Inside Track: There was no need for Temple to tog out

There were no histrionics when Dundalk lined out for their first home game this season. Why should there? Just a few short months earlier, there were fears the club would go out of business.

Instead of replicating what had happened at Old Trafford back in 1989, new club owner, John Temple, quietly took his place in the stand, and let the team and management get on with it.

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The feeling about the place was one of relief. No football being played in town after more than a century of League of Ireland involvement had caused real concern. Now, it was good to be back heading up the Carrick Road.

It probably would not have happened if someone with a voice in the right place had not spoken up.

So, the message before the team managed by rookie, Ciarán Kilduff, got into their stride was: let’s get on with it. It might be First Division stuff, but it’s football.

Manchester United were in the doldrums back in the 1980s. It was 1967 when the Premier League trophy had last sat in the boardroom cabinet, and having ended the 1988/’89 season in 11th place, 25 points adrift of last-gasp winners, Arsenal, prospects weren’t good.

Alex Ferguson had still to get his feet under the table, but Martin Edwards was long established as club chairman. Unlike his father Louis, who had held the same position, Junior wasn’t popular with the fans – calls for him to quit the club were loud, unequivocal and often.

You can only imagine the delight there was in the East Stand and all other places around the creaking stadium when it was announced just minutes before the first game of the new season that the club had been bought by property magnate, Martin Knighton.

The game with champions, Arsenal, was at Old Trafford, and just before kick-off, Knighton, anxious to show supporters that he was clearly one of their own, ran on to the pitch togged out in the United colours, and after showing some neat footwork, blasted the ball into an empty net.

The crowd went wild, and in ways so did the United team. After taking the lead through a Steve Bruce header, the Reds went on to fashion a most unlikely 4-1 win.

Joy over the pending take-over was short-lived, however. Improving on their previous season’s placing, United finished out of the top three, but were good in the Cup, beating Crystal Palace 1-0 in a replayed final.

By the time the Wembley match came around, the Knighton in shining armour wasn’t to be seen. Failing to get the promised support of his two main financial backers, the new owner quickly became an ex-owner.

Those who jumped ship would have reason to regret their decision.

Two years later, the club was floated on the Stock Exchange, and benefitting from Ferguson’s management skills and an eye for a bargain – think Schmeichel – United went on to blaze a trail on the fields of England and Europe and become one of the richest outfits in the world.

Recent year results might have changed that, but shareholders are probably still getting a good dividend.

Back to where this piece began. Dundalk are in the shadow of the First Division finish line, six points clear of their nearest rivals (at the time of writing).

The win over Athlone was anticipated, but not the scoreline. When had the Lilies last hit the onion sack six times in a match?

Ciarán Kilduff can be satisfied with his work to date, while John Temple is right to stay in his street clothes and leave the ball-juggling to the lads on the field.