Eamonn Deacy

Eamonn "Chick"[2] Deacy (1 October 1958 – 13 February 2012) was a professional footballer from Galway, Ireland.

Eamonn Deacy
Personal information
Full name Eamonn Stephen Deacy
Date of birth (1958-10-01)1 October 1958
Place of birth Galway, Ireland
Date of death 13 February 2012(2012-02-13) (aged 53)
Place of death Galway, Ireland
Height 5 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1.74 m)[1]
Position(s) Left back
Youth career
West United
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1975–1976 Sligo Rovers 10 (0)
1976 Galway Rovers 0 (0)
1976–1977 Limerick 17 (0)
1977–1978 Galway Rovers 28 (1)
1978–1984 Aston Villa 33 (1)
1983–1984 → Derby County (loan) 5 (0)
1984–1991 Galway United ? (4)
International career
1982 Republic of Ireland 4 (0)
1984 League of Ireland XI 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

After a trial at Clyde Deacy made an impressive League of Ireland debut for Sligo Rovers away to Shelbourne at Harold's Cross Stadium on 14 December 1975.[3]

His only win in Sligo's colours came at Glenmalure Park on 4 January 1976. The next month he faced Geoff Hurst at Turners Cross.

His debut game for his home town club was in the FAI League Cup on 5 September 1976.[4] In his third League Cup game against Sligo Rovers, he was sent off.

Deacy made his debut for Limerick on 28 November 1976 at Flower Lodge. At the end of the season, he was on the losing side in the FAI Cup final. However, in his last game for the Shannonsiders he won the Munster Senior Cup.

Deacy scored Galway Rovers first goal in the League of Ireland on 2 October 1977.

The 21-year-old full back left Galway Rovers for Aston Villa in February 1979, after writing 12 letters to the club requesting a trial. He went on to have an unforgettable five years at the club, during which time they won the League Championship, European Cup and European Super Cup.

He was one of only 14 players used by Ron Saunders in the 1980–81 league-winning season, making enough appearances (11 in all, including six starts) to win a medal (he was Villa's number 12 on 19 occasions that season).[5] He made one appearance for Villa in European competition when the defending European champions played against Juventus in the 1982–83 European Cup.[6] He had a brief loan spell at Derby, where he played five games, before rejecting an offer of a new two-year deal from Villa to return home to Galway.

Deacy's first game back in the Maroon was in a League of Ireland Cup tie against Finn Harps on 2 September 1984.

His last League of Ireland game was also in Harold's Cross on St Patrick's Day 1991 away to St Patrick's Athletic.

He won 4 caps for the Republic of Ireland national football team.[7][8] He also played for the Republic of Ireland national football team amateur team that qualified for the 1978 UEFA Amateur Cup.

He died following a heart attack on 13 February 2012.[9] Terryland Park was renamed Eamonn Deacy Park in honour of Chick[10] A testimonial was held on 18 August at Eamonn Deacy Park.[11]

Honours
Galway United
Limerick
Aston Villa

References
  1. Rollin, Jack, ed. (1980). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1980–81. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 54. ISBN 0362020175.
  2. "Funeral takes place of Chick Deacy". RTÉ Sport. RTÉ. 17 February 2012. Archived from the original on 19 February 2012. Retrieved 17 February 2012.
  3. The Irish Times. Dublin. 15 December 1975. ISSN 0791-5144 http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1975/1215/Pg003.html#Ar00305:2AFA602D5A75302ACD327AE22F6BDB31BBF14B6AC94DCADE3E0B29406B3F4FCACC524ADF2DEA60313A75330ACD364AE2531ACC567ADF58CB095B5B1C. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. The Irish Times. Dublin. 6 September 1976. ISSN 0791-5144 http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1976/0906/Pg004.html#Ar00411. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  5. Adams, Tim (5 March 2006). "Aston Villa, 1981". The Observer. The Guardian. London. Retrieved 11 March 2009.
  6. "Aston Villa-Juventus | UEFA Champions League 1982/83".
  7. "Eamonn Deacy". Soccerscene.ie. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
  8. "Statistics: Republic of Ireland [Powered by tplSoccerStats]".
  9. "Villa deeply saddened by death of former player Deacy". Aston Villa Website. Archived from the original on 23 April 2012.
  10. "August date likely for renaming of Terryland as Deacy Park". Galwaynews.ie. Archived from the original on 17 February 2013.
  11. Siggins, Lorna. "Galway pays tribute to former Villan". The Irish Times. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
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