Good performances breed confidence. Confidence is infectious. In cab’s opening games, even when the results have gone against them we have seen good performances and you cannot but sense growing confidence. Jamie McGlynn’s opening games have caught the eye and for the right reasons. We’ve heard Eddie tell us that this is a young team. Young it maybe, but when Jamie tells you that he is 20 years of age it makes you think of the tremendous potential that there is within this group. Jamie typifies the exciting raw energy that this group of players possess. Jamie has the boy band looks, but there is more to this young man and in our meeting it became clear that his early experiences have given him an edge that could see him push on to great heights.
He works in the family engineering company, Hydra Seals, with his dad and granddad. His granddad was by all accounts a decent player. His father? Jamie is not convinced of his football prowess. “He tries to tell me that he was good!”
Who was your first team? Swords Rovers, aged 5.
What schoolboy clubs did you play for? I really started playing with Home Farm at 7 and played there until I was 16. I then joined Belvedere. Jamie then casually announces that in between leaving Home Farm and joining Belvedere that he “went on a two month training spell with Manchester City – went on a preseason tour with them – was offered a contract – brought onto pitch it was a Europa Cup match v PSV I was given a jersey – I thought I was signing but I had to wait until I was 17 to sign. Then I went to Switzerland in the summer of turning 17″ In the meantime a new ownership regime took over, seeing the departure of Jamie’s city contacts Jim Cassells and Barry Poynton – Mick Collins the City scout told me that contract offer was withdrawn – it was back to the drawing board with Belvo. We won the league and cup that year, then I signed for the St. Pat’s U19’s.
What position were you playing? I was always playing left winger it was only when I went to Pats that Pete Mahon and Eddie Wallace (the Athlone manager) changed me into a left full and I haven’t really looked back since. It suits my game more, I prefer coming onto the ball rather than starting on the wing.
Turning to Cabo – you didn’t know too much about Cabo before you came? I hadn’t a clue- I had been with Bray but left half way through the season. Pete Mahon who was with Malahide asked me to sign with them and I did. I played a few games with them, then I heard Cabo were starting up but at first thought nothing of it. I just came up to training and haven’t looked back since – it has got me enjoying football again. I love coming training, the lads are great and easy to get on with, the coaches as well, I have nothing bad to say about them at all.
After the opening games what are your thoughts on the team? At the start, looking at Twitter people were asking how it was going to go. I wasn’t actually too worried because before Bray and Shels I had signed with Salthill and we were the whipping boys of the league – I think I played about 25 games that season – I was basing it off that – even in pre-season and even though we didn’t have too many pre-season games I could see the lads getting stronger and I felt we were going to do well. The Wexford Youths game result didn’t surprise me at all – especially the back 4, I knew we were solid and we were going to be hard to break down – then we got the goal. We can definitely improve and get a few more goals and you never know where we might be.
What are your own ambitions for the season? For myself to get as many games as possible, I am only 20 and to get more than half the games under my belt would be a great thing if I can keep going and staying in the team pushing on.
Ambitions for the team? Definitely mid table – see what happens – No way are we going to be the whipping boys – you never know what happens if a few results go our way.
What qualities do you think best serve you? My biggest asset is my pace. Attacking wise I bring a bit to the team.
What do you see as the biggest challenge for the season? Keeping my position in the team, there are lads chomping at the bit to be involved and and there are a couple of lads who can play left back so keeping injury free and staying in the team.
Best sporting memory? Probably first game for Ireland v Lithuania in the midlands – standing there with the National Anthem playing was a great moment.
Biggest fan? My dad Mat McGlynn he has done so much for me that I could never repay him – like travelling up and down the country – I think I could count on my hand the games he has missed – even when I was with Salthill, I didn’t have a car and he used to drive me down to training once or twice a week and also he is great at giving me time-off.
Worst sporting memory? The City thing when it didn’t work out – I was going over to England that summer to sign and by that September I was back in school – people were wondering why I was there – it was hard at 15 trying to explain what happened – also coming back and seeing other lads going away to play. I was still there after thinking I was going away and having to get back into football at 16 – but actually going to Belvo – Jimmy Jackson, John Moore and Jamie Moore I have to give a big thanks for getting me back into football.
What was the best advice you were ever given? To keep going -it’s never too late – keep going because you never know when it’s going to happen – don’t give up – some of the best Irish players are the ones that went away late.
Where do you draw your inspiration from? I look at my favourite players like Marcello Vieira (Real Madrid) and David Alaba (Bayern Munich)
Favourite team? Man Utd. At 3 or 4 my uncles on my Mam’s side tried tog et me to be a Chelsea fan but my Dad was having none of it.
Favourite player? Ronaldo.
Favourite music? House music – chilled out – I like the Script, they are my favourite band.
Favourite TV show? Suits.
Favourite film? Big Daddy with Adam Sandler.
Favourite food? Chinese.
Best trainer? Rob Maloney
Worst trainer? Bobby Mazono
Future Manager? Rob Maloney
Biggest Moaner? Ger Pender
Most Skilful? Jordan Buckley
Joker in the pack? Kevin Knight
Quickest? Shane O’Neill
Slowest? Aaron Brilly
Manager’s pet? Evan Finnegan
Best dress sense? Evan Finnegan
Worst Dancer? Vito
Worst dress sense? Vito
Best dancer? Evan Whelan
Hardest? Victor Ekanem
What would you like to say to the Cabo fans? Just to keep supporting us – hopefully we can keep getting the results – your support is what we need to keep bringing it forward and it is what inspires us to push on. Your support has been great so far and thank you.