Dave Langan

David Francis "Dave" Langan (born 15 February 1957 in Dublin) 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.

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.

Unfortunately, despite the rather somewhat public outcry, Langan was dropped for the adventure in the summer of '88 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, 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 Dave in which his old team mate Paul McGrath showed up.^[1]

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.

In 2012 Langan's autobiography "Running through Walls" was released.^[2]

Honours

• Football League Second Division^[3]
  • Oxford United F.C. 1984/85
• Football League Cup
  • Oxford United F.C. 1985/86

References

• Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. pp. 104–05. ISBN 1-85983-010-2. 
• "Dave Langan". Oxford United Club history. Oxford Times. Archived from the original on 23 February 2008. Retrieved 25 October 2007. 
• "United ace crippled by injury". Oxford Times. 19 May 1999. Retrieved 25 October 2007. 
• "David Langan". Post War English & Scottish Football League A – Z Player's Database. Brown, Neil. Retrieved 25 October 2007.