Fergal Harkin
Encyclopedia
Fergal Harkin is a former Irish footballer who played for Bohemians in the League of Ireland
over 8 seasons.
, Fergal Harkin began his footballing career at youth level when he signed for Leicester City F.C.
, however this stint proved unsuccessful, and when Bohemians expressed an interest, he jumped at the chance.
boss Joe McGrath, Harkin proved very impressive in the few games he played during the 1998-1999, mainly operating on the right wing. However, when new Bohs manager Roddy Collins
took over at the club, Harkin was finding himself edged out more from the first team. It was alleged that the pair did not get on, and soon Harkin was looking for a new club. He found it in his home county of Donegal
.
Harkin moved to Finn Harps and proved to be as popular as he had been at his former club, taking over the captain's armband during his 3 season stint at the club. Finn Harps even reached the FAI Cup
final, only to be edged out by Bray Wanderers after a replay. It was during his time at the Ballybofey
club that his former club were having their best season in decades, lifting the League of Ireland
& FAI Cup
trophy in the remarkable 2000-01 double-winning season. This season was to be Roddy Collins
' last at the club however.
, Pete Mahon
made Harkin one of his first signings when he swooped for the midfielder in the summer of 2001. Harkin was the first to admit his love of the club, & even admitted to having attended the famous 6-4 victory by Bohemians over Shamrock Rovers during the double winning season.
Harkin has been ever-present since rejoining the club, and is still respected by the fans of the Phibsboro
ugh club.
Fergal Harkin was voted Bohemians Player of the Year in 2006, despite missing a lot of the season through injury, which showed the respect both players & fans of the club have for him. However, during the 2006/07 season, rumours circulated that manager Sean Connor
offered Harkin to Dundalk FC, a move which the player turned down. Many Bohs fans expressed dismay at this rumour, wanting Harkin to stay at Dalymount Park
.
A flag was designed by fans for Fergal Harkin, under the moniker Ballyliffin Bohs, the town he's originally from.
In August 2007 Fergal Harkin announced he would be retiring at the end of the season, citing his recurring knee injury which left him in agony up to 24 hours after each game. Given his love of the club however, he stated that he would still regularly attend games, citing his "real affiliation with the club".
He played his final home game for the club on 2 November 2007 in Dalymount Park
v Longford Town
. To commemorate the event, Harkin was captain for the night, and after the game a fans tribute was held, with specially designed flags and a plaque in honour of his loyal service.
In January 2008 Harkin made a goalscoring debut for Northern League Division One club Dunston Federation F.C., playing for the amateurs whilst based in Newcastle
.
Harkin however since his retirement has appeared at Dalymount Park
to watch his former teammates in action, & even made the trip to watch Bohs
play Rhyl F.C.
in Wales
during an Intertoto Cup
game, celebrating with fans & joining them in a local bar afterwards.
He also took part in Kevin Hunt's testimonial versus an International XI on 12 October 2008, donning the red & black once more.
in Ireland
, but following his retirement from football, became a senior marketing manager in the UK for the company. In June 2009, he left Nike and now works in the Player Recruitment Team at Manchester City, where he looks after Football Partnerships
League of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
over 8 seasons.
Career
A native of BallyliffinBallyliffin
Ballyliffin is a small village located in the North Western tip of Inishowen, County Donegal, Ireland.The surrounding landscapes are picturesque, with the village being surrounded by Pollan Strand, Binion hill and Crockaughrim hill.-History:...
, Fergal Harkin began his footballing career at youth level when he signed for Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
, however this stint proved unsuccessful, and when Bohemians expressed an interest, he jumped at the chance.
First stint at Bohemians
Signed by then BohsBohemian 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...
boss Joe McGrath, Harkin proved very impressive in the few games he played during the 1998-1999, mainly operating on the right wing. However, when new Bohs manager Roddy Collins
Roddy Collins
Roderick 'Roddy' Collins , is a Irish former professional football player and current manager of Monaghan United. He has also worked as a television pundit, and is the brother of acclaimed former boxer, Steve Collins....
took over at the club, Harkin was finding himself edged out more from the first team. It was alleged that the pair did not get on, and soon Harkin was looking for a new club. He found it in his home county of Donegal
Donegal
Donegal or Donegal Town is a town in County Donegal, Ireland. Its name, which was historically written in English as Dunnagall or Dunagall, translates from Irish as "stronghold of the foreigners" ....
.
Finn Harps
FAI Cup
The Football Association of Ireland Challenge Cup, known as the FAI Ford Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland...
final, only to be edged out by Bray Wanderers after a replay. It was during his time at the Ballybofey
Ballybofey
Ballybofey is a town located on the south bank of the River Finn, County Donegal, Ireland. Along with the smaller town of Stranorlar on the north side of the River Finn, Ballybofey makes up the Twin Towns....
club that his former club were having their best season in decades, lifting the League of Ireland
League of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
& FAI Cup
FAI Cup
The Football Association of Ireland Challenge Cup, known as the FAI Ford Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland...
trophy in the remarkable 2000-01 double-winning season. This season was to be Roddy Collins
Roddy Collins
Roderick 'Roddy' Collins , is a Irish former professional football player and current manager of Monaghan United. He has also worked as a television pundit, and is the brother of acclaimed former boxer, Steve Collins....
