A FEW MINUTES into conversation with Graham Coughlan ahead of Sunday’s FAI Cup final with Derry City, the Waterford manager declares that he has provided the quote to sell the interview.
“It was probably the last time I cried, the last time I shed a tear. There’s your headlines.”
The Dubliner was speaking about his memories of playing for Shrewsbury Town and losing the 2009 League Two play-off final to a 90th minute goal at Wembley.
Aviva Stadium – Lansdowne Road – offers a different kind of emotion.
And the truth is, in the space of 15 minutes Coughlan delivers enough one-liners to keep the sharpest of editors on their toes.
He is a mixture of self-aware and self-deprecating.
For starters, here is Coughlan’s response when asked about the new “multi-year contract” he has agreed with the club after inspiring a stunning turnaround in fortunes since arriving in May.
“I’m from Clondalkin and I don’t know what that (multi-year) means. I haven’t got a clue what that means,” he said, following up with a deadpan response about whether he had actually signed the new deal.
“No. I’m still learning my signature.”
Coughlan rattles off the quips, with piercing moments of reflection.
“I was part of that dressing room. Jesus Christ,” he says of his early education as a centre back with Blackburn Rovers when they won the Premier League and qualified for the Champions League.
“If I was good enough I would have played, so I didn’t. That haunts you. You live with that for the whole of your career.”
The highest level he reached in England was the Championship, captaining a storied club like Sheffield Wednesday after forging a path with Livingston in Scotland and then Plymouth Argyle.
Spells with Rotherham United, Shrewsbury and Southend United book ended a playing career that started with Cherry Orchard in the Leinster Senior League at the age of 15 before Bray Wanderers provided a first taste of League of Ireland football.
“I never made an Irish, I never received an Irish cap either and that haunts me as well. Probably not good enough really, let’s have it right,” he says, quickly providing another one-liner about not losing his accent despite spending his adult life away from Dublin.
Advertisement
“My Ma would give me a clip around the ear if I ever came back with anything other [than my accent],” he smiles.
Graham Coughlan (left) with Conan Noonan. Ken Sutton
Ken Sutton
It was while he took the chance to go home and spend time with his parents in Clondalkin when Waterford got in touch in May. They were 10 points adrift at the bottom of the table and winless after 14 games. Coughlan’s inspiration saw them finish in seventh place and reach Irish football’s showpiece.
He couldn’t be prouder. Being back home has also provided an emotional catalyst for memories of his youth. He remembers his grandfather, Eddie Corrigan, working on the docks in North Wall and taking him to League of Ireland games around Dublin.
“He was a Shelbourne man and would sneak me in.”
He did the same at Shamrock Rovers and St Patrick’s Athletic, and was there for Paul McGrath’s last match before joining Manchester United, the club Coughlan also grew up supporting. His idol was Bryan Robson. Later, when became manager of Mansfield Town in 2019, Roy Keane was the first person to call and wish him good luck.
He asked if he could visit training to spend time with Coughlan and his former assistant, fellow Dubliner Joe Dunne.
“The best fucking four hours you could imagine,” Coughlan told The 42 in a previous interview while in charge of Newport County before a FA Cup tie with United in January 2024.
It was then that Coughlan also opened up about the tragic death of his 18-year-old brother Shane in 2007. He died in a drowning accident with a friend and while his older brother was granted compassionate leave by Sheffield Wednesday to return home for the funeral, the manner in which some at the club tried to pressure him to get back playing left a sour taste.
Worse would follow when he was later informed that his contract would not be renewed at the end of that season. He was club captain and reigning player of the year.
“There’s a number of people that are not with us, absent friend. I just want to make my family and those really proud on Sunday.
Waterford boss Graham Coughlan at Monday's media event for the FAI Cup final.
“I’m proud of who I am, I’m proud of where I’m from, the background, where I grew up. I kicked the paper ball in the flats with my granddad growing up. I’m conscious of who I am and where I come from. I’m proud to be from Dublin, I’m proud to be from Ireland, and I’m proud of the life that my Ma and Da gave me.”
Much of that was reinforced by earning a wage in a ruthless industry that is part of the fabric of life in Britain.
