Questions from Martin Culshaw: After kids football back in your hometown of Dublin, you joined Leicester City as trainee in 2003 but after two years of playing in the reserves, you turned down a new contract to go in search of first team football. What was football like back in Ireland compared to a fairly big Club like Leicester City? “Football was very different. I came from a part of Dublin that wasn’t very nice, a bit rough. I loved it at Leicester, they gave me the chance to play football which is all I wanted to do, I came over when I was about 16. I’d been on the bench for the first team a few times but never got to play so when the chance came to join Mansfield I took it as I knew I’d play there”
In 2005 you joined Mansfield Town and scored on your debut against Stockport County, I bet the Mansfield fans thought great we’ve signed a goalscoring midfielder here, in reality that was your only goal of the season in 45 appearances? “It must have been a fluke or a clearance or something”
In your final season at Field Mill and Mansfield were relegated out of the Football League. Obviously the fans feel relegation to non league most distressing but you made over 125 appearances for the Club, what does it feel like as a player when the realisation sets in that you’ve been relegated? “You feel you’ve let everybody down, your family, your teammates, the staff and especially the fans. It’s something I’ve never really got over. That feeling is terrible”
Having opted to move away from Mansfield you then signed for Bury where you would spend the next couple of years. As with Mansfield, the Bury fans absolutely loved you as you were a no nonsense, tough tackling midfielder? “I just gave 100% in every game and yes I loved a tackle”
In that first season you helped guide Bury to the play offs and as with Dale that season, fell short by losing in the semi-final against Shrewsbury. After a long season, how tough is it to keep going beyond the end of the season waiting for the play off’s to begin? “It wasn’t too bad, it was only a week or so. We fell short that season, we should have got promotion automatically but for whatever reason we fell short and had to go through the play offs. We should have done much better than we did with the players we had”
You left Bury citing the desire to play higher up the football pyramid and after a spell at Leyton Orient, you joined Championship side Barnsley with a certain Keith Hill in charge at Oakwell. Was Keith a factor in signing for them or was it all about testing yourself at Championship level? “I’d always wanted to play as high up as possible so when this chance came about, I had to take it. We clashed quite badly. I used to say it as it was which I think Keith appreciated and hated in equal measures”
Keith lasted just short of twelve months after you signed with Dave Flitcroft stepping up to the managerial reigns. Was there much difference between the two styles of the manager? “We were in trouble when Keith left so when Dave took over he was a little calmer but whatever he did worked as we stayed up that season. The following season didn’t work though and we were relegated”
Barnsley lost their Championship status and you left Oakwell to re-join Keith Hill who by this point had returned to Rochdale. What was it about Keith Hill that tempted you to sign here? “I was offered the chance to come here before I signed for Leyton Orient but it was purely down to them being in a higher division so when Keith asked me to come I jumped at the chance. I’d had a bad injury and was coming back from that”
You helped guide Rochdale to 8th in League One at the end of that season, our highest ever finish? “We had some great players in that side like Conrad Logan, Jack O’Connell, Jamie Allen, Callum Camps, Tom Kennedy, Michael Rose and Ian Henderson, who of course is still playing today at the ripe old age of 40. That list shows what a great team we had. In all honesty we probably should have finished in the play offs that season with the squad we had. Hendo puts me to shame! I’m looking forward to seeing him this afternoon and hopefully he scores”
Despite only having one season here, you were really well thought of by the supporters, so much so that even now it’s not unusual to here “we’re missing a Stephen Dawson type player in that midfield” “Well, that’s very nice of you to say and again I always gave my all whenever I pulled on a shirt for the team. I lived in Rochdale then and I still do now. I work here and I’m a Rochdale supporter now. I come and watch whenever I can and if they make the play offs I’ll definitely be here”
You spent two season in League One with Scunthorpe United following your time here at Rochdale. What made you choose a move away rather than staying here? “Towards the end of the season I had a fall out with Keith. We had words and I’d already made my mind up I would leave in the Summer”
In 2017 you re-joined Bury in what would be a tough two years at the Club that ultimately saw them expelled from the EFL following a failed takeover. I remember you were quite outspoken about the situation at Bury and their ultimate demise, you clearly felt a lot for them. How difficult was it as a player at that time with wages not being paid and basically seeing the Club slipping away. There was a very interesting interview live on TalkSport where you ended up arguing with the owner Steve Dale about the goings on. How tough was it personally, you said you had to sell your house due to unpaid wages? “I would say the toughest two years of my life. We weren’t getting paid but people were saying you’ve played in the Championship, you’ll be ok for money but I had a nice house with a large mortgage. It put a large strain on me personally. I think we got one month’s wages in a twelve month period. As captain, I was asked to go on the radio to try and tell the fans what it was like and how tough things were. Things boiled over and I took my chance to say it as it was to the owner, which I don’t think he liked but I didn’t care as he didn’t care”
You had some stints at Hereford & Radcliffe before calling time on your career, what is it that Stephen Dawson does now? “I work with vulnerable kids that have been expelled from School. It’s tough, especially compared to kicking a ball around but it’s such a rewarding job”
