Dave Langan

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Dave Langan

Langan in Dublin with supporters of his testimonial
Personal information
Full name David Francis Langan
Date of birth February 15, 1957 (1957-02-15) (age 51)
Place of birth    Dublin, Republic of Ireland
Playing position Right-back
Youth clubs
19??–1974
1974–1975		 Cherry Orchard
Derby County
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*
1975–1980
1980–1984
1984–1987
1987
1987
1987–1988
1988–1989		 Derby County
Birmingham City
Oxford United
→ Leicester City (loan)
→ A.F.C. Bournemouth (loan)
A.F.C. Bournemouth
Peterborough United		 143 0(1)
092 0(3)
114 0(2)
005 0(2)
021 0(7)
023 0(5)
019 0(0)   
National team
1978-1987 Republic of Ireland 026 0(0)

1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only.
* Appearances (Goals)

David Francis "Dave" Langan (born February 15, 1957) is an Irish former professional footballer who played as a right-back for the Republic of Ireland, for whom he won 26 caps. Langan won his first cap against Turkey in April 1978 and was a regular in the squad until he sustained a knee injury in the famous 3-2 victory over France.

For four years he was in the International wilderness until his move to Oxford regenerated the form that earned him his first caps. He remained an ever present throughout the course of the qualifying campaign for Euro '88 in which he started four games and was substitute for four.

Unfortunately, despite the rather somewhat public outcry, Langan was dropped for the adventure in the summer of '88 in Germany and there ended his international career.

In Langan's own words, the greatest honour in his life was pulling on the green shirt.

Born in Dublin, Langan played youth football with the Cherry Orchard club before coming to England to join Derby County, for whom he made his debut in 1977 as a 19-year-old and went on to make over 150 senior appearances. Jim Smith then paid a club record £350,000 to take him to Birmingham City, for whom he played over 100 games, but when his career was disrupted by injury such that he missed a full 18 months, he was released by manager Ron Saunders. Jim Smith, by then managing Oxford United, signed him and he regained his fitness and his international place. He played 136 games for Oxford, winning the Second Division championship in 1984–85 and the League Cup the following year. He later played for A.F.C. Bournemouth and Peterborough United, but his knee and back injuries put an early end to his career. He is now registered disabled.

On the 14th of June 1999 a benefit night was held in Ballyfermot for Dave in which his old team mate Paul McGrath showed up. [1].

In late 2006, an interview with Langan entitled "I Was Just Unlucky" hit the press. This article inspired Ireland fans, many remembering that Langan "would have run through a wall for Ireland," to start campaigning to get Langan a testimonial. This campaign picked up speed in early 2008 when some of the people at its forefront went on RTE radio and started an online petition. This petition had over 1,000 signatures at the time this was written.



[edit] References


Persondata
NAME Langan, David Francis
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Langan, Dave
SHORT DESCRIPTION Footballer
DATE OF BIRTH February 15, 1957
PLACE OF BIRTH Dublin, Republic of Ireland
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH
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