Eamonn Deacy - RIP

[eamonn]

Every other match seems to have player wearing black armbands and a minute's applause/silence. This fella is as deserving as any.

[ChrissyPrice]

Chatting to my neighbour who was, by chance, back home in Galway for the funeral and she said the town had never known anything like it. And her brother and many of his friends are  Villa fans as a result of the Deacy connection.

As others have said on here, they were a lovely family. All so very sad.

[gervilla]

There was a nice tribute to Eamon before the Republic of Ireland game last night at The Aviva Stadium ( as it's now called).
His picture up on the big screen and a minutes round of applause.
Respect.

[cheltenhamlion]

That's nice.

[Legion]

Very.

[amfy]

Was looking to see if there was anything of yesterday's tribute on the net and found this instead.

http://youtu.be/qBtr2FTym48

The You tube clip is shamelessly sentimental but it is the first thing I have seen really that leaves us something of him. The words that go with it continue the theme of what we already know......

"To state Galway soccer is in an utter state of shock with the sudden passing of Eamon 'Chick' Deacy may appear an over exaggeration to some, but for many the unexpected nature of the news has utterly shaken us. He passed away before beginning his usual route delivering fruit and vegetables around the city this morning after a suspected heart attack, an event that leaves countless reeling, much like being on the receiving end of one of the crunching tackles he was renowned for. The passing of someone much loved and admired is always a shock, but the disbelief that it's 'Chick' is palpable. The man was the epitome of a sportsman having never smoked, rarely if ever drank alcohol, never been over-weight, and had continued to jog and play football when called upon up to this faithful day. But he was more than just a sportsman; he was a gentleman and an unquestionable decent human being.

The term 'legend' is widely (over)used and often simply lacing a pair of boots for a number of years is enough to earn the label. Therefore, it's not fitting to merely call 'Chick' a legend because for innumerable people he was more than just a regular player. Having been part of the famous fourteen at Aston Villa for the League winning 80/81 season and one of the foremost trailblazers from Galway to play football in the UK the pride that we felt in 'Chick' was/is immeasurable. He was our representative at the top table of football, our ambassador, and he never let us down. Many who travelled on the West United trip to the game against Southampton that season spoke of "busting with pride" and recall the respect his teammates had for 'Chick', a respect that was transmitted to his friends and neighbours from Galway. It was not enough for the players that day to simply meet and greet 'Chick's' Galway people they pushed the boat out transporting them to many pubs and clubs across Birmingham that night, in their own personal cars. Somehow, in an age of multi-millionaire footballers I don't think that same level of respect for teammates, and by extension friends and neighbours, exists today.

So we mourn the passing of a true Galway sporting icon and hero today and his impact on our lives will be enduring. 'Chick' had all the manly attributes that we should aspire to for our own self-realisation. He was quietly persistent, tough as nails on the pitch and humble off the field of play, with a kind self-effacing approach to life and to the people he met. He was undeniably called to the dugout far too early because, as usual, he was playing the game of life like the true pro he will always be!
R.I.P Chick"



I always remembered him with a smile, but I think it's only now that I really feel this proud that he was ours.

[Clampy]

I never saw him play, it was a few years before my time, but it was a lovely applause yesterday and the announcer saying that only 14 players won the league which will never happen again made it a very proud moment.

[Mike Jeffries]

I thought it was a great tribute yesterday, whether intentional or not it had an air of understatement about it that seems very fitting for the man in question.  I imagined him shaking his head and saying "Oh, stop making a fuss!".

   

[stubbsyandy]

This is a nice touch don't you think:

THE GALWAY FA has decided to rename Terryland Park in honour of Eamon “Chick” Deacy, the former Aston Villa and Galway United player who died suddenly in February.

Deacy Park will be the new name for the home of soccer in Galway – ironically, the land for the ground had been purchased from his family back in the 1930s to develop Terryland Park.

Plans are being made for an exhibition match later in the year between the Aston Villa side which Deacy helped win the English league championship in 1981 and a selection made up of players from his time with his local club West United and Galway United.

The 53-year old was also capped four times by the Republic of Ireland.

His brother Don said that renaming Terryland Park was a huge honour for his family and they were looking forward to the official renaming of the ground later in the year.

“Hopefully, most of his former mates with Aston Villa will be able to come over for what should be a great day,” he said.

[The Laughing Policeman]

That is a great way to remember the man. And some welcome good news to lighten the doom and gloom that currently abounds on here.

[Ger Regan]

Looking forward to that, should be a good day.

[eamonn]

An H&V meet-up would seem apt given the love for the man shown on this thread.

[Brend'Watkins]

I heard last night that at the funeral the priest or his brother gave his age as 58. Every where it's listed as 53. I don't know if it was a mistake by either but I hope it's true.

[johnc]

There was a bit of confusion about his age at the time of the funeral and one explantion I heard was that he knocked a few years off his age when he went over to the  Villa as he reckoned Ron Saunders wouldn't have been keen on someone in their mid To late 20s so he put himself a few years younger. He would have played back in the days before a passport was needed to board a plane between UK and Ireland so maybe he just pitched up and told them he was a nipper of 20  years and they took him at his word. Who knows

[Irish villain]

An H&V meet-up would seem apt given the love for the man shown on this thread.

I'd love that.