Eamon Dunphy and John Giles tell Miriam how they first met at the Stella Maris schoolboy soccer club when Eamon was ten and John was fifteen. They share stories about growing up in poor circumstances in Dublin’s Northside and explain how being a good footballer was so important as an escape for young boys of their generation.
Both men recall their mothers and the tough times they had rearing children in those days. Both women disliked the Manchester United scout Billy Behan. His gifts of turkeys at Christmas were unwelcome as both women realised that he wanted to sign their sons to Manchester United.
John was already established at Manchester United when Eamon arrived to play there as a schoolboy. John was very kind to the younger boy. He brought him to his first dance, teased him cruelly about his turquoise suit and forgave him for loosing all the money on a blackmarket ticket deal – a deal that would have realised John the equivalent of more than a year’s wages!
They recall the singer Luke Kelly, not a great footballer, but a singer they both admired.
Both men were capped for Ireland and played together on the international soccer team. Eamon tells Miriam that he blames John for the end of his international career, John says that as Eamon got himself banned for life by the FAI so wasn’t available for selection.
John and Eamon returned to Ireland to join Shamrock Rovers about 1977. But after a year, Eamon left. It wasn’t until 1986 that both men worked together again on the RTE panel with Bill O Herlihy. This successful working relationship continues until this day. While Apres Match is a very popular part of the football programme, Eamon says John leaves the studio when the actors are performing. While holding the actors in high esteem personally and professionally, John explains that he is not comfortable with being lampooned in the course of their own programme. "It disturbs me a little," he tells Miriam.
They recall their version of the Saipan episode which divided the country and divided the two men. Eamon explains that he doesn’t think that agreement is a necessary element of any friendship. That said, over time, the conflict between the two men dissolved.
Looking back, both agree that they have lived charmed lives. John says that he has always been lucky, having been born with a caul.