The late Billy Hearne's insight into his Irish coaching exploits
Billy Hearne pictured in the Bav Arena in Antwerp before Rep Of Ireland took on Belgium in an Under 16 International 2010. Billy is second last in the back row. Also in pic are some of Billy's fiends, Tommy Griffin, Gary Power, Johnny Browne, Seamus Conway, Decky Howlett and Derek Browne.
The passing of Billy Hearne on December 4th, 2024, brought the football community in Waterford to a standstill.
It brought real sadness to the football family of Waterford. Billy was renowned for his love of young players, both at his club De La Salle FC and Waterford FC. Billy was a goalkeeping coach of the highest order, and in 2010, he received a phone call from the Republic of Ireland U15 & U16 manager, John Morling, asking him to join the Irish U16 International squad on the upcoming trip to Belgium from April 25th to 30th.
This was Billy’s fourth trip abroad with the International setup as a goalkeeping coach. In his own words explained: “When I received the message from John, my heart almost jumped out of my chest, I was as excited as any of the young footballers who were getting the opportunity to represent their Country on foreign soil, and I felt the same”.
Billy sent me a detailed account of the trip, and below you can read every step that Billy took on the trip to Belgium. He hoped that by printing this, it would give an insight into what would be required of you as a young Waterford player if you are selected to represent Ireland at an underage level.
Previous experience certainly stands to you when you prepare for such a trip, after packing the essentials and ensuring the boots, gloves, passport, and suncream are all in place. I say an early goodbye to my family and head off to Dublin.
I arrive at the AUL Complex at Clonshaugh for what will be the first of numerous staff meetings. The logistics of bringing 36 players - two squads are huge, John Morling (Manager), along with Andrew Hussey, the squad's Operations Executive, also the staff of the International Department, and our Kit Man, Paul Sheridan, is staggering.
Each squad will have a Manager, a Coach, a Goalkeeping Coach, and a Physio; there is also a Doctor and a Technical Analyst, who is Brian McCarthy. A total staff of 12 travelling all with great experience, and most of us have worked together before.
Two representatives from the SFAI will also travel in an official capacity. At noon, the players arrive, and John welcomes everybody and puts the new lads at ease. The staff are introduced to the players and the tone is set for the remainder of the week, hard work, loads to learn, but most of all, enjoy the experience. There are plenty of familiar faces, including Kenny McEvoy from Waterford. I know all the goalkeepers, having worked with them at the Tri Nations Cup in Wales the year before. This is a really good get-to-know-you session, and we do some defensive work and play out from the back, which goes really well.
From coaching sessions with their clubs, the players are better equipped on the tactical side as well, and improve their technique. After training, it's back to the Clarion Hotel at Dublin Airport for check-in to the rooms, a quick shower, and then everybody collects their leisure wear.
It’s time for lunch, the players sit together as they get to know each other, and the staff dine at a separate table. Vincent Butler, a former Schoolboy manager, joins us, and he knows everybody by first name. It’s great to have him on the trip as he is a fountain of knowledge on underage football and a gentleman as well.
As lunch ends, John explains to the players the importance of food, water, and sleep for the duration of the trip. After a second training session, John summons all the players and staff for a team meeting before bed.
It’s a 4am rise with breakfast at 4.30, and then check in at 5am. Shortly after, we are seated on Aer Lingus flight 6.50 to Brussels. A luxury bus takes us on a ninety-minute trip to our top-class Hotel just outside Liege.
The rooms are a good size, excellent restaurant with an indoor pool and an outside pool, and a Leisure Centre. Later, we sit down to arrange our first training session on foreign soil. Vim Koevermans, our FAI Performance Manager, is now in place, and he accompanies us to the nearby ground of 3rd Division Club RFC Seraing.
Both squads had excellent sessions; the B squad did some set plays, while the A squad played a 9 v 9 along with some possession work. I do plenty of handling work with the keepers and get them used to the new Nike ball that will be used in the game.
The team spirit is beginning to show, and it was a lively coach trip back to the hotel. Evening dinner and then compulsory study is followed by two individual team meetings. Tactfoot is then introduced, hard copies of Tactfoot are printed off, so each coach and each manager will know which player is at for each set play, and when substitutions are made that each player knows their role.
