Terry Conroy

Ireland

Gerard Anthony Francis Conroy was born in Dublin to John (Jack) and Esther Conroy, and was one of ten siblings: Alphonsus (Ollie), Laurence (Lar), John (Donny), Rita, Peter, Michael, Vincent, Paul, and Marie. Christened as Gerard, he soon became known by the name Terry as he could not pronounce 'Gerard' as a young child. His mother held two jobs: as a factory worker and an office cleaner. The family lived in the suburb of Cabra, and had very limited finances. Being one of the younger children he was indulged, and took advantage of his lack of household chores to spend the majority of his time playing football in the street. However he was arrested by a plain-clothed policeman and sentenced to probation in Children's Court for playing football in the street. He later credited his ball control skills to the many years he spent playing football with large numbers of other children in the tight streets of Cabra. His father and brothers were in the printing trade, and his brother Ollie, a talented footballer, rejected the opportunity to turn professional at Wolverhampton Wanderers in 1950 in order to remain employed in Dublin as a machine minder and play football part-time in the League of Ireland. Three more of his brothers also played in the League of Ireland, and both Ollie and Michael played in the Shelbourne team that won the FAI Cup in 1960. Conroy began his career with Home Farm, where he won four Irish youth caps. He played for the Home Farm under-13s at…

Conroy won his first international cap under manager Mick Meagan on 7 October 1969, playing in a 3–0 World Cup qualification defeat to Czechoslovakia in Prague. He scored his first goal for the Republic of Ireland in a 2–1 defeat to the Soviet Union at Lansdowne Road on 18 October 1972. He scored in Ireland's next game, a 2–1 win over France at Dalymount Park on 15 November. Both of these games were qualification games for the 1974 FIFA World Cup; Ireland failed to qualify after finishing second in 1974 FIFA World Cup qualification for UEFA Group 9, the Soviet Union qualified as group winners whilst France finished third. On 3 July 1973, he appeared for a Shamrock Rovers XI in a friendly match against the Brazil national team at Lansdowne Road; he scored a goal in what ended as a 4–3 defeat. He played his final game for Ireland on 24 April 1977, a 0–0 draw with Poland at Dalymount Park. He returned to the international fold though in 1981, when he was appointed as assistant to the manager Eoin Hand. Hand's contract was not renewed in 1985, and Conroy also left his role soon before new manager Jack Charlton took charge.

Conroy was a firm fan favourite amongst Stoke City supporters due to his ability to create something out of nothing and his distinctive pale skin, bright ginger hair and sideburns. He was a talented dribbler. He described himself as having "the classic winger's role; a trick, then head down and go, hit the byline and cross".

"This red-haired ghost impressed me at Anfield where he was bundled over the touchline by a massive Liverpool defender. Terry got up took the return pass and after battling down the wing he flicked the ball past Tommy Lawrence with the outside of his boot. That is flair"

Conroy met Sue at The Place nightclub in Hanley in 1970, and the pair got married on 13 May 1972. They had three daughters together: Tara (born 1974), Niamh (born 1982), and Sinead (born 1986). After retiring from football, Conroy sold pottery on a market stall for three years. He later ran an insurance business in Ashton-under-Lyne and later supervised industrial cleaning contract work at exhibitions and shows. He returned to former club Stoke City in 1997 to work in the hospitality department at the new Britannia Stadium. He later also worked as a PA matchday announcer at the ground. He was also appointed welfare officer by the Football Association of Ireland in 2008, giving him the responsibility to look after Irish youngsters who came to the UK to join academy scholarship programmes. His contract with the FAI was not renewed when it expired in 2011. In March 2011, Conroy fell seriously ill with a suspected vascular aneurysm. He successfully recovered from the illness after undergoing a life-saving emergency operation that had a survival rate of just 10%. Whilst in hospital he had been given the last rites twice. He published his autobiography, You Don't Remember Me Do You?, in August 2014.