Seamus Coleman has professed his love for Gaelic Games in a revealing new interview.
Speaking with Everton’s club media as part of a sit-down interview involving young Ireland teammate Jake O’Brien and illustrator Will Sliney, the long-time Toffies Captain discussed his junior career playing Gaelic Football – before the Killybegs native had to choose between pursuing his professional soccer career and commitments to his home club Na Cealla Beaga.
“I played with Donegal until I was 16, 17, and then when the minor team were good I had to make a decision,” Seamus said.
When asked if there was any pressure at home to keep playing on the Gaelic pitch as well as the soccer field, Coleman admitted that it had been a difficult choice.
“Where I was from, yeah, for sure (there was pressure to keep playing Gaelic), it wasn’t an easy decision giving up on Gaelic football and playing soccer. It’s a massive Gaelic community.”
“In time, everyone was happy for me. A brave decision for me but yeah, fully supported and thankfully it worked out well.”
However Seamus still loves the game to this day, and credits Gaelic Games for his famous tough mentality and high work rate that has served him for so long as Everton and Ireland Captain.
“Ah yeah, I loved it and I still do. I love watching it now, I love going back.”
“For me definitely, like Jake (O’Brien), it’s helped me when I came over here you know, that tough spirit we’ve got over there playing Gaelic football and that togetherness and I carried that through. Yeah, very fond of Gaelic football.”
