Tony Folan
Encyclopedia
Anthony "Tony" Folan was an Irish footballer during the 1990s and 2000s. He represented
Republic of Ireland
at every level up to Under 21's
and "B".
Growing up in Salthill, Tony was a classmate of Colin Hawkins
at St. Joseph's Patrician College. At the age of 14, he signed schoolboy terms at Crystal Palace
. He made steady progress at the club, appearing in a FA Youth Cup
final against Leeds United in 1996/97. Soon after this, he made his first team debut in a 1-1 draw against Sheffield Wednesday at Selhurst Park
. He continued his progress and appeared that summer in the Intertoto Cup against Samsunspor
. Unfortunately for Tony, he injured his groin and had to have an operation which kept him out for 6 weeks.
Terry Venables
offered him a new contract but the terms were not great so Tony turned it down. It was downhill from then on at the club and he soon moved to Brentford
where he picked up a Third Division winners medal after beating Cambridge United
on the last day of the 1998/1999 season. The next season was a disaster for Folan as he broke his foot and missed 6 months. Tony struggled to regain his place in the team. Rumours abounded that his hot-headed attitude and quick temper kept him from the team and in October 2001, he returned to Ireland and signed for Pete Mahon
's Bohemians.
He made his debut for Bohemians in a big televised Dublin derby against Shamrock Rovers but he ended up on the losing side as Rovers won 1-0. Within weeks, Mahon was sacked and Folan never really fitted in at Bohs.
He joined hometown club Galway United from Bohs
in 2002 and is currently playing non-league football in Galway.
He also currently has two daughters, which for one he hasn't seen for 12 years, which is a shame because she is an actual babe. She doesn't miss him because she found her father figure, who is also a legend. At least we love her.
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....
at every level up to Under 21's
Republic of Ireland national under-21 football team
The Republic of Ireland national under-21 football team, is the national under-21 football team of the Republic of Ireland and is controlled by the Football Association of Ireland and competes in the biennial European Under-21 Football Championship and has competed since 1978.-Competition...
and "B".
Growing up in Salthill, Tony was a classmate of Colin Hawkins
Colin Hawkins
Colin Hawkins , is an Irish professional footballer. Hawkins is a central defender with Dundalk, and has represented the Republic of Ireland at youth and U21 levels.-Coventry City:...
at St. Joseph's Patrician College. At the age of 14, he signed schoolboy terms at Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
. He made steady progress at the club, appearing in a FA Youth Cup
FA Youth Cup
The Football Association Youth Challenge Cup is an English football competition run by The Football Association for under–18 sides. Only those players between the age of 15 and 18 on 31 August of the current season are eligible to take part...
final against Leeds United in 1996/97. Soon after this, he made his first team debut in a 1-1 draw against Sheffield Wednesday at Selhurst Park
Selhurst Park
Selhurst Park is an English football stadium located in the London suburb of South Norwood in the Borough of Croydon. It is the current home ground of Crystal Palace Football Club. Its present capacity is 26,309.-History:...
. He continued his progress and appeared that summer in the Intertoto Cup against Samsunspor
Samsunspor
Samsunspor is a professional Turkish football club located in the city of Samsun. The club was formed through a merger of five clubs: 19 Mayıs, Akınspor, Fener Gençlik, Samsunspor, and Samsunspor Galatasaray. The club colours are red and white, and they play their home matches at Samsun 19 Mayıs...
. Unfortunately for Tony, he injured his groin and had to have an operation which kept him out for 6 weeks.
Terry Venables
Terry Venables
Terence Frederick "Terry" Venables , often referred to as "El Tel", is a former football player and manager, as well as being a media pundit. During the 1960s and 70s, he played for various clubs including Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Queens Park Rangers, and gained two caps for England...
offered him a new contract but the terms were not great so Tony turned it down. It was downhill from then on at the club and he soon moved to Brentford
Brentford F.C.
Brentford Football Club are a professional English football club based in Brentford in the London Borough of Hounslow. They are currently playing in Football League One....
where he picked up a Third Division winners medal after beating Cambridge United
Cambridge United F.C.
Cambridge United Football Club is a professional football club from Cambridge, England. They are currently playing the 2011-2012 season in the Conference National, the fifth tier of the English league system, where they have competed since 2005 following their relegation from the Football League...
on the last day of the 1998/1999 season. The next season was a disaster for Folan as he broke his foot and missed 6 months. Tony struggled to regain his place in the team. Rumours abounded that his hot-headed attitude and quick temper kept him from the team and in October 2001, he returned to Ireland and signed for Pete Mahon
Pete Mahon
Pete Mahon , is an Irish football manager who is currently the manager of St. Patrick's Athletic .His son, Alan Mahon , played all his career for UCD....
's Bohemians.
He made his debut for Bohemians in a big televised Dublin derby against Shamrock Rovers but he ended up on the losing side as Rovers won 1-0. Within weeks, Mahon was sacked and Folan never really fitted in at Bohs.
He joined hometown club Galway United from Bohs
Bohemian F.C.
Bohemian F.C. , more commonly referred to as Bohemians, is a professional football club from Dublin, Ireland. Bohemians compete in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland and are the third most successful club in League of Ireland football history, having won the League of Ireland title 11...
in 2002 and is currently playing non-league football in Galway.
He also currently has two daughters, which for one he hasn't seen for 12 years, which is a shame because she is an actual babe. She doesn't miss him because she found her father figure, who is also a legend. At least we love her.
Honours
Brentford- Football League TrophyFootball League TrophyThe Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
runner-up: 20012001 Football League Trophy FinalThe 2001 Football League Trophy Final was the 18th final of the Football League Trophy, the domestic football cup competition for teams from the Football League Second and Third Divisions...