Tuesday Blue

This week’s Tuesday Blue is Under-20s coach and former club captain Eddie Nolan. Despite a fantastic playing career for club and country, he normally shuns the spotlight……but tough luck! Tuesday is Blues Day and he’s one of the key drivers of our academy system.

Eddie, who turns 38 on Wednesday, took charge of a mixed team of first teamers and academy players for yesterday’s friendly match against CK United and is quietly building a reputation as a very promising coach. He’s one of a number of Blues legends working in the academy at present and it’s great to see young players benefiting from the experience of Vinny Sullivan, Stevie Hall, Daryl and Brian Murphy, and Eddie himself, along with all the other coaches there.

The Under-20s are having a terrific summer have surged to a commanding lead in their league (Tier Two South) with four wins and a draw from their five games to date while also taking the scalp of Tottenham Hotspur’s academy with a 3-2 win in last week’s friendly at Fota Island Resort. Captain Noah O’Brien and goalkeeper Igor Bacela have both signed their first professional contracts in recent weeks which is testament to their progress this year. Those are just two of numerous prospects coming through and learning under the mentorship of Nolan and the rest of the coaching staff.

Respect is earned and Eddie gets it in spades from his players. He has vast experience after a long career in England with Blackburn Rovers, Preston North End, Scunthorpe United, York City, Blackpool and Crewe Alexandra. There were three full international caps as well as over thirty underage appearances for Ireland. His teammates under Giovanni Trapattoni included Shay Given, Richard Dunne, John O’Shea, Damien Duff and Robbie Keane. He knows football.

But there’s a humility to Eddie that players admire too. He puts in the hard graft in preparation and on the training ground and is dedicated to getting the best out of a very talented group of players. He gave two great years to the club as a player, playing more than fifty times, on his return to Ireland and he’s still giving back to Waterford now as a coach. One of many helping to develop the next generation of local stars, but one we’re lucky to have.