An Interview with Adrian Eames

Adrian Eames, best known as an RTE commentator, has been a Sligo Rovers supporter his whole life. He has fond memories of the League Title win of 1977 and the FAI Cup win among many other famous nights. He discusses his early Rovers memories, talks about the current team and his career in Sports Journalism.

When did you first start supporting Sligo Rovers ?

"I have been following Rovers for as long as I can remember. I recall as a child being brought on the bar of my late father's bicycle, so I guess I was reared on Rovers from a very young age.



I firmly believe that once a boy or a girl attends Rovers games on any kind of a regular basis, they identify with the club and as a result they become fans for life.



They may not always be in a position to go to games in later life, but they will view themselves as Sligo Rovers supporters and that's because of their experience growing up and going to games."


If you compare it to now, what was it like at the time in terms of attendances ?

"It's funny but when you are very young, you are captivated by the whole match day experience so to a young lad, it felt like there were thousands in the Showgrounds when it might have been a lot less than that.



Back then the games were on a Sunday afternoon so it was part of the ritual of the weekend. Sunday Mass followed by dinner and then if Dad wasn't working, off up to the Showgrounds.



I used to look across at the Cathedral clock and when the full time whistle sounded, it would be close to 5.00. It was then I knew that the weekend was over and that school loomed the next day. That sinking feeling was all the harder to cope with if Rovers had lost."


A lot of people say Sligo is a football town,but despite this and the new success being enjoyed by the team, why do you think attendances remain lower than they should be?

"I think times have changed so much. Back in the seventies and eighties, there wasn't all that much to do on a Sunday afternoon. Nowadays, people value their leisure time and they have so many options on a Saturday night. I think what the Cup Final showed is that people still want to go to matches and they do identify with Rovers, but the days of assuming that people will automatically turn up are long gone.



With the recession, people are much more conscious about how they spend their money, so the club has to work hard to woo those floating supporters. Thankfully Paul and Gerry have the team playing some great football so hopefully more people will flock through the turnstiles."




You saw Sligo Rovers win the FAI Cup for first time in 1983, what was it like to be a supporter at the time having witnessed the club create history ?

"It was fabulous! We would have gone to the home games in the Cup and then for the semi-final in Cobh, a gang of us hired a bus from Ballinode. That was some craic !



We got the train for the Cup Final and it was a magical day. Bohs in front, Stenny's equalizer and then Harry's wonderstrike. It was brilliant- and then Fago lifting the cup...! The homecoming was also amazing."

What was the most memorable Sligo Rovers game you've attended ?

"Well '83 stands out. I am old enough to remember the day we last won the League in 1977 and that was an extraordinary occasion. The Hoops threatened to ruin the dream, but that was a smashing side that Billy Sinclair had assembled and they were deserving winners.



The Cup win in 1994 was great too and Willie McStay did a brilliant job, considering Rovers were in the first division at the time. To be honest there is no simple answer as every win is sweet !"



A lot of people know your voice from Football and Gaelic games on RTE, when did you first realise you wanted to be involved in a sports journalism career ?

"When I was young I always loved the idea of being on the radio. I used to hear the late Philip Greene and think "Imagine being paid to go to matches!". I also liked the idea of being a DJ so after a stint in the pirate radio scene, I was employed by the first Independent Radio station outside Dublin , Mid West radio in Mayo. After that I went to North West Radio and began to do more news and current affairs.



I did some work with Century Radio and that led to an offer from FM 104 to exclusively do sport. I spent five years there before joining RTE Sport in 1998."


What is it like being part of the RTE set-up ?

"Its great. They are all sound and very helpful. I have absolutely no complaints, but I should point out that there is a lot of work involved. I know people think 'How can you call that work?', but there is a lot more to the job than simply turning up at matches ! But hey, it beats doing a real job !"



What would you say was the biggest game you've done commentary on ?

"I have been fortunate in this job. I got to do the Leinster football final this summer and other big Championship games. I also worked on the Olympic games in China and will perform a similar role in London . But I guess the answer to the question is the World Cup quarter final between Holland and Brazil at the World Cup finals. All the World Cup games were great and I was lucky to do 4 Argentina games at the finals. But Brazil v Holland in the quarter finals of World Cup takes some beating !"

In 2008, the club's very existence was threatened by financial problems. Could you have even imagined at the time we'd go this far just 3 years later and get to where we are now ?

"No. But I honestly felt at the time that the club would come through it. As I said earlier, people associate themselves with Rovers and I was confident that people would rally around the club as they have done down through the years."


Do you think we'll ever see a financially stable League of Ireland where we won't hear of any clubs future being thrown into doubt ?

"We live in hope, but it's so frustrating watching clubs lurching from one crisis to the next. Its going to take some time because if it couldn't be done right in the middle of a boom, well then what chance have we now in the midst of a recession? But you have to remain positive. If an Irish club could crack Europe then it could be the catalyst for real change." 


Who has been your favourite Sligo Rovers player since you began supporting them ?

"Oh dear, there are so many. Stenny,Fago, Chris Rutherford, Willie Hastie, Mick Leonard, Sammy Frickleton, Ski McGee, Johnny Kenny....I better stop now!

And from the current crop of players ?

"I think Gavin Peers has been brilliant for Rovers. He is set to join the list of Sligo Rovers legends."


Finally, do you think Sligo Rovers will go onto win the League this season ?

"They have a great chance. They will have to deal with a lot of pressure to do so, but they look like the kind of group that likes winning and can cope with all the pressure. I would have liked to have seen another striker signed, as that might be the final piece in the jigsaw. Hopefully Eoin Doyle and Blinks stay fit and sharp."


It's not going to be easy, but whatever happens, these are great times and they should be savoured. So thanks to Cookie and all involved. It's quite a rollercoaster we're on and I don't think anyone wants to get off !