Stan Shows The Way In Relegation Dogfight
By Aidan Begley

Rep. of Ireland International, Liverpool F.C, Aston Villa F.C., Coventry City F.C. - Steve Staunton has enjoyed a fantastic career to date. In total, Steve has been capped 102 times by Ireland and has represented his country in three world cups

He may have played in three World Cup finals, is the former captain of Ireland and holds the record for the most times he played for his country, but Steve Staunton has been involved with something different during the past season – a battle against relegation.

Thirty – Six year old Staunton left Aston Villa and life in the Premiership during the summer of 2003 to join local rivals Coventry City on a free transfer, and the move showed that there is still life in the old dog yet.

This season, Staunton or ‘Stan’ as he is more affectionately known, has been an influence on the youngsters at Highfield Road in a difficult season for the Sky Blues which has seen them battling for most of the season against a drop into League One (or the second division in old money).

His ‘never-say-die’ spirit which saw him play 102 times for Ireland, was demonstrated recently as he scored his first goal of the season – a thundering 25-yard strike – as Coventry defeated fellow relegation candidates Brighton to climb further away from the drop zone.

With the recent victory over Nottingham Forest, the Sky Blues and Staunton look like they have given themselves a fighting chance of avoiding the drop, which Staunton believes has been down to the hard work of the team, and not his recent return to the scoresheet.

“I have scored some goals in my time but for the move and everything, it was a good team goal and I was just fortunate I was on the end of it and not one of our strikers,” joked Staunton.

He added: “It was a massive goal, not just for me but more importantly for the club. We’ve started to grind out some really important results recently and I’m delighted that this has started to happen. It looks like we’re moving away from the bottom three just at the right time.”

The presence of Staunton at Coventry is sure to have an effect on another Irishman looking to force his way into a regular spot for the Sky Blues and eventually for Ireland, Michael Doyle.

The tenacious 23-year-old midfielder started his football career at Celtic, before coming to Coventry via a loan spell at Aarhus. This season has seen an increased contribution to the first team from Doyle and he is has been tipped to eventually represent his country in the coming years.

Making up the trio of men from the Republic is the seven-capped striker Graham Barrett, who is currently on loan at Sheffield Wednesday. Barrett ended last season on a high by being involved in the summer internationals in 2004 and has scored twice for the international team, but he has still to make an impact on the Coventry City team, but will be looking to do so next season.

Whatever happens, having the wise old head of Staunton at the helm of the Coventry City defence and under the management of Mickey Adams, the team may well be steering themselves away from trouble for an eventual assault on promotion back to the Premiership.