Dave Langan

Dave Langan

Langan in Dublin with supporters of his testimonial
Personal information
Full name	David Francis Langan
Date of birth	15 February 1957 (1957-02-15) (age 54)
Place of birth	Dublin, Republic of Ireland
Playing position	Right-back
Youth career
0000–1974	Cherry Orchard
1974–1975	Derby County
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1975–1980	Derby County	143	(1)
1980–1984	Birmingham City	92	(3)
1984–1987	Oxford United	114	(2)
1987	→ Leicester City (loan)	5	(2)
1987	→ A.F.C. Bournemouth (loan)	21	(7)
1987–1988	A.F.C. Bournemouth	23	(5)
1988–1989	Peterborough United	19	(0)
National team
1978–1987	Republic of Ireland	26	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

David Francis "Dave" Langan (born 15 February 1957) is an Irish former professional footballer who played as a right-back for the Republic of Ireland, for whom he won 26 caps. Langan won his first cap against Turkey in April 1978 and was a regular in the squad until he sustained a knee injury in a 3–2 victory over France.

For four years he was in the international wilderness until his move to Oxford regenerated the form that earned him his first caps. He remained an ever present throughout the course of the qualifying campaign for Euro '88 in which he started four games and was substitute for four.

Unfortunately, despite the rather somewhat public outcry, Langan was dropped for the adventure in the summer of '88 in Germany and there ended his international career.

Born in Dublin, Langan played youth football with the Cherry Orchard club before going to England to join Derby County, for whom he made his debut in 1977 as a 19-year-old and went on to make over 150 senior appearances. Jim Smith then paid a club record £350,000 to take him to Birmingham City, for whom he played over 100 games, but when his career was disrupted by injury such that he missed a full 18 months, he was released by manager Ron Saunders. Jim Smith, by then managing Oxford United, signed him and he regained his fitness and his international place. He played 136 games for Oxford, winning the Second Division championship in 1984–85 and the League Cup the following year. He later played for A.F.C. Bournemouth and Peterborough United, but his knee and back injuries put an early end to his career. He is now registered disabled.

On 14 June 1999, a benefit night was held in Ballyfermot for Dave in which his old team mate Paul McGrath showed up. [1].

In late 2006, an interview with Langan entitled "I Was Just Unlucky" hit the press. This article inspired Ireland fans, many remembering that Langan "would have run through a wall for Ireland," to start campaigning to get Langan a testimonial. This campaign picked up speed in early 2008 when some of the people at its forefront went on RTE radio and started an online petition. This petition had over 1,000 signatures at the time this was written.

References

• Matthews, Tony (1995). Birmingham City: A Complete Record. Derby: Breedon Books. pp. 104–05. ISBN 1-85983-010-2. 
• "Dave Langan". Oxford United Club history. Oxford Times. Archived from the original on 23 February 2008. http://web.archive.org/web/20080223223810/http://www.theoxfordtimes.net/oxfordunited/clubhistory/davelangan/. Retrieved 25 October 2007. 
• "United ace crippled by injury". Oxford Times. 19 May 1999. http://archive.theoxfordtimes.net/1999/5/19/81813.html. Retrieved 25 October 2007. 
• "David Langan". Post War English & Scottish Football League A – Z Player's Database. Brown, Neil. http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/player/davidlangan.htm. Retrieved 25 October 2007. 

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Leighton James	Derby County Player of the Year 1977–78	Succeeded by Steve Powell

Persondata
Name	Langan, David Francis
Alternative names	Langan, Dave
Short description	Irish association footballer
Date of birth	15 February 1957
Place of birth	Dublin, Republic of Ireland
Date of death
Place of death