The late Jack Charlton: a regular visitor to Athlone region
The late Jack Charlton visited Athlone on a number of occasions during his stint as Republic of Ireland manager.
Charlton appeared at two special questions and answers session with the public, the first hosted by The Grand Hotel in Moate, in October 1988 and the second in The Paddock Hotel, Athlone, in April 1990.
At the latter event, he told over 100 supporters present that he had once refused an offer to play with Athlone Town.
The Westmeath Independent report noted: “The glistening pate and coalhard face betrayed not a hint of leg-pulling as Jack revealed that he was once asked to suspend retirement and donate what was left of his energies, to the cause of St. Mel's Park in the late seventies.”
The report of the earlier visit to The Grand Hotel highlighted the level of respect among the Irish public, particularly after the team’s exploits in Euro 88.
“The reception which greeted the manager of the Irish football team. Jack Charlton. as he strode into the Grand Hotel, Moate, last Tuesday evening, brought home the unbelievable high regard in which the Geordie and England World Cup medal holder is held by Irish people for his achievements with the national squad,” the report read.
“Serious questions were thrown at Jack and revealing answers were returned. The man could do no wrong, and this was evident when during the session he said that George Best was not among the great footballers. No one would have believed that an Englishman would ever dare say that to a hall full of soccer mad Irish supporters, regardless of whether it was true or not. Yet Jack said it, but not only that, when he explained himself he may well have convinced half of the attendance that he was correct. "I will give you my opinion, but I am not interested in your opinion," was his opening line. Honest and tough. You take him or leave him, and nobody left early once the big man was in his element.”
The Questions and Answers night was compered by then Derry City striker Noel Larkin, and included on the panel was Athlone Town's Denis Clarke and Longford Town manager, Pat Hackett.
Jack also met pupils and soccer enthusiasts at the Carmelite College. He was greeted at the entrance to the Grand Hotel by a guard of honour formed by local boy scouts.
His first visit to Athlone as Ireland manager was in November 1986 to help promote a private members’ draw being held by the FAI as part of a £3m investment plan.
And he was guest of honour at the 1987 Carroll's Athlone Sportstars of the Year function, turning down an invitation from Irish soccer writers in the process!
"I got the invitation first from Athlone Basketball Club to attend this lovely function and naturally I had to turn down an invitation from the Soccer Writers Association of Ireland to their annual function in Dublin,” he said.
Charlton also visited the Royal Hoey Hotel in 1993, posing for pictures with fans and of course, was one of a number of well-known personalities who took part in the official opening of Golden Island Shopping Centre in October 1997.
In a private capacity, he often stopped off in the midlands on his way to his beloved fishing trips in the west of Ireland.