Austin Hayes
Encyclopedia
Austin William Patrick Hayes (15 July 1958 – 3 December 1986) was an English
-born footballer of Irish
descent, who played once as a full international for the Republic of Ireland in 1979, the same year that he collected a Football League Cup
runners-up medal with Southampton.
, London
but began his club career as a left-winger at Southampton
in 1976. He scored twice on his debut in a European Cup Winners' Cup
tie at home to Carrick Rangers
on 3 November 1976. Hayes played in the 1979 League Cup
final but Southampton lost to Nottingham Forest
. During that season he had played in 15 First Division
games and scored three goals. He made his solitary appearance for Republic of Ireland
in a 2–0 victory over Denmark
at Lansdowne Road
on 2 May 1979.
Hayes was never able to cement a regular first-team place, with players of the calibre of Kevin Keegan
, Charlie George
and Phil Boyer
also in the Saints squad. His last appearance for Southampton came on 3 May 1980 and he was transferred to Millwall
for £50,000 in February 1981, later turning out for Northampton Town
.
In December 1986, Austin Hayes died at the age of 28 from lung cancer
, just three weeks after the illness was diagnosed. Earlier that year he had spent a short time playing in Sweden and had recently returned to England when he became ill.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
-born footballer of Irish
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,...
descent, who played once as a full international for the Republic of Ireland in 1979, the same year that he collected a Football League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
runners-up medal with Southampton.
Football career
Hayes was born in HammersmithHammersmith
Hammersmith is an urban centre in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in west London, England, in the United Kingdom, approximately five miles west of Charing Cross on the north bank of the River Thames...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
but began his club career as a left-winger at Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
in 1976. He scored twice on his debut in a European Cup Winners' Cup
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
The UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was a football club competition contested annually by the most recent winners of all European domestic cup competitions. The cup is one of the many inter-European club competitions that have been organised by UEFA. The first competition was held in the 1960–61 season—but...
tie at home to Carrick Rangers
Carrick Rangers
Carrick Rangers is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club playing in the IFA Premiership. The club, founded in 1939, hails from Carrickfergus County Antrim and plays its home matches at Taylors Avenue. Club colours are amber and black...
on 3 November 1976. Hayes played in the 1979 League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
final but Southampton lost to Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
. During that season he had played in 15 First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
games and scored three goals. He made his solitary appearance for Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
in a 2–0 victory over Denmark
Denmark national football team
The Denmark national football team represents Denmark in association football and is controlled by the Danish Football Association , the governing body for the football clubs which are organized under DBU...
at Lansdowne Road
Lansdowne Road
Lansdowne Road was a stadium in Dublin owned by the Irish Rugby Football Union that has been the location of a number of sports stadiums. It was used primarily for rugby union and for association football matches as well as some music concerts...
on 2 May 1979.
Hayes was never able to cement a regular first-team place, with players of the calibre of Kevin Keegan
Kevin Keegan
Joseph Kevin Keegan, OBE is a former international footballer and former manager of the England national football team and several English clubs, most notably Newcastle United....
, Charlie George
Charlie George
Charles Frederick "Charlie" George is an English former footballer. He played as a forward in the Football League and he was also capped by England.-Arsenal:...
and Phil Boyer
Phil Boyer
Philip John "Phil" Boyer is an English former footballer who played for various clubs during his career, including Southampton, Norwich City, Bournemouth and Manchester City. He has the rare distinction of having played over 100 league games for four different clubs...
also in the Saints squad. His last appearance for Southampton came on 3 May 1980 and he was transferred to Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
for £50,000 in February 1981, later turning out for Northampton Town
Northampton Town F.C.
Northampton Town Football Club are an English professional football club based in Northampton, Northamptonshire. They currently play in Football League Two, the lowest league division, after being relegated from League One on the last day of the 2008–09 season...
.
In December 1986, Austin Hayes died at the age of 28 from lung cancer
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
, just three weeks after the illness was diagnosed. Earlier that year he had spent a short time playing in Sweden and had recently returned to England when he became ill.