Greg Cunningham comes full circle as coaching journey begins

Greg Cunningham is familiar with his surroundings having played and trained here both at underage level for local rivals Mervue United and again in his later years for Galway United. Between, he amassed over 350 professional club appearances and four senior international caps before returning home to captain the Tribesmen and ultimately conclude his playing career in his hometown following retirement last January.

"It's an exciting time for me and for the club. I'm really looking forward to getting into the thick of it now. It was an opportunity I couldn't pass up, I'm delighted to get stuck in and enjoy everything that management has to offer and start my coaching career in my hometown," Cunningham says.

Back to his roots indeed, and quite a different environment to Manchester City where he started his professional career, before going on to enjoy spells at Leicester City, Nottingham Forest, Bristol City, Preston North End and Cardiff City in a career that spanned close to two decades across the Irish Sea. For many players, preparing for life after football is hard to swallow but for Cunningham, it was a transition he welcomed, and one which began almost four years before hanging up his boots.

"I've always loved the tactical side of the game as a player, and as you get older, there's always one eye on what's next. I did my UEFA B coaching badges at Cardiff and my A badges at Preston. That not only benefitted me as a coach but as a player as well while I was still playing."

Football careers feel shorter than ever and it's hard to believe that almost 20 years have passed since he was snapped up by Man City as a 16-year-old, a club who at the time were on the verge of a takeover that would see them go on to dominate English football. Cunningham recalls arriving at the dawn of a new era in Manchester with Mark Hughes having just replaced Sven-Göran Eriksson as manager and the club's owners making their first of what would be a multitude of big-name signings with the arrival of Brazilian striker Robinho.

"All of the first-team players were unbelievable towards the young lads. I remember after a couple of years I was asked to join the first team for a trip to Romania along with Dedryk Boyata. The first team squad were up in first class while the two of us were in the front row of economy. Tevez turned around and spotted we were there, I saw him go up to Roberto Mancini and then all of a sudden Boyata was beside Tevez and I was sitting in Mancini's seat! That's what they were like, it was a lovely gesture."

Like many young Irish footballers that get recruited into English football academies, Cunningham had the world at his feet, making his senior debut in 2010 under Mancini in a 4-2 FA Cup win over Scunthorpe United where he played alongside Vincent Kompany, Stephen Ireland and Robinho.

Though he was given further senior minutes as City went on to finish fifth in the Premier League, it became clear that first-team opportunities in his favoured left-back position would be limited with the arrival of £20 million signing Aleksandar Kolarov from Lazio. After a couple of loan spells, Cunningham was offered the opportunity to join Bristol City and from there he went on to show some of his best football which led to subsequent moves to Preston North End and Cardiff City.

"I just wanted more football. I didn't want to go out on loan again, I thought I needed to get full-time first team football, so I had a call with Bristol City and made the decision to join. That led to a move to Preston and I think that was the best period of my career."

A first international cap would follow that debut in 2010 as Cunningham played the full 90 minutes in a 3-0 friendly win over Algeria under Giovanni Trapattoni, with the Italian stating: "He is a good footballer. When he has the ball, he immediately sees the pass, and he has a good personality."

Further caps would follow in friendlies against Argentina, Norway and Poland, and Cunningham looks back with pride on pulling on that green jersey and representing his country.

"I got called up for the Brazil friendly in the Emirates Stadium, then the summer friendlies in Dublin against Paraguay and Algeria where I made my debut alongside Damien Duff and Robbie Keane. Robbie got man of the match in that game but he gave me the trophy, I still have it at home. If someone had told me at 16 that in three years time, I'd make my Ireland debut, I would have snapped their hand off, the amount of kids that dream of it and I got to do it."

Cunningham returned to Ireland in 2024 when he signed for Galway United at age 33, and spent two successful seasons as captain at Eamonn Deacy Park before hanging up his boots to begin a new era on the sideline at Salthill Devon. As one of the 15 new clubs confirmed for the inaugural FAI National League, the Mervue native is excited for the new season ahead but is equally aware of the challenges that will come with it.

"It's a great initiative by the FAI to do this, there's a lot of strong clubs around the country that have been waiting for this opportunity. We have to be realistic as there is a massive financial cost to step into this league, I want the best of the best but I have to stay grounded on what is achievable. We have a great board and the club are incredibly ambitious, as we progress, so too will the club and it will only continue to grow."

The League of Ireland hasn't had a third tier level since the A Championship was disbanded back in 2011. Now, the new National League offers a pathway for clubs outside the Premier and First Divisions to enter the League of Ireland structure as well as opening up the possibility of relegation which the FAI state will lead to a "dynamic and competitive structure that continually rewards excellence and development."

As for Cunningham and Salthill Devon, does this remain a realistic and reachable ambition as they gear up for their opening fixture against Letterkenny Rovers in Group 2 along with clashes against St. Francis FC, TUD and neighbours Mayo FC?

"Of course we are in it to win it. We know we won't win every game, and there is a lot of unknown with regards to the opposition and how the league will run. The main thing is to perform each week, then we will see how it unfolds especially come February when it aligns with the Premier and First Divisions."

The FAI National League kicks off on Saturday August 29 with the first fixture taking place at SETU Carlow Sports Campus as CK United host Newbridge Town at 2pm.

Rd 1 (Aug 29): Group 1, Mervue United v Cockhill Celtic, Fahy's Field, 3pm; Bonagee United v Home Farm DCU, Dry Arch Park, 5pm; Group 2, Salthill Devon v Letterkenny Rovers, NFP Park, 3pm; Mayo v St. Francis, Umbro Park, 5pm; Group 3, CK United v Newbridge Town, SETU Carlow 2pm; Group 3, Villa v Killarney Celtic, workLAB Connors Park, 5pm.

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