Happy Holidays!

I hope the season finds all of you warm, happy and healthy. Please enjoy a portion of the Rowdies visiting the Dips at RFK Stadium, April, 1977. Note the Dips jerseys are little more than t-shirts. Just a reminder, I am also interested in buying Dips game worn jerseys. http://youtu.be/HNrfYEoqcPk

Tommy McConville

I received this from Dominic McKevitt, a close friend and neighbor of original Diplomat Tommy McConville.

I am sorry to have to inform you that Tommy has passed away on 10/25/2013 May he rest in peace.

Thank you for all your prayers from Dundalk, from Dublin, from Belfast, and from the rest of Ireland, from Rio de Janeiro n Sao Paulo Brazil, Mexico, USA, Canada, Manila, Philippines, Thailand, Madrid, Valencia Spain, From EX Washington Diplomats Players n fans, Shamrock Rovers, Waterford Utd, Finn Harps FC, Glasgow Celtic FC, Rangers FC Dundalk where it all began in football for Thomas McConville.

Today Tommy passed away peacefully in his beloved home town of Dundalk surrounded by his love family. 

 

Why is he a special friend to me? Well I have known him all my life because he was raised in the same street, Fr Murray Park, as me in Dundalk and he was always a pure gentleman in everything he encountered. His respect for people, all people, astounds me even to this day and he always included everyone especially in the highs that that were bestowed upon him and there were many of such occasions.

 

He is a footballer through and through and being the elder statesman in this ‘beautiful game’ and coming from a street that seemed to live only for football, sure we younger lads looked up to him and watched his every move. This close scrutiny would be strictly adhered to on and off the playing field where his playing moves would be practised and emulated by all of us younger aspiring footballers. But for me it went deeper as I tried even to walk like him, so talk about walking around in somebody else’s shoes, well, I done that and I am proud that I had the sense to copied such a great person!

Like I already said he respected everyone he encountered and even being an adult himself he would still address my mother as ‘Mrs McKevitt’ thus again this was emulated with the same courtesy being applied to everyone I encountered.

 

He is just an ordinary guy with an extra-ordinary talent, a footballing talent but he never permitted this to affect his true personality. He could be in the same room talking to Pele, Franz Beckenbauer, or Bobby Moore and if you walked in he would break off the conversation and say “Well, how’s it going buddy”!

This ordinary guy experienced the highs and lows in life as we all do but again they were never allowed to affect him especially with the lows and a lesser person would be bitter and understandably so. His greatest lesson to me was to believe in yourself and never give up on your dreams and he is a shining example of this.

Playing for his home town club Dundalk FC he was languishing in the reserves for what seemed like forever getting only an odd run out with the first team. But then a new manager came along and he was included full time and thus the start of his professional career. There was another time later on when his beloved team, the great Manchester United, wanted to secure his services to play for them but because of stupid greed in the transfer dealings the great club pulled out and he didn’t get to fulfil his boyhood dream. However, he did get to play for his country Republic of Ireland on seven occasions and against the 1978 world champions in the River Plate Stadium Argentina.

He also rubbed shoulders alongside the greats of Pele and Beckenbauer in the United States football league playing for 3 seasons with Washing Diplomats FC which was compensation at least. But like I said he never gave up on his dreams and always believed in himself even when the chips were down.

There is another trait that must be mentioned and that is I have never ever seen him display anger, lose his temper, or be in bad mood even in the greatest of unfortunate events.

There are many personal stories I could tell about this great man and one was went Dundalk FC were playing in the cup final and I was driving taxis at the time. Now I just happened to take Tommy home on the eve of the game and he asked me was I looking forward to the game and I said ah Tommy I couldn’t get a ticket which was like gold dust in town. He said ‘Ah you can’t miss this special game’ where he was on the management staff at the time and asked me to wait outside his house, He came out with two VIP tickets and gave them to me free gratis. Dundalk won the game and on the victory parade the next evening he spotted me in the crowd and pulled me up onto the bus to celebrate with him and his team into the wee hours of the morning.

Then, although in the autumn of his wonderful life, he still turned out to play in the beautiful game of football that he loves so much until he got ill last year, but he always guided, always encouraged all the players around him without fail.

