Pat McAllister: Leading from the front

Never one to shirk a challenge or speak his mind, ‘Packie’ got in a few scrapes during his playing days, but he always gave his all every time he crossed that white line, whether that be in training or for a game.

Here he tells us about his pride at playing for Coleraine but also his sadness as he felt he let the club down at times with his disciplinary record, his biggest regret at not winning the League, and what really happened with Roy McCreadie.

Are you disappointed you didn’t stay at Dunfermline longer?

Being a full-time footballer was not something I always craved. Looking back I did find it very difficult to settle, I was homesick. I also found myself with so much free time as we only trained for a few hours each day and then we were really left to our own devices, which wasn’t always the best thing. But I would never change what I have done, that experience helped shape me and made me into a better footballer.

What did you think when Coleraine agreed to pay a club record fee of £32,000 to bring you to The Showgrounds in 1995?

I am my own worst critic so when I heard the fee I thought I was overpriced! I think there’s a perception among some footballers coming back from England or Scotland that it will be easy to play in the Irish League, but that’s certainly not the case. It took me three or four years to really get going. Situations arose at Cliftonville and I had to move on, I had agreed terms with Portadown but it fell through. I then spoke with Kenny Shiels and I was very impressed with what he had to say. I was sold even though the club was to play in the First Division. He offered me a three-year deal, but I said no that I only wanted to sign for two years to see how it would go as the Troubles were still ongoing and I was worried at how people would take to me. But going to Coleraine changed everything for me and I’m really proud of that. I was mixing with guys from different cultures and made some lifelong friendships, and people couldn’t have made me more welcome. I loved my 10 years at Coleraine.

If you relive one season over again which one would you choose?

It would have to be that first season after we were promoted when we finished as runners-up in the league. Really we threw it away. People say I cost the team because of my eight-game suspension, and I have to take it on the chin. It’s my biggest regret in football. That was a great team, Kenny gave us a licence to go and play. We blew teams out of the water in the First Division, we were too good for that league, and that confidence just carried on into the Premier League. Unfortunately we just came up short.

Who do you rate as the best player from the 2003 Irish Cup-winning side?

I was looking back at pictures of that team the other night and that squad was packed full of absolute quality. We were so strong and we were a physical side as well. I loved playing alongside Tony Gorman in midfield. He was a better footballer than me, but I could do things he couldn’t. I got the ball and gave it to him. Looking back at the final it really was a masterstroke by Marty (Quinn) to play four strong midfielders against Glentoran that day. That physicality helped us win the game. Tony was vital that day and kept me right.

I will never forget coming off the bus with the cup back in Coleraine and the celebrations afterwards, it was one of the best days of my life. There was a sense of relief too that we had won something and it was great that we had done it for all those people who have worked so hard for the club.

You looked in agony in the closing stages but you still were able to make a decisive tackle, what do you remember about it?

I don’t think my hamstring has ever been the same since! I knew I was going to have to come off but I still had a job to do until then. When I got into the dugout I couldn’t watch the last few minutes, it was such a sense of joy and relief when the whistle went. When I watched the match back I couldn’t understand why I was named Man of the Match, but David Jeffrey, who picked it that day, wanted to sign me the following year so maybe that was why! It was a great team though and there was some big performances that day. You never really think about yourself as a player, it’s only when you hear others talking about you that you take it in. When I was with the guys for a catch up they told me what they thought of me as a player and it meant the world to me.

What really happened when you clashed with Roy McCreadie that day at Newry?

I blame Marty! For some reason he put me wide right that day and Roy had been winding me up and I certainly wasn’t for backing down. A bit of a scuffle broke out, we had each other by the scruff of the neck, but I never headbutted him. Now all hell broke loose in the tunnel, but again I did not headbutt him, which is what I was sent off for. But all credit to Roy he came to the disciplinary meeting and told them that I never headbutted him, unfortunately though they didn’t take it on board and I ended up getting a 15-game ban and missed playing in the Irish Cup final. One funny story was the day after the incident at Newry myself and Jody Tolan had travelled over to Glasgow for the Old Firm game. We were sitting in a bar in Stranraer waiting to get the boat back and I had gone up to get a couple of drinks. Walking back to the table everyone was looking at me and I was wondering what was going on. It was only when Jody told me the UTV news had just been on the TV in the bar and it had shown the whole thing!

How hard was it being suspended for 2004 final?

People had often questioned why I walked straight off the pitch after the semi-final win, but one of the opposing players spat at me and said I didn’t deserve to be playing. I was disgusted and had never felt so low. I took the defeat in the final really bad, I felt I had let everyone down, I was depressed about the whole thing. The thing was I still had 12 games to go in my suspension so I was coming down to training but had no football for a long time. It was very tough. Marty got me through it though by getting me involved in the coaching side of things. That was a big boost for me and really got me bitten by the coaching bug.

