," said Noel, who was only 19 at the time. "The San Siro was full and it was very frightening. We walked out on the pitch before the game and loads of flares started shooting down from the stands. We had never come across this type of fanaticism before. It was a bit scary. We had also received lots of bad press from the Italian media because they felt we kicked their players too hard in Athlone. So there was quite a bit of bad feeling toward us. The fact our jerseys were the same colour as Inter Milan, their biggest rivals, seemed to annoy them even more!
"We played exceptionally well though and held them scoreless for most of the game. I think we conceded three in the last 20 minutes or so. We just caved in a bit. I played in the middle of midfield that night and marked Gianni Rivera, he was Italy's World Cup captain and was making his Milan return that night. That's why there was so many people in the stadium. He is a Milan legend. He came up to me after the game and told me I played well. That was nice and I'll never forget it."
He finished the 1982/83 season as top goalscorer with 18 league goals which won him the Personality of the Year award http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/iertops.html.
Noel joined Rovers in November 1984 having decided to retire a few weeks before only for a phone call from Jim McLaughlin (football manager) which changed his mind. He made his debut on the 18th of November in a 2-0 win over Home Farm. Two weeks later he scored on his home debut at Milltown
in a 4-0 hammering of St. Pats. He went on to score 11 goals (8 league and 3 FAI Cup) that season as Rovers won the double. The best remembered was his winning goal in the Cup Final win against Galway United
.
In the 1985/86 season he scored 13 goals in all competitions as Rovers again won the double with Noel scoring a memorable header in Rovers 1-0 win over Arsenal. In the 1986/87 season Noel scored a total of seventeen goals in all competitions as Rovers completed a treble double. He also scored for the League of Ireland in a 2-1 defeat to the Irish League on St Patrick's Day. The following night Rovers played Manchester United and Noel played and scored with a diving header as Rovers notched up their second victory over their glamorous opponents in the same season http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1987/0319/Pg003.html.
He also represented the 1988 Summer Olympics
side 6 times when scoring in a 2-2 draw with Spain and in a 1-1 draw in France. Again Noel scored in the Cup Final with a great 20 yard drive. Despite interest from Monaco
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1987/0414/Pg003.html#Ar00306:4EB56D53B5975345E55565F74F161E4FB6314FB61F5146314F06A95126BB5C95975FC5AC60B61861562B61561962E62B5075E55245F7 Noel stayed with Rovers.
The following season was a disaster for the club as Glenmalure Park
was put up for sale and the owners moved home games to Tolka Park. As Rovers fans boycotted "home" games Noel's form seemed to suffer as he scored just 11 goals in all competitions. However these included a hat trick of headers against Bohemians at Dalymount Park. His last game in the green and white was on the 8th of April 1988 at a near empty Tolka.
In total he played in 6 European games for the Hoops. Scored 34 League goals and 12 in the FAI Cup.
He then joined Derry City where he scored twice on his debut and in his one season there he won the domestic treble. Fittingly in his last game in the League of Ireland he won another Cup medal to bring his total career haul to 6 Leagues, 4 FAI Cups and 4 League Cups as well as other minor medals such as Presidents Cup and Leinster Senior Cup medals.
Noel then emigrated to Australia and played for Speanvood Dalmatina and Stirling Macedonia, winning another League and Cup double before retiring at 38 then coaching until 1998. He currently resides in Brisbane.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
footballer who played for Athlone Town, Shamrock Rovers and Derry City
Derry City F.C.
Derry City Football Club is a professional football club based in Derry, Northern Ireland. It plays in the League of Ireland Premier Division...
.
Noel made his debut in 1971 at Tolka Park against Shelbourne as a left back. His versatility was a major plus for his hometown club as in his thirteen years at St Mel's Park he played in every outfield position.
Noel won the League of Ireland
League of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
twice and the League of Ireland Cup three times. He also represented the club in the European Cup
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
and memorably in the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
against AC Milan
A.C. Milan
Associazione Calcio Milan, commonly referred to as A.C. Milan or simply Milan , is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy, that plays in the Serie A. Milan was founded in 1899 by English lace-maker Herbert Kilpin and businessman Alfred Edwards among others...
in 1975. Noel describes his experience of playing at the famed San Siro:
"It was some experience," said Noel, who was only 19 at the time. "The San Siro was full and it was very frightening. We walked out on the pitch before the game and loads of flares started shooting down from the stands. We had never come across this type of fanaticism before. It was a bit scary. We had also received lots of bad press from the Italian media because they felt we kicked their players too hard in Athlone. So there was quite a bit of bad feeling toward us. The fact our jerseys were the same colour as Inter Milan, their biggest rivals, seemed to annoy them even more!
