Nicky English
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| Nicky English | ||
| Personal information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sport | Hurling | |
| Irish Name | Nioclás Inglis | |
| Full name | Nicholas J. English | |
| Place of birth | Cullen , County Tipperary | |
| Nickname(s) | Nicky | |
| Club information | ||
| Club | Lattin-Cullen | |
| Position | Full-forward | |
| Inter-County | ||
| County | Tipperary | |
| Position | Full-forward | |
| Inter-County(ies)** | ||
| County | Years | Apps (scores) |
| Tipperary | 1982-1996 | 35 (20-117) |
| Senior Inter-County Titles | ||
| Munster Titles | 4 | |
| All-Ireland | 2 | |
| All Stars | 6 | |
|
* club appearances and scores |
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Nicholas J. English (born 1962 in Cullen, County Tipperary), better known as Nicky English, is a retired Irish hurling manager and former player. He played hurling with his local club Lattin-Cullen and with the Tipperary senior inter-county team from 1982 until 1996. His claiming of a position on the Tipperary Hurling Team of the Century marks English out as one of Tipperary's greatest-ever players.
English's status as one of Tipperary's all-time greats is self-evident. In a senior inter-county career that lasted for fourteen years he won two All-Ireland titles, four Munster titles, one National Hurling League title and two Railway Cup titles. His tally of 20 goals and 117 points from 35 championship games marks him out as Tipperary's third highest scorer of all-time.
English has also been the recipient of many awards and honours off the field. In 1989 his hurling prowess earned him the prestigious Texaco Hurler of the Year award. He was later honoured in 2000 when he was named, by popular opinion, in the right left-forward position on the Tipperary Hurling Team of the Century. English has also won six All-Star awards.
As a manager Keating has had much success with his own native county. In 2001 he guided Tipperary to All-Ireland, Munster and National Hurling League titles. What ius more remarkable is the fact that these victories came at a time when many believed that Tipperary hurling was on a downward spiral again.
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[edit] Early life
Nicholas English was born in the village of Cullen on the Limerick-Tipperary border in 1962. He was educated locally and from a young age he showed great skill at the game of hurling. Although his local club had a hurling tradition, they were primarily a football club, so for the most part, English practised his hurling skills alone. His father was also a huge influence as he was a huge follower of local and inter-county hurling. English later attended the Abbey Christian Brothers School in Tipperary town, where his hurling skills were further developed. Here he shared in the school's Croke Cup and Rice Cup successes. He also won a Fitzgerald Shield following a win over Rockwell College.
English studied for a Bachelor of Arts degree at University College Cork where he won five Fitzgibbon Cup medals in a row with UCC. He currently works with Allied Irish Bank and is a member of the high-profile Hurling Development Committee.
[edit] Playing career
[edit] Club
English played his club hurling with his local Lattin-Cullen side. With the club English won an intermediate football title in 1989, a junior hurling title in 1992 and an intermediate hurling title in 1996.
[edit] Inter-county
In 1979 English joined the Tipperary minor hurling side but was eventually dropped from the team. He subsequently regained his place and won his first All-Ireland medal in 1980. By 1981 English had joined the under-21 team, where he shared in Tipperary’s third All-Ireland victory in-a-row.
In 1982 English joined the senior team, however, Tipperary hurling was in the doldrums at the time. He played in his first Munster final in 1984, however, Cork snatched victory with two quick goals in the last two minutes. In spite of this defeat English was honoured with a second consecutive All-Star award. He added a third in 1985. Two years later in 1987 English won his first Munster title following a thrilling replay against Cork. Tipp were subsequently defeated by Galway in the All-Ireland semi-final, however, English won his fourth All-Star award. In 1988 English captured his first and only National Hurling League title before winning his second Munster medal. He subsequently captained the side in the All-Ireland final after the controversial dropping of the original captain, Pat O'Neill. Once again Galway defeated Tipperary but English was still presented with a fifth All-Star award. In 1989 English won his third Munster title in-a-row before finally getting the better of Galway in the All-Ireland semi-final. Surprisingly Antrim provided the opposition in the All-Ireland final, however, they were wiped off the pitch on a scoreline of 4-24 to 3-9. English himself amassed a personal tally of 2-12 which is the second highest total ever in a McCarthy Cup final only surpassed by the 5 goals and 4 points scored by Gah Ahern of Blackrock and Cork in the 1928 final between Cork and Galway. If Tipperary had lost that final it would have been the first decade in Gaelic Athletic Association history in which the Premier County had failed to win an All-Ireland title. The year ended with English winning his sixth All-Star award and being named Texaco Hurler of the Year.
In 1990 Tipperary lost their Munster crown. Tipp were back on form in 1991 with English winning his fourth provincial title. He later captured his second All-Ireland medal following a defeat of Kilkenny. Two years later in 1993 English won his fifth Munster medal when he came on as a substitute against Clare. Tipp, however, were later defeated in the All-Ireland semi-final by their old enemies Galway. English continued playing with Tipp until his retirement in 1996.
[edit] Managerial career
In 1999 English took over as manager of the Tipperary senior hurling team. He rebuilt the success-starved team and in 2001 Tipperary won the National Hurling League for the first time since 1994. He subsequently guided his native county to their first Munster title since English himself was a player in 1993. Tipperary subsequently captured their 25th All-Ireland title following a win over Galway. In 2002 Tipperary were beaten by Waterford in the Munster final and by Kilkenny in the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship semi final. English resigned as manager.
In 2000 English’s reputation as one of Tipperary’s greatest-ever players was cemented when he was named on the Tipperary Hurling Team of the Millennium.
| Awards | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Tony Keady (Galway) |
Texaco Hurler of the Year 1989 |
Succeeded by Tony O'Sullivan (Cork) |
| Achievements | ||
| Preceded by Brian Cody (Kilkenny) |
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Final winning manager 2001 |
Succeeded by Brian Cody (Kilkenny) |
| Sporting positions | ||
| Preceded by Pat O'Neill |
Tipperary Senior Hurling Captain 1988 |
Succeeded by Bobby Ryan |
| Preceded by Len Gaynor |
Tipperary Senior Hurling Manager 1998-2002 |
Succeeded by Michael Doyle |
[edit] Teams
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