THE Irish priest who handed Sam Allardyce his first managerial job at Limerick FC has wished him well in his impending role as England boss.
Father Joe Young was chairman of Limerick FC when Allardyce was appointed player-manager in 1991, which was the beginning of a long, successful career in club football management.
Allardyce is now set to be confirmed as England manager, which will be the pinnacle of his career having gone on to manage Bolton, Newcastle, West Ham and Sunderland in the Premier League since his beginnings with Limerick.
He will replace Roy Hodgson, who stepped down from the England role following the nation’s dismal exit from Euro 2016 at the hands of Iceland.
"I'm absolutely delighted, it's a great moment in my priesthood,” said Fr Young in an interview with BBC Radio 5 Live.
'A very emotional moment'
Priest who gave 'maestro' Allardyce his first job in managementhttps://t.co/ujmrKCduMS pic.twitter.com/8wGw33a1fN
— BBC 5 live Sport (@5liveSport) July 20, 2016
"All I can say to you is one thing. He believed in the Field of Dreams. He was a purpose-driven manager. I never experienced so much joy in the fact that he believed if you don't bring them through with discipline, forget about it. He was brilliant and a maestro.
"What he believed in, in what we were trying to do in Limerick and help young people come through the welfare system; he believed in it, and I believe in Sam."
He added: “God bless him, because he is wonderful."