“And you’ve got to understand, I’m an Irishman living in England as well, so that can be cruel on me, and it can be cruel on the family as well – which at times you find it tough.
“So, if you want to talk stressful, yeah. If you want to talk anger, annoyance, directly at me because of where I’m from, you get all that.
“But that’s not me whinging. That’s not me moaning, that is just part and parcel of the life I’ve walked into, or I’ve built.”
The quips stop. Coughlan’s humour is engaging and disarming, but his honesty makes you realise why his players have embraced him with such fervour.
“I always have ambitions. I still think I can play for Ireland, never mind manage back in England.
“We always have ambitions, the pinnacle for me would be maybe managing my country. Now am I daft, am I stupid, will that ever happen? One percent it might, but 99 percent it won’t, I get all that, I understand that. I’m very, very ambitious.
“I want to do well in anything. I’d like to manage at the highest level. We spoke earlier about managing Europe. If that’s one of the ambitions, managing my country would be an ambition, managing in the Premier League would be another ambition.
“Whether any of them ambitions come true, God only knows, but it doesn’t stop me dreaming.”
Graham Coughlan (left) in action for Sheffield Wednesday against Darren Bent of Charlton Athletic. Alamy Stock Photo
Alamy Stock Photo
He has everyone in Waterford doing more than that: they believe. Coughlan turns 52 later this month and has been inspired for the Blues, but they have also helped him in ways that he will only truly delve into after Sunday’s game.
“I love football, I love the game, it has reinvigorated me. It’s given me a new lease of life. Sometimes a male needs a little confidence boost, or maybe he needs a little pick me up.
“Maybe these lads have given me that, maybe these lads have picked me up. Sometimes it does take its toll, and there’s only so many times you can keep chipping away at the rock, before the rock cracks.”
There is one final plea before he can crack on with the rest of the week’s work.
“Don’t make it about me, make it about the lads, because the lads bought into me. They went with it, trusted me, and look, they get the rewards, they’re walking out on the pitch on Sunday.
“I’m so, so proud of them, so proud of them, and I will be when I see them lift the Cup on Sunday.”
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Close
Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic.
Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy
here
before taking part.
Waterford's Miracle Man: Graham Coughlan's life in football sums up game's extremes
A FEW MINUTES into conversation with Graham Coughlan ahead of Sunday’s FAI Cup final with Derry City, the Waterford manager declares that he has provided the quote to sell the interview.
“It was probably the last time I cried, the last time I shed a tear. There’s your headlines.”
The Dubliner was speaking about his memories of playing for Shrewsbury Town and losing the 2009 League Two play-off final to a 90th minute goal at Wembley.
Aviva Stadium – Lansdowne Road – offers a different kind of emotion.
And the truth is, in the space of 15 minutes Coughlan delivers enough one-liners to keep the sharpest of editors on their toes.
He is a mixture of self-aware and self-deprecating.
For starters, here is Coughlan’s response when asked about the new “multi-year contract” he has agreed with the club after inspiring a stunning turnaround in fortunes since arriving in May.
“I’m from Clondalkin and I don’t know what that (multi-year) means. I haven’t got a clue what that means,” he said, following up with a deadpan response about whether he had actually signed the new deal.
“No. I’m still learning my signature.”
Coughlan rattles off the quips, with piercing moments of reflection.
“I was part of that dressing room. Jesus Christ,” he says of his early education as a centre back with Blackburn Rovers when they won the Premier League and qualified for the Champions League.
“If I was good enough I would have played, so I didn’t. That haunts you. You live with that for the whole of your career.”
The highest level he reached in England was the Championship, captaining a storied club like Sheffield Wednesday after forging a path with Livingston in Scotland and then Plymouth Argyle.
Spells with Rotherham United, Shrewsbury and Southend United book ended a playing career that started with Cherry Orchard in the Leinster Senior League at the age of 15 before Bray Wanderers provided a first taste of League of Ireland football.
“I never made an Irish, I never received an Irish cap either and that haunts me as well. Probably not good enough really, let’s have it right,” he says, quickly providing another one-liner about not losing his accent despite spending his adult life away from Dublin.
