Gary Coleman Born to be a footballer By BERNIE MULLEN A person's future in sport, religion, politics or any other walk of life is usually influenced by the environment that he was born into. Gary Coleman has the perfect pedigree for a gaelic footballer. All-Ireland medals on both sides of the road and born in Ballymaguigan on the shores of Lough Neagh. It has been said in Ballymaguigan that if they are not playing football or catching fish, they're talking about it. In the early sixties a stocky tousle haired youngster began to catch the eye with his close ball control, fearless play and dashing speed. He quickly made it to the club Senior team and was in the company of the great Jim McKeever among others. It was a hard school, if you were knocked down you were knocked down. You got up as quickly as possible, only a broken leg was acceptable as a reasonable excuse for missing a game. The young man in question Eamonn Coleman quickly graduated to the top grade. He was left half forward when Derry took their first All-Ireland Minor title in 1965 with a memorable victory over Kerry by 2-8 to 2-4. Three years later again, as left half forward, he was one of the shining lights when Derry beat Offaly in the Under 21 final by 3-9 to 1-9. His partner on the left flank of the attack that day was Kevin Teague later to become Gary Coleman's uncle and Eamonn his father. Like so many of his 1965 team mates Eamonn soon graduated to the Derry Senior team where he won an Ulster medal in 1970. Other notable achievements were Railway Cup and replacement All-Star honours. Gary came into the world on 26th June 1972. He doesn't remember his father playing any football of a high level, but he wasn't too old when he realised that most people expected him to follow the Coleman/Reague footballing tradition. The first time he played in an organised game of football was for St. Johns Primary School, Magherafelt. The family had moved from country to town. A match with local rivals Castledawson was the setting for the South Derry Primary School's League. It was a big step for the lightly built youngster. As he nervously laced on his boots and prepared for combat, thoughts flashed through his young mind. Will they expect me to be as good as my father or uncle Kevin ? He was determined to make his mark. The big day turned out to be a nightmare. He dashed enthusiastically after the size four ball but rarely did he make contact. It was frustrating as the tally against them mounted to staggering proportions. A big lad on the other side would keep storming through and drive the ball into the Magherafelt net. At least ten times the big lad found the target. Like all the rest, Gary tried to stop him but it was all so futile. Little did Gary realise that seven years later he would be the captain and he and the big lad Dermot Kearney would play together and win All-Ireland Minor medals with Derry. The South Derry Primary School League was a great place to learn the movements of the game. Teachers have had a great influence on Derry football at first, second and third levels of education. Such well known former county players as Patsy Breen, Matt Trolan and Seamus Lagan are only a sample of those who have sent many a young footballeron his way to the big time. During the seventies when Derry had their tremendous run - the team was run by four teachers and another nine played on the team. It was two teachers at St. Pious X Magherafelt High School that had the biggest influence on his footballing future. Well known coaches John McIvor and Brendan Convery were mostly in charge of the St. Pious teams where Gary gained so much valuable experience. He didn't need a lot of coaching, it all seemed to come as second nature. Speed, kicking with both feet, soft handling, accurate passing, taking scores and blocking came easy to him. Such was his skill level, that he found no problem in playing against boys bigger and older. He loved to pretend he was John Egan of Kerry as he cut through to blast many a goal. When his father steered Derry Minors to their second All-Ireland title in 1983, Gary often found himself the centre of attention. It fired his appetite for the game even further as he saw skipper Niall Bradley collect the Tom Markham Cup. Ruefully, he remembers that it was a TV view only as he spent the week-end with his grandfather in Ballymaguigan and not in Croke Park where he would have liked. His scoring exploits at school became legendary as he ran up a total of five Derry Vocational School medals. Further a field he collected one with the school at Ulster level. An Under 16 All-Ireland trophy proved the highlight of his career to date. The Magherafelt Rossas club now had his services. His earlier interest lay with Ballymaguigan but growing up in the market town it was only natural that he wanted to play with his club mates. A county Under 14 medal in 1986 was his first major honour with the Rossas. It was in 1988 that he first played Championship football and he still hadn't reached his 16th birthday. He scored a goal from the penalty spot as Derry ran the reigning All-Ireland champions, Down, close in a thriller at Ballinascreen. He ruefully remembers that his moulded rubber studs and the short wet grass weren't exactly comfortable. As he slipped and slithered like a Lough Neagh eel, a spectator roared, 'has that number 11 no feet to stand on'. He felt terrible, even though a well struck penalty was a major contribution. It was only after the game that he realised that it hadn't been all bad. The local Press had some kind words in their post match analysis. In 1988 he started with the county Minors in an attacking role. He wasn't exactly delighted when his father shouted to a selector that Gary could fill the problem centre half position. As usual the 'old man' was right. He proved to be an inspirational captain as Fermanagh, Cavan, Armagh, Roscommon and Offaly were beaten as Derry collected their third title. As he held the Tom Markham Cup high on the Croke Park rostrum, it was the proudest moment of his life. He had lived up to expectations and there would be many great moments ahead. In 1990 he became the first player to captain Derry Minors in successive Ulster titles, but the promise of another All-lreland title was not fulfiled. They were well beaten by Meath in the semi-final and Gary had a difficult outing against Terry O'Connor. He made his Senior debut against Cavan in the League later that year, when he came on as a substitute. Over that Division Two League campaign he made spasmodic appearances without establishing a regular place. The most difficult player he has ever faced is, unquestionably, Mickey Linden. In the drawn Ulster semifinal against Down Gary came off the bench and did well against the flying Linden. In the replay he again came in as a substitute and still wonders what would have happened had his thundering shot not gone under rather than strike the bar when Down led by four points with four minutes left. His natural footballing skills have earned contention in another code of football. Currently on the books of Newry Town in the Irish League, he is considered to have a bright future there. Fortunately, as far as Gary is concerned, his future lies in Gaelic football and the soccer is just a passing phase. He doesn't feel that being the manager's son is a handicap, the players all treat him differently and he doesn't mind the well-worn "Postman Pat" joke. Well, after all, he usually delivers the goods. Recently, he was dropped from the Derry team for playing another code of football on the day before a big game. He took his punishment manfully, even though he had put the 'old man' in a bit of a spot. He's determined to regain his place on the team. As the bitter could bites his hands and tears at his face on the early morning rounds, he has plenty of time to dream and think. The great thrill of 1989 is still with him but he hungers for something even greater. Maybe some day he will lead Derry to the ultimate glory - standing on front of the Hogan Stand hoisting the Sam Maguire. After all, the fireside talk when he was a boy might not have been too far away. Didn't they say he was born to be a footballer! Taken from Hogan Stand magazine 22th November 1991 Tweet

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