Dave Langan

David Francis Langan (born 15 February 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 a 3–2 victory over France.

Dave Langan
Langan in Dublin with supporters of his testimonial
Personal information
Full name David Francis Langan
Date of birth (1957-02-15) 15 February 1957
Place of birth Dublin, Ireland
Position(s) Right back
Youth career
1972–1973 Cherry Orchard
1973–1977 Derby County
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1977–1980 Derby County 143 (1)
1980–1984 Birmingham City 92 (3)
1984–1987 Oxford United 114 (2)
1987 → Leicester City (loan) 5 (0)
1987–1988 A.F.C. Bournemouth 20 (0)
1988–1989 Peterborough United 19 (0)
National team
1978–1987 Republic of Ireland 26 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

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 UEFA Euro 1988 in which he played four games. Despite public outcry, Langan was dropped for the adventure in the summer of 1988 in Germany and there ended his international career.

Langan played youth football with the Cherry Orchard club and was a youth international before going 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 and was Player of the Year in 1982,[1] 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. 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 14 June 1999, a benefit night was held in Ballyfermot for Langan in which his old teammate Paul McGrath showed up.[2]

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 RTÉ radio and started an online petition. This petition had over 1,000 signatures at the time this was written. Oxford United held a joint testimonial for Langan and Joey Beauchamp in 2011.[3]

In 2012 Langan's autobiography Running through Walls was released.[4]

Honours

Oxford United

References
  1. "Player of the Year". The Birmingham City FC Archive. 13 December 2002. Archived from the original on 28 December 2004. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  2. "David Langan Benefit". soccercentral.ie. 1999. Archived from the original on 6 March 2000. Retrieved 7 December 2016..
  3. Edwards, Mark (3 June 2011). "United favourites turn out for Langan/Beauchamp testimonial". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 18 April 2018.
  4. Langan, Dave; Keane, Trevor; Conway, Alan (2012). Running Through Walls: Dave Langan. DB Publishing. ISBN 178091010X. Archived from the original on 29 January 2013.
  • Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. pp. 104–05. ISBN 1-85983-010-2.
  • Howland, Andy. "Past players". Oxford Times. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  • "United ace crippled by injury". Oxford Times. 19 May 1999. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  • "David Langan". Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Transfer Database. Neil Brown. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
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