So Stephen Folan’s cross channel venture continues. A splendid spell sprinkled with hope has brought Galway’s freshest footballer into reserve team fare at the tender age of 16. Though only nine months as a professional with Newcastle United smooth progress is being made by Folan in the north east of England.
A brother of the gifted Tony, who enjoyed productive spells with Crystal Palace and Brentford, making 60 appearances in the Football League, Stephen has made a brisk impression for the Magpies. Last Tuesday Folan was included at left full in Newcastle’s reserve team for a clash with Wigan Athletic, contributing a cute performance earning praise and plaudits from esteemed colleagues.
Guidance was supplied by Steve Harper, the Newcastle reserve goalkeeper in his 15th season as a professional with the club. “He was very encouraging to me and helped me throughout the game. Before it started he made me feel very welcome and didn’t make me feel nervous at all. After the game it was brilliant and he came up to me and told me that I played well and that was great.”
The compliments were plentiful, and Folan was thrilled by reserve team manager Richard Money’s verdict. “To be honest I was very surprised to be included in the team even though I have been training regularly with the reserves. For a first year to make the reserves is good and Richard Money was very happy. After the match he came up to me and shook my hand and told me that I did very well and that I would be involved in more matches.”
Dealing with the relentless training and matches is exacting, but Folan is coping admirably. Having signed for Newcastle in January Folan’s development has been rapid and remarkable. “I think once you get a taste of it you just want more and more. Overall the first couple of months were tough because it took me time to get used to the full-time training and it takes you a while to adapt to the pace. The standard is really high and all the teams in the Academy Youth League are very good.”
Still Folan managed to survive and is now beginning to soar. Constant gym work has put muscle on his frame and that will be beneficial in the coming months. Life as a professional footballer is demanding, but the possibilities are endless too. Hard work is inevitable. Every minute detail is mapped out by the club, while watching the first team remains an integral part of the tutoring process. “It is a help to us watching those games because you are seeing top players in action all the time. It is good to watch these players and I have played in all the outfield positions since I’ve been at Newcastle. It is not all glamour, though, on the football side because it is all about hard work. At the start I wanted to break into the youth team and then to break through to the reserves and you have to be hardworking all the time.”
That has been a feature of Folan’s career thus far. While in Galway Folan graced the Mervue United, Hibernians, and Salthill Devon shirts and was anxious to acknowledge the role of those who have aided him thus far.
“I am very grateful to all my family and friends. At Mervue Gerry Lynskey, Jarlath Connolly, Billy Carr, Mike Shaughnessy, and Terry O’Flaherty were very good to me. In Hibs Sean McGlynn, Pat Turke, Kevin Ward, Eugene Dowling, and Joe Reilly all were very good to me and at Salthill Donal Murray, Rob Meehan, Vinny Byrne, and Jumbo Brennan were great as well. In the Bish Mr Brennan, Mr O’Hici, Mr O’Keefe, Mr Herrick, Mr Grealish, Mr O’Malley, and Mr Kelly were always encouraging to me when I was at school there.” Folan is learning the game and ripening, and the recent tidings are favourable. Sustaining this level of advancement is the challenge which Folan will relish.