Alas, he has now passed on to join his lovely wife his parents Brian n Joan, brothers, Eamonn, n Brian, and his best mate Jim ‘Cutta’ Smyth. He leaves behind his lovely daughters Paula, Leanne, Linda, Carol son Thomas, and by his brother Walter Peter McConville another legend in the music industry and founder of Bagatelle.

I would like to thank you all from all over this planet for your kindness in saying a little prayer for my true friend Tommy, one of the greatest legends my town Dundalk and country have ever known.

I am just after looking out of my kitchen window it is now 1 am and behold there is a deflated football sitting outside my gate as if it were a sign from Tommy that all is well n good in heaven where he awaits me and all his other mates to make up the team.

Dominic McKevitt

 

 

Thomas McConville

 

The lights have dimmed

The crowd’s gone silent

The fat lady is standing

The ref looks at his lines

He put his whistle to his mouth

 

I dreaded this time this day

When the mighty step back

And all that remains is legend

Leaving a legacy of great hope

For us lesser beings

 

For you my friend the mighty

Who placed me on your shoulders

So that I could see what you saw

To let me feel what you felt

In your gracious kind and sharing

 

I am a better man for you

Who gave me hope when

There seemed to be none

But nothing faded

The dream is still alive

 

Oh how I will miss you

And your earthly sayings

That made me smile

“We’re not here for a long time”

“We’re here for a good one”

 

But now I celebrate your life

More significant than others

That lived the dream and

Made it a reality so

Those others can follow

 

The lights are now dimmed

The crowd is hushed

The fat lady still stands

Waiting for the ref

Alas that time has come

 

Dominic McKevitt 

Thoughts & Prayers for Original Diplomat, Dundalk legend, Tommy McConville

Tommy McConville, an early member of the Dips and of Dundalk FC, is very ill in the hospital. Tommy is a Dundalk legend, having chalked up an incredible 580 appearances for The Lilywhites. He was also capped six times for the Republic of Ireland. Tommy made his debut for Dundalk in 1964, and played in 57 matches for the Dips during their first three years in the NASL, serving as team captain during the 1976 season, the first in which the Dips made the playoffs.

His legendary status was evident on the occasion of his 65th birthday, when throngs of family, fans and friends celebrated with him. http://www.independent.ie/regionals/argus/news/soccer-legend-tommy-still-knows-how-to-party-at-65-26952064.html

We pray the Good Lord will bless and keep Tommy in this hour, and make His loving, compassionate presence felt.

In action, 1976. 

Setting Records

The lads celebrate putting one in the back of the net in April.
 

 

The 1978 Dips raced to a 5-0 record, outscoring opponents 11-2 along the way. Bare in mind the 1977 Dips only scored 31 goals all season. Even while playing a man short, as they did in Tulsa on April 27, the new grit Dips found a way to win.

Starting Off Strong

The 1978 Dips opened in Veterans Stadium against the Fury. Gordon Bradley's debut would not disappoint those who worried about a carry over from the lamentable '77 campaign.

Bill Irwin reckless in the box.

Down for the count...

...momentarily.

Photo Courtesy  www.nasljerseys.com

Photo Courtesy  www.nasljerseys.com

Congratulations, Roy Willner

The 1978 Campaign

It boggles my mind to think about it, but this summer marks the 35th anniversary of Gordon Bradley's first year as the Dips head coach, which was promoted as "The New Deal" to the fan base. A sense of excitement was palpable as new faces and a fresh attitude surrounded the new coach with the deep, deliberate British accent. Over the next few months we will revisit that summer.

One of three team pictures of the 78 Diplomats. The second came in a poster from the team, and a third appeared in a fan publication.

Goldfinger

Eric Martin was a fixture in goal for the Dips until he broke his leg in an indoor game early in 1978. As noted in the 1977 media guide, his nickname was "Goldfinger," although he declined to say how he obtained it or what meaning it had. As many athletes do, Martin made the transition to coach after his unfortunate injury.

Photo from nasljerseys.com

 

 

The Diplomats: UN in Shorts

John Schulz of the Washington Star wrote an interesting piece about the 1980 Dips that rates as one of my favorites.