' last at the club however.
Harkin returns
After the departure of Roddy CollinsRoddy Collins
Roderick 'Roddy' Collins , is a Irish former professional football player and current manager of Monaghan United. He has also worked as a television pundit, and is the brother of acclaimed former boxer, Steve Collins....
, 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....
made Harkin one of his first signings when he swooped for the midfielder in the summer of 2001. Harkin was the first to admit his love of the club, & even admitted to having attended the famous 6-4 victory by Bohemians over Shamrock Rovers during the double winning season.
Harkin has been ever-present since rejoining the club, and is still respected by the fans of the Phibsboro
Phibsboro
Phibsborough , often formerly shortened to Phibsboro and later Phibsboro , is a district of Dublin in Ireland.-Location:Phibsboro' is located in the Dublin 7 postal district on the Northside of the city. The area is very close to the city centre, about two kilometres from the River Liffey which...
ugh club.
Fergal Harkin was voted Bohemians Player of the Year in 2006, despite missing a lot of the season through injury, which showed the respect both players & fans of the club have for him. However, during the 2006/07 season, rumours circulated that manager Sean Connor
Sean Connor
Sean Connor is a former footballer and manager currently without a club.-Playing career:Connor began his career at Distillery in the Irish League where he played for one full season before moving to Port Vale...
offered Harkin to Dundalk FC, a move which the player turned down. Many Bohs fans expressed dismay at this rumour, wanting Harkin to stay at Dalymount Park
Dalymount Park
Dalymount Park is an Irish football stadium situated on Dublin's Northside. It is the home of Bohemian F.C., who have played there since the early 20th century. Affectionately known as 'Dalyer' by fans, it was also historically the "home of Irish football" holding Irish internationals and FAI Cup...
.
A flag was designed by fans for Fergal Harkin, under the moniker Ballyliffin Bohs, the town he's originally from.
Retirement
He played his final home game for the club on 2 November 2007 in Dalymount Park
Dalymount Park
Dalymount Park is an Irish football stadium situated on Dublin's Northside. It is the home of Bohemian F.C., who have played there since the early 20th century. Affectionately known as 'Dalyer' by fans, it was also historically the "home of Irish football" holding Irish internationals and FAI Cup...
v Longford Town
Longford Town F.C.
Longford Town F.C. is an Irish football club playing in the League of Ireland First Division. The club, founded in 1924 and elected to the league in 1984, hails from Longford, County Longford and play their home matches at Flancare Park...
. To commemorate the event, Harkin was captain for the night, and after the game a fans tribute was held, with specially designed flags and a plaque in honour of his loyal service.
In January 2008 Harkin made a goalscoring debut for Northern League Division One club Dunston Federation F.C., playing for the amateurs whilst based in Newcastle
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
.
Harkin however since his retirement has appeared at Dalymount Park
Dalymount Park
Dalymount Park is an Irish football stadium situated on Dublin's Northside. It is the home of Bohemian F.C., who have played there since the early 20th century. Affectionately known as 'Dalyer' by fans, it was also historically the "home of Irish football" holding Irish internationals and FAI Cup...
to watch his former teammates in action, & even made the trip to watch 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...
play Rhyl F.C.
Rhyl F.C.
Rhyl Football Club is a Welsh football club, playing in the Cymru Alliance.The club was founded in 1882 and the team plays its home matches at Belle Vue, Rhyl, which can accommodate 3,000 spectators.- History :Few clubs in the Welsh Premier League have as distinguished a past as Rhyl's...
in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
during an Intertoto Cup
UEFA Intertoto Cup
The UEFA Intertoto Cup, also abbreviated as UI Cup and originally called the International Football Cup, was a summer football competition for European clubs that had not qualified for one of the two major UEFA competitions, the Champions League and the UEFA Cup. The competition was discontinued...
game, celebrating with fans & joining them in a local bar afterwards.
He also took part in Kevin Hunt's testimonial versus an International XI on 12 October 2008, donning the red & black once more.
Outside football
Harkin was one of the only players at Bohemians who played part-time. Harkin worked as a sales representative for Nike, Inc.Nike, Inc.
Nike, Inc. is a major publicly traded sportswear and equipment supplier based in the United States. The company is headquartered near Beaverton, Oregon, which is part of the Portland metropolitan area...
in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, but following his retirement from football, became a senior marketing manager in the UK for the company. In June 2009, he left Nike and now works in the Player Recruitment Team at Manchester City, where he looks after Football Partnerships
Honours
- League of IrelandLeague of IrelandThe League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
: 1- Bohemians 2002-03
- FAI CupFAI CupThe Football Association of Ireland Challenge Cup, known as the FAI Ford Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland...
Runners up: 2- Finn Harps 1999
- Bohemians 2002