Page 59 - Callan United 50th Anniversary Yearbook 2018/19

Leaving a legacy

Derek Roche

It's a beautiful September Sunday in 1971. Most households are
rushing to get uniforms dry for the morning. Not Dan Roche.

School requirements simply have to play second fiddle to the
really important business of the day. His washing line is
decorated with the Red & Black, flickering gently in the breeze,
ready to be once again soiled in the blood. sweat and tears of

his beloved Callan United.

Once the shirts are clean and dry enough for the Kilkenny
Premier Division Champions, Dan will make his way to the Fair

Green to line the pitch, hang the nets and any other of the
mundane jobs that prove a hindrance to players and
management to this day.

He'll fill the water bottles, he'll put out the corner flags and he'll
make sure that the players are greeted by a pristine dressing
room, freshly swept and worthy, in Dan's mind, to accommodate
the Mossy Powers and Christy Whelans of this world. Heroes of

men who were present for arguably the most glory-laden period
in the club's history.

Two Premier Division titles and a McCalmont Cup were

testament to this. It's a time when there were plenty of plaudits
to be had and lots of satisfaction to be gleaned from being the
local kingpins. Bragging rights were firmly embedded in the
banks of the Kings.