A Tribute to the Late Freddie Strahan
Born 21/12/1938 – Died 13/12/2024
Signed by Gerry Doyle from Shelbourne’s football nursery at St. Finbar’s, Freddie Strahan made his debut for the club in a Shield game at the Mardyke against Evergreen (Cork Celtic) on 20 October 1957 – the Reds losing 2-1. He gave dedicated and loyal service to the club for the next twelve seasons.
During his time with Shelbourne, he won the FAI Cup in 1960 and 1963 against Cork Hibernians, the league title in 1962, the Leinster Senior Cup, and the City Cup twice. He was on the losing team in the 1962 FAI Cup final against Shamrock Rovers. Between 1962 and 1964, he played in seven games in Shelbourne’s great European adventures against Sporting Clube de Portugal, Barcelona, Belenenses, and Atletico Madrid. Injuries forced him to sit out the away fixture at the Camp Nou against Barcelona and Shelbourne’s first historic win in European football in the play-off against Belenenses at Dalymount Park.
In the challenging days of the early 1980s, he served the club as manager, director, and secretary.
He was selected to represent the League of Ireland eight times and at full international level on five occasions, remaining the only League of Ireland player to score against England. Remarkably, he played in four different positions during his five appearances for Ireland.
On Sunday, 24 May 1964, he was capped for the third time and scored Ireland’s only goal against England. The game ended in a 3-1 win for England in front of a jam-packed crowd of 45,000 at Dalymount Park. The Ireland team included his former Shelbourne teammate from the early ‘60s, Tony Dunne, and Joe Haverty, who signed for Shelbourne from Bristol Rovers in the summer of 1965. The England team included the legendary goal scorer Jimmy Greaves, who passed away on 19 September 2021.
W.P. Murphy of the Irish Independent wrote the following regarding Strahan’s goal and performance against the English:
“With the score 0-2, the Irish were in rough waters. Then Freddie Strahan, playing in his third position in three international matches, this time at right-half, just managed to hook his foot firmly around the ball with his back to the English goal and the English poised to attack. He brought the ball forward, turned, found nobody near him in the centre circle, and took the ball towards the English goal. The English were never worried; they had the home forwards covered. But on and on went Strahan, as they waited for him to pass, and only too late did they realise that the ginger-haired Shelbourne skipper ‘was on his own.’ Freddie finished with a left-footed shot which, if it lacked power, was beautifully placed, and into the net went the ball.
That was the signal for one of the greatest outbursts of applause one has heard for many years at Dalymount, a goal unexpected, so badly needed, and so perfect in its finish that it proved an electric shock to the crowd. The applause for the goal lasted 90 seconds for the Shelbourne skipper’s first in an international.
Freddie Strahan proved, as he had done in European ties against Sporting Clube de Portugal, Barcelona, and in a famous win for the League of Ireland over the English Football League XI in October 1963, that he was equal to the big time. After a shaky start against England, he settled down to become the most effective player of the side, willing to turn defence into attack when the opportunity presented itself. Add in his goal, one of the finest solo efforts one can remember from an Irish international, it was a great day for Freddie. I stood on the terraces behind where the goal was scored, and the sense of pride I felt that ‘our boy, one of our own’ should score such a fantastic goal is a memory that will last with me forever.”
Freddie won his fourth cap in a 3-2 win over Poland at Dalymount Park on Sunday, 25 October 1964, in front of an attendance of 42,000.
On 4 May 1966, he was selected at left full-back against a powerful West Germany team preparing for the 1966 World Cup in England. This marked his last appearance for Ireland, in a match where the weakened Irish team suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat at Dalymount Park.
In November 2008, at the Ireland v. Poland match, he received the title of “FAI Eircom Legend” as a mark of honour.
Freddie also served as a firefighter with the Dublin Fire Brigade.
Strahan was a fierce competitor, a warrior, and an inspirational figure at the heart of the Shelbourne defence. In the words of his great friend Jackie Hennessy: “Freddie Strahan was a player you would die for.” Much of what was achieved by Shelbourne in the 1960s can be attributed to him. He is, quite rightly, regarded as one of, if not the, club’s greatest ever players.
Finally, I have never hidden my admiration for my boyhood hero, Freddie Strahan. Whenever there are discussions or writings about Shelbourne legends, in my opinion, the conversation begins and ends with the name of one man: Frederick N. Strahan.
His passing will sadden not only those connected with Shelbourne FC but also the wider football family.
On my own behalf, and on behalf of everyone at the club, our thoughts, thanks, and deepest sympathies are with Freddie’s family and friends at this sad time.