1 It’s a 9.30am start as the A team are at breakfast for 9.45, for the B side it’s a staggered time of 10am, this is done to stop delays in the restaurant. The food is really good and we have an excellent choice.
The medical team has given the players loads of advice on what to eat and has had meetings with the restaurant manager so that a suitable menu is available. After breakfast, we go for a short walk and then get ready to leave for the Stadium.
Before we go, a team meeting is called to remind the players and staff about Ireland's good reputation both on and off the field of play. The A team leaves for their game as they kick off first, and I stay with the B team to do some extra work with the keepers.
We were surprised when we reached the ground to hear that they were 3-0 down to the Belgium B side; however, as the boys turned it around in the second half to win 4 - 3. We in turn, are playing the Belgium A side, who had previously beaten England and drawn with France.
As we walk out and line up for the National Anthem’s you get a real sense of the occasion of a game at this level, the adrenaline is now flowing as Amhrán na bhFaiann is blasted out.
I am nearly 50 years of age, and I'm buzzing. What's it like for a 15-year-old? Only one word: MAGIC. We spot Liam Brady in the crowd, and he gives us a big wave. The game is under way but we are struggling to keep the ball and are forced back.
A couple of tactical changes, are we are back in the game. Then a major setback as they scored after we failed to deal with a long ball into the box. We respond well in the second half and come more into the game.
The tactics are fascinating, and our boys cope well with everything that is thrown at them. We counterattack with some very great moves and should have equalised with ten minutes remaining. A super performance despite the 1 - 0 loss, we are all so proud of the boys, and we tell them that in the dressing room.
Back to the hotel for a well-deserved meal, then straight to bed for the players, for the staff we meet to review the day and eventually get to bed at 1am.
The medical staff are busy treating the players who are carrying a few knocks from yesterday's game, and the coaching staff meet with Vim Koevermans. After breakfast, Vim reviews both teams' performances and the tactics of ourselves and the Belgians.
With the help of his expertise, we come up with some excellent ideas to be employed in tomorrow's games. He also gives some very helpful feedback and advice on the content and makeup of the sessions required before the next match.
The training sessions are held on a fantastic 10-pitch complex near the Dutch border. We are joined by Mark O’Toole, who is the FAI English-based scout. Both sessions go really well, and the reaction from the players shows that they understand what is required of them, and that fills the whole camp with confidence for the next two games.
After a 15-minute delay, we finally get to walk down the tunnel and out into the heat It's 25 degrees and sweltering hot. We match the hosts for the first twenty minutes, our tactics of not leaving team play out from the back is working a threat.
We create a number of goalscoring opportunities but fail to hit the net, and their goalkeeper is playing a blinder. On the stroke of half-time time, we make a poor decision to push up for offside, and they get a free run at goal, and they score.
In the second half, we push for an equaliser, and they catch us on the counterattack and score again, game over. In the dressing room after the game, the boys are disappointed having controlled most of the game and end up with nothing to show for it. But that's football at this level you must take your chances.
The squad gets changed, and we head up to the main stand to watch the second game. It was a fabulous game and a real ding-dong battle won by the hosts who hit an injury-time winner.
We arrive back at the hotel for some dinner, the boys are disappointed, but we lift their spirits by telling them how well they played and that the future looks bright for these players and Irish Schoolboy football in general. After dinner, the Belgian FA presents us with mementoes and thanks us for being such joyful visitors as we say our farewells.
As we head for the airport, the happiest man on the plane is Under-17 manager Sean McCaffrey, as he has just seen the next batch of players and the quality is there for all to see.
Being a young footballer in the country has never been so exciting, and the opportunities for those who aspire to progress to the highest levels of the game are clearer and accessible than ever before.
As for me, I am just happy that maybe I have given a little helping hand to some of these lads as they find their way along their football pathway. Of the goalkeepers I worked with, one has signed for Manchester United, another for Manchester City, and the third for Ipswich Town. Maybe I'm not too bad at this goalkeeping lark after all.
FOOTNOTE This is dedicated to Billy’s family and his De La Salle club. No, Billy, you weren’t too bad at the goalkeeping lark at all. Thanks for the many memories.
