Liam Dunne (footballer)

Liam Dunne (born 1 September 1971) is a former Irish soccer player.

Schoolboy career

Dunne played for Stella Maris and Belvedere in the Dublin &District Schoolboy League. While still a schoolboy Dunne played against some household names of today including Stephen Kenny and played in the match at Fairview Park, Dublin between Belvedere and Rockmount. Belvedere won the tie 4-0 and advanced to the semi-final only to be knocked out by Home Farm. Dunne proved that he could play against the best and was quickly snapped up by Bohemians.

Senior career

A tough-tackling, no-nonsense midfielder, he played for Bohemians in 1990 and broke into the first team, making his league debut against Derry City on 2 September of that year.It was not long before he was snapped up by St Johnstone,^[1] after he impressed at the 1991 FIFA World Youth Championship for Ireland. This proved to be a shrewd move by Manager Alex Totten as Dunne certainly impressed while he was there. But in the 1992/93 season Alex Totten was sacked and new manager John McClelland didn't see young Dunne in his plans for the future. So next season Bohemians manager Eamonn Gregg brought him back to Dalymount Park.

Crusaders

But Dunne did not settle back in Phibsborough and was soon sent on Loan to Crusaders FC of Northern Ireland for his first spell at the club. Dunne impressed at Seaview playing well and scoring regularly under manager Jackie Hutton.He then made his move permanent to Crusaders.He helped "Crues" to 2 consecutive IPA Premiership Titles in 1994 & 1995. He often turned out for the IFA XI which is for the best players in the IFA Premiership. Crusaders won the league in 1993/94 and in 1994-95. Dunne the tried a move to Portadown FC but did not work out because of an argument with the manager. Dunne then went to Dundalk where, in 2002 he won the FAI Ford Cup.It was a short successful spell for Dunne at Dundalk as he was linking up with players like James Keddy. But in 2005 Crusaders manager Stephen Baxter whom Dunne had played with for Crusaders came calling for him to come back to Seaview. It was an offer Dunne could not refuse. But by now "Crues" were in the second tier of Irish Football and were chasing promotion and they achieved it by winning the IFA Championship in the 2005-06 season. They had also won the Steel & Sons Cup that year. Crusaders went on to finish 6th in the IFA Premiership next season with experienced players such as Dunne and Jeff Spiers combining with younger players such as Colin Coates and David Rainey for a good season. But for Dunne this was to be his last game as he retired after the 2006-07 season.

Honours

While at Seaview Dunne won 2 Irish Leagues, 1 Irish League Cup, The Gold Cup and FAI Cup for Dundalk ,the Steel & Sons Cup, The IFA Intermediate League and the George Wilson Cup. Dunne also won 4 caps for the Republic of Ireland U21 Team.

After Football

Now Dunne lives in his hometown Dublin and works as a plumber. He has three children Jack, Sam and Kate. Both Sam and Jack are promising Footballers Jack playing for Home Farm FC and Sam playing for St Pauls Artane

References