Tales From The East Stand

Episode 77: Tallaght or Bust. As Rovers celebrate ten years since the opening of Tallaght Stadium, we present part one of a special show about the stadium saga and the formation of the 400 Club. After the first half hour of news, Mick Kearns and Robert Goggins join us to talk all the twists and turns from 1996 to 2004 as planning, money and judicial trouble befell the project. Mick was a board member for four of those difficult years while Robert authored a book which details the struggle, 'A Chronological History of Shamrock Rovers'.

The theme of our last show of the year is Rovers' 17th and most recent league title which was won on October 25th, 2011. Joining us in Johnny Blues Bar are Ken Oman and Dean Kelly, who, having suffered injuries in the middle of the season, came back and were sprung from the bench to score the goals that night at UCD. Two Finglas natives, the lads talk about starting out their careers, joining the Hoops seven years ago, carpooling with Gary O'Neill and Ronan Finn, Tallinn and Copenhagen and Michael O'Neill's management style. Ken discusses the 2010 run-in from Bohs' perspective, being embarrassed by Gary Twigg and reuniting with him at Portadown, cutting his hair before the Setanta Cup final, scoring in Russia and the Stephen Kenny season when he was captain. Dean remembers going for Liam Buckley's fingers, Pat Flynn's rap about him, returning to the club for a second spell and of course his 94th winner at Belfield and the celebrations that followed that etched his name into Rovers folklore.

Our November Monthly Madness guests are John Coady and Kevin 'Gaff' Brady, who had a brilliant partnership down the left (and are brilliant postmen too). The lads talk about the winning mentality of the four-in-a-row team, the significance of the 1984 FAI Cup final defeat and reuniting at Derry to win a treble. Kevin recalls his shock at scoring his only Rovers goal in the '86 final and talks about coaching nowadays with St Paul's on the northside. John tells us about converting from a striker to full-back, leaving Milltown for Chelsea and why he doesn't like them, and meeting Eusebio in Lisbon. A lifelong Hoops supporter and season ticket holder, he also gives his thoughts on Rovers last season and the signing of Aaron McEneff.

It's the 2018 End of Season Special with a live audience at Johnny Blues Bar. Our star studded guests include Hooperman, President Michael D. Higgins, Tommy Tormey, Conor Foley, Dan Fullam, Sean Fields, Dean Creevey, 'Bucket' Niall Hayden, Garreth Brennan, Rob Lavelle, 'Dangerous Dave' and Rebecca Dunne, Davey Doyle and Mick Kearns!

We discuss the Waterford win and the Sligo trip, there's the Member's Corner with Paddy Flannelly, some more 'Grinds My Gears' and Dave McAllister takes on Joey O'Brien in the final of Questions From The East Stand.

We review the late win in Inchicore and preview our last home game of the season. There's the Member's Corner with Justin Mason, and Dave McAllister v Alan Mannus in the other Questions From The East Stand semi-final.

No goals to talk about but we review Cork last week and look ahead to Richmond Park tomorrow. There's Member's Corner with James Lowe and Questions From The East Stand with Joey O'Brien v Sean Boyd and winner facing Dan Carr in the semi-finals right after.

There's the Carl Paul Turner anthem, Derry and 5-a-side tournament reviews, Nick Clarke interview and Lee Grace v Dan Carr and Dave McAllister v Luke Byrne in the QFTES quarter-finals

Former Hoops keeper Alan O'Neill joins us to talk the Giles Era, what happened with Jim McLaughlin that caused him to leave Milltown and helping UCD to a shock FAI Cup final win over Rovers. Then we discuss his second spell in the 90s, finally winning a league title with the club, becoming manager with Terry Eviston but getting sacked one league game into the new season. We also chat about the 2005 relegation playoff, how close he came to earning an international cap, working with the Ireland Under 21s, his dad Robert and his brother Dermot.

We look at the great win and great goals against Limerick and plan our theoretical bus to Derry on Saturday. There's interviews with Tommy Tormey (Member's Corner), Eamonn Moore and Emma Wheatley (Play For Paddy Tournament) and Jose Ferrer (Rovers goalkeeping coach).

There's the Bray game from a couple of weeks ago, Member's Corner with Macdara Ferris, Questions From The East Stand with Alan Mannus v Dylan Watts and the winner against Sean Kavanagh in the quarter-finals. Then we make the draw for the TFTES 5-a-side tournament!

Gary reviews an epic win in Oriel Park while The Prof wishes he was there. We debut two new features - The Members Corner with John Connolly and 'Grinds My Gears' with a number of Rovers fans.

Joined by Rovers fan James Cooke and former Hoops striker Mick Byrne, we battle post-derby depression and a noisy refrigerator for another dose of Monthly Madness, this time held at James' man-cave in Tallaght, known as the Glenmalure Inn. The show is split into two parts: First there's the Bohs game analysis, our LOI-Curious feature and the usual stats and news. Then (from 2 hours 3 minutes) the lads talk the four-in-a-row and leaving Milltown, with a cameo from James' son Sean about an experience with Thomas Davis GAA club. Mick discusses his career before and during his time at Rovers, being pinned up against the dressing room wall by Pat Byrne, managing the club in the late 90s, being tormented by the same drunk fan and coaching the Ireland Over 35s nowadays.

We try to make sense of our first round exit from the FAI Cup in Drogheda and talk a certain club's obsession with Rovers ahead of the derby. Luke Byrne and Ronan Finn get their second chance in the quiz.

Episode 63: Dude, Where's My Podcast? Alan Mannus drops into Johnny Blues to chat about the win over Sligo, Gavin Bazunu and what he was doing when he was 16, growing up in Canada then Northern Ireland, comparing Linfield to Rovers, replacing fans' favourite Barry Murphy, living with Gary Twigg in that famous house in Tallaght, penalty saves, Israel, Del Piero's free kick, going to Euro 2016, his time at St Johnstone and why he has returned to Rovers. We also hear from John 'The Legend' Murphy.

It's the much anticipated TFTES on Tour episode as we review the AIK game and our trip to Stockholm last week and get a German and Swedish perspective from Marcus Rossel and Rikard Roos. Then we discuss those massive three points in Waterford on Sunday.

Our guests in Johnny Blues Bar are Aidan Price and Andy Myler, who both joined Shamrock Rovers in the 2006 First Division winning season. The lads recall the Bohs and Athlone games from that year and what it was like playing under Pat Scully. After Aidan helps review the AIK game he discusses the first ever match in Tallaght, Real Madrid, Modena, Israel, his near fatal mistake against Sporting Fingal, being released by Michael O'Neill, his current role as Under 19s boss and working with Gavin Bazunu. Andy talks his favourite goals, scoring two hat-tricks in two weeks, managing the club's A and Under 20 teams to league titles, being on O'Neill's coaching staff during the run to the Europa League group stages and Belgrade, where Super Doctor showed his dance moves and Paddy Kavanagh was almost kidnapped. There's also an interview with 'Cousins Dozens' Terry Doran from Oldham.

This week's guest host is Jim Toner and with three games to talk about we have a show as bloated as Dundalk's first team squad. We talk Gavin's penalty save, Football Coming Home, new signings and interview journalist Sujay Dutt to preview Thursday's tie with AIK.

Eoghan Rice fills in for Gary today to talk the Derry win, Block L, THE HEAT, the World Cup, the Celtic friendly and his time as LOI Press Officer. Plus we interview Alan Kinsella.

We're back to talk the Limerick game, the European draw, Stockholm plans, the World Cup, VAR, plus it's Ethan Boyle v Dan Carr and Greg Bolger v Dave McAllister in QFTES.