How big an influence was Marty Quinn on you?

He was a massive influence on me. My dad felt he couldn’t go and watch me after a while as he found it hard to listen if people were giving me stick. My dad pointed me in Marty’s direction and I couldn’t praise him enough. We had our fall outs, we had each other by the throat a few times, but it was quickly forgotten about and we moved on. I have the utmost respect for him.

Do you think your reputation preceded you at times?

To be honest I probably played on my reputation. The league was full of top players back then and every week you knew you would have to be at your best or you would be found out. I loved it and I loved a battle. All I wanted was for my team to give their all and not settle for second best. All the battles were left on the pitch come the final whistle and we had a beer with each other afterwards. For me that was what it was all about. I loved the battle though and I certainly wouldn’t back down. You had to be able to look after yourself back then as there were so many quality players. For me though if you were going to be successful as a team you would always need a west Belfast man in the squad!I remember a semi-final for Cliftonville against Crusaders at Windsor Park and I had a clash with Kirk Hunter. I ended up having to get 10 stitches. After the game I was sitting getting the stitches put in and Billy Sinclair comes up and asks me for a pound for a ballot ticket. I gave him the money and asked what it was for, he said “Big Kirk’s testimonial!”. I couldn’t believe it, but I had a wee laugh to myself.

Who would win between Coleraine’s 2003 Irish Cup-winning team and the 2018 team?

Football has changed a lot down the years. Players now are probably fitter, but we knew how to win games. That Glentoran side we beat were a great team, they were going for the ‘Clean Sweep’, but we came out on top. I was watching the 2018 final again there recently and I did get goosebumps when Skinner scored the final goal and everyone ran on to celebrate. I think it would be a close game, I’ll go 3-2 to our team with me scoring the winner!

Who do you admire in the current Coleraine team ?

I really admire them all, the best thing is even though they have won something they still have hunger to go on and get more. I do like big Bradley though. As a midfielder it’s great having a striker who you can feed the ball into and will hold it up allowing you to make a run into the box. Jody Tolan and Rory Hamill were great at that for us and Skinner does it so well now. Overall they’re a great team with a great team spirit.

What was your biggest sporting achievement In your career?

Lifting the Irish Cup with Coleraine or taking Donegal Celtic to promotion are probably my two biggest achievements. Unfortunately I have a few regrets over things I have done, particularly at Coleraine. I had a new contract to stay there but in a match against Cliftonville I saw the red mist and ended up getting sent off. Everything was quiet but I heard one fan shout ‘Why Packie, Why?”. That really hit me and I asked Marty to cancel the deal. I remember Harry Gregg taking me aside and giving me a pep talk, but I just felt I had let everyone down once again. I had worked hard on trying to curb that red mist but it was all wasted by a stupid action. I felt so bad and had to apologise, but I felt I had let the club down one too many times and they didn’t need that so it was only fair that I moved on.

Did you enjoy the European trips?

I loved playing in Europe. I think that style and tempo suited my game. It was great going away at that stage of the season as the new players got a chance to bond on the trip away. I remember one trip away to Andorra in 2002 to play St Julia in the Inter-Toto Cup. We drew 2-2 out there to seal a 7-2 win. But we had to take a bus through the mountains on our way back. It was really hot so we were sitting with our tops off watching a French version of Braveheart! And one defender, who will remain nameless, ended up being a bit sick whilst sitting beside the directors. I don’t know if it was the winding roads or the beer!

If the opportunity arose to come back to Coleraine in some capacity would you?

I think that time has passed now to be honest. I’m a Grandad now and really it is time for me to give that time back to my family as I have been so heavily involved in football for so many years now. I’m the sort of person that if I couldn’t do it and give 110 per cent then I wouldn’t do it. The travelling would be too much now as I would be away from the family too much. I’m really enjoying my role at St James Swifts, it’s right beside where I live, and I’m able to devote time between family life and football fairly. Coleraine will always be a big part of my life though. That was definitely my happiest time in football, and it wasn’t just football - I met some great people and made lifelong friends during my 10 years there. I was so glad to be able to repay them with the Irish Cup final win. I love going back up to The Showgrounds and catching up with everyone. I’m very proud to have been there for 10 years.

What having you been making of your old teammate Gerry Flynn’s stories?

Fair play to Gerry I think at this time we all need a bit of a lift and he is keeping us entertained with his stories. We all know Gerry likes a bit of a spoof so I think there’s some artistic licence in some of the stories, but it’s great craic and it helps keep everyone’s spirits up.

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