“My Ma would give me a clip around the ear if I ever came back with anything other [than my accent],” he smiles.
It was while he took the chance to go home and spend time with his parents in Clondalkin when Waterford got in touch in May. They were 10 points adrift at the bottom of the table and winless after 14 games. Coughlan’s inspiration saw them finish in seventh place and reach Irish football’s showpiece.
He couldn’t be prouder. Being back home has also provided an emotional catalyst for memories of his youth. He remembers his grandfather, Eddie Corrigan, working on the docks in North Wall and taking him to League of Ireland games around Dublin.
“He was a Shelbourne man and would sneak me in.”
He did the same at Shamrock Rovers and St Patrick’s Athletic, and was there for Paul McGrath’s last match before joining Manchester United, the club Coughlan also grew up supporting. His idol was Bryan Robson. Later, when became manager of Mansfield Town in 2019, Roy Keane was the first person to call and wish him good luck.
He asked if he could visit training to spend time with Coughlan and his former assistant, fellow Dubliner Joe Dunne.
“The best fucking four hours you could imagine,” Coughlan told The 42 in a previous interview while in charge of Newport County before a FA Cup tie with United in January 2024.
It was then that Coughlan also opened up about the tragic death of his 18-year-old brother Shane in 2007. He died in a drowning accident with a friend and while his older brother was granted compassionate leave by Sheffield Wednesday to return home for the funeral, the manner in which some at the club tried to pressure him to get back playing left a sour taste.
Worse would follow when he was later informed that his contract would not be renewed at the end of that season. He was club captain and reigning player of the year.
“There’s a number of people that are not with us, absent friend. I just want to make my family and those really proud on Sunday.
“I’m proud of who I am, I’m proud of where I’m from, the background, where I grew up. I kicked the paper ball in the flats with my granddad growing up. I’m conscious of who I am and where I come from. I’m proud to be from Dublin, I’m proud to be from Ireland, and I’m proud of the life that my Ma and Da gave me.”
Much of that was reinforced by earning a wage in a ruthless industry that is part of the fabric of life in Britain.
“And you’ve got to understand, I’m an Irishman living in England as well, so that can be cruel on me, and it can be cruel on the family as well – which at times you find it tough.
“So, if you want to talk stressful, yeah. If you want to talk anger, annoyance, directly at me because of where I’m from, you get all that.
“But that’s not me whinging. That’s not me moaning, that is just part and parcel of the life I’ve walked into, or I’ve built.”
The quips stop. Coughlan’s humour is engaging and disarming, but his honesty makes you realise why his players have embraced him with such fervour.
“I always have ambitions. I still think I can play for Ireland, never mind manage back in England.
“We always have ambitions, the pinnacle for me would be maybe managing my country. Now am I daft, am I stupid, will that ever happen? One percent it might, but 99 percent it won’t, I get all that, I understand that. I’m very, very ambitious.
“I want to do well in anything. I’d like to manage at the highest level. We spoke earlier about managing Europe. If that’s one of the ambitions, managing my country would be an ambition, managing in the Premier League would be another ambition.
“Whether any of them ambitions come true, God only knows, but it doesn’t stop me dreaming.”
He has everyone in Waterford doing more than that: they believe. Coughlan turns 52 later this month and has been inspired for the Blues, but they have also helped him in ways that he will only truly delve into after Sunday’s game.
“I love football, I love the game, it has reinvigorated me. It’s given me a new lease of life. Sometimes a male needs a little confidence boost, or maybe he needs a little pick me up.
“Maybe these lads have given me that, maybe these lads have picked me up. Sometimes it does take its toll, and there’s only so many times you can keep chipping away at the rock, before the rock cracks.”
There is one final plea before he can crack on with the rest of the week’s work.
“Don’t make it about me, make it about the lads, because the lads bought into me. They went with it, trusted me, and look, they get the rewards, they’re walking out on the pitch on Sunday.
“I’m so, so proud of them, so proud of them, and I will be when I see them lift the Cup on Sunday.”
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Derry City FAI CUP FINAL BUILD UP Graham Coughlan Waterford FC