IRELAND KITMAN DICK Redmond hit the headlines back in November 2015 when the national team qualified for last summer’s Euros.
The Dubliner burst into the dressing room dressed as Superman, and lead the celebrations into the early hours. That night, he misplaced his beloved cape in Copper Face Jack’s.
He may be a messer at times, but he gets his job done.
The team’s kitman for the past 19 years, Redmond has given us a look behind the dressing room door, and an insight into what he witnesses between the management and players.
“It’s my passion, it’s my hobby, this is my life,” he smiles in #TheCallUp video, produced by Three Ireland.
“The whole backroom team, the staff and the team itself, they’re just one big family.”
“When the boss talks, it goes really quiet. They walk out and they’re a little bit taller. His [O'Neill's] team talks are just incredible, fellas just want to go out there and die for the shirt.
“Roy [Keane] would be one of the coaches then that would go over to a player personally. How can a player not take something from that — that’s the greatest player in the world talking to him.”
Redmond speaks of touching moments he has shared with captains through the years.
“Robbie Keane and Seamus [Coleman], the last thing they do before they leave the dressing room is call me over to put the armband on, give me a little hug and out we go, we’re ready to do battle.
“That makes you feel part of the team.”
As well as the serious side of things, he also shares stories of fun and games behind the scenes.
“Martin [O'Neill] used to hate people with hands in their pockets. It’s a fiver fine and we used to say it goes to the kitman’s Christmas party. Roy used to be great, he’d say, ‘look, Martin, he has his hands in his pockets quick, quick, quick. So it’s a bit of fun.
Towards the end of the video, he speaks of his Superman stunt, and his plans if the Boys in Green are to qualify for the World Cup: “There’ll be plenty more surprises coming from this end of the table!”
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