Читать книгу The Boys of '93 - Eamonn Coleman - Страница 9

NOTE TO THE READER

In early 2002, I got a call from Eamonn who asked, ‘Have you ever thought about writing a book?’

‘Just your autobiography,’ I replied.

‘Good. Meet me tomorrow night at the Carrickdale.’

Which I did along with Liam Hayes, the former Meath player and journalist. Eamonn was planning on retiring – again – and Liam was to publish his autobiography.

I agreed to write the book if Eamonn would agree to talk openly – having interviewed him as a sports journalist myself, I knew how cagey he could be.

He – unconvincingly – agreed and for the next few months we met, me having drawn up questions and him doing his best not to answer them: Derry and football were no bother, personal insights were a different matter.

The retirement was short-lived – again – and he called a halt in early summer, saying we’d return to the project when he eventually gave up the game.

It was to be his cancer diagnosis in 2005 which brought us back to the idea, Eamonn suggesting we start again with ‘just the two of us this time’.

I contacted several publishers and interest in the book was strong, unfortunately Eamonn wasn’t and we got little else done.

It was a long time after his death before I could return to the tapes and longer still again before I knew what to do with them. He hadn’t finished his story and I wasn’t prepared to fill in the gaps.

Now, eleven years after his loss, and twenty-five since his greatest triumph, the autobiography we began has become a sports memoir of his All-Ireland glory.

The autobiographical elements remain, as does his incredible vernacular, the language of the lough shore which helped make his utterances so unforgettable. It would take a braver person than me to edit, ‘Youse boys knows nathin’ about futball’, and when his speech conveyed so much, why would you even want to try? So, I’ve tried to stay true to his voice, just as I’ve stayed true to what he wanted to say, which is, basically, ‘Derry and the ‘Quigan rule’ and ‘the players is the men.’ Doire abu.