"We played exceptionally well though and held them scoreless for most of the game. I think we conceded three in the last 20 minutes or so. We just caved in a bit. I played in the middle of midfield that night and marked Gianni Rivera, he was Italy's World Cup captain and was making his Milan return that night. That's why there was so many people in the stadium. He is a Milan legend. He came up to me after the game and told me I played well. That was nice and I'll never forget it."
He finished the 1982/83 season as top goalscorer with 18 league goals which won him the Personality of the Year award http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/iertops.html.
Noel joined Rovers in November 1984 having decided to retire a few weeks before only for a phone call from Jim McLaughlin (football manager) which changed his mind. He made his debut on the 18th of November in a 2-0 win over Home Farm. Two weeks later he scored on his home debut at Milltown
Glenmalure Park
Glenmalure Park, often simply known as "Milltown", was a football stadium on the Southside of Dublin city in Ireland. Located in the suburb of Milltown, it was home to Shamrock Rovers from 1926 to 1987, when it was sold to property developers by the club's directors...
in a 4-0 hammering of St. Pats. He went on to score 11 goals (8 league and 3 FAI Cup) that season as Rovers won the double. The best remembered was his winning goal in the Cup Final win against Galway United
Galway United
Galway United F.C. was founded as Galway Rovers in 1937. They are a football club currently playing in the League of Ireland Premier Division, the top tier of the Irish football....
.
In the 1985/86 season he scored 13 goals in all competitions as Rovers again won the double with Noel scoring a memorable header in Rovers 1-0 win over Arsenal. In the 1986/87 season Noel scored a total of seventeen goals in all competitions as Rovers completed a treble double. He also scored for the League of Ireland in a 2-1 defeat to the Irish League on St Patrick's Day. The following night Rovers played Manchester United and Noel played and scored with a diving header as Rovers notched up their second victory over their glamorous opponents in the same season http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1987/0319/Pg003.html.
He also represented the 1988 Summer Olympics
1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
side 6 times when scoring in a 2-2 draw with Spain and in a 1-1 draw in France. Again Noel scored in the Cup Final with a great 20 yard drive. Despite interest from Monaco
Monaco
Monaco , officially the Principality of Monaco , is a sovereign city state on the French Riviera. It is bordered on three sides by its neighbour, France, and its centre is about from Italy. Its area is with a population of 35,986 as of 2011 and is the most densely populated country in the...
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1987/0414/Pg003.html#Ar00306:4EB56D53B5975345E55565F74F161E4FB6314FB61F5146314F06A95126BB5C95975FC5AC60B61861562B61561962E62B5075E55245F7 Noel stayed with Rovers.
The following season was a disaster for the club as Glenmalure Park
Glenmalure Park
Glenmalure Park, often simply known as "Milltown", was a football stadium on the Southside of Dublin city in Ireland. Located in the suburb of Milltown, it was home to Shamrock Rovers from 1926 to 1987, when it was sold to property developers by the club's directors...
was put up for sale and the owners moved home games to Tolka Park. As Rovers fans boycotted "home" games Noel's form seemed to suffer as he scored just 11 goals in all competitions. However these included a hat trick of headers against Bohemians at Dalymount Park. His last game in the green and white was on the 8th of April 1988 at a near empty Tolka.
In total he played in 6 European games for the Hoops. Scored 34 League goals and 12 in the FAI Cup.
He then joined Derry City where he scored twice on his debut and in his one season there he won the domestic treble. Fittingly in his last game in the League of Ireland he won another Cup medal to bring his total career haul to 6 Leagues, 4 FAI Cups and 4 League Cups as well as other minor medals such as Presidents Cup and Leinster Senior Cup medals.
Noel then emigrated to Australia and played for Speanvood Dalmatina and Stirling Macedonia, winning another League and Cup double before retiring at 38 then coaching until 1998. He currently resides in Brisbane.
Honours
- League of IrelandLeague of IrelandThe League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
: 6- Athlone Town F.C. 1980/81, 1982/83
- Shamrock Rovers 1984/85, 1985/86, 1986/87
- Derry City F.C.Derry City F.C.Derry City Football Club is a professional football club based in Derry, Northern Ireland. It plays in the League of Ireland Premier Division...
1988/89
- FAI CupFAI CupThe Football Association of Ireland Challenge Cup, known as the FAI Ford Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland...
: 4- Shamrock Rovers 1985, 1986, 1987
- Derry City F.C.Derry City F.C.Derry City Football Club is a professional football club based in Derry, Northern Ireland. It plays in the League of Ireland Premier Division...
1988/89
- League of Ireland Cup: 4
- Athlone Town F.C. 1979/80, 1981/82, 1982/83
- Derry City F.C.Derry City F.C.Derry City Football Club is a professional football club based in Derry, Northern Ireland. It plays in the League of Ireland Premier Division...
1988/89
Sources
- The Hoops by Paul Doolan and Robert Goggins (ISBN 0-7171-2121-6)