Tony Folan
{{Short description|Footballer (born 1978)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Tony Folan
| image = Tony Folan.jpg
| caption = Folan with Brentford
| full_name = Anthony Stephen Folan{{hugman|6564|accessdate=17 March 2016}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1978|9|18|df=y}}
| birth_place = Lewisham, England
| height = 1.78 m{{Soccerbase}}
| position = Midfielder
| youthyears1 =
| youthclubs1 = Galway Hibernians
| youthyears2 = 1994–1997
| youthclubs2 = Crystal Palace
| years1 = 1997–1998
| clubs1 = Crystal Palace
| caps1 = 1
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 1998–2001
| clubs2 = Brentford
| caps2 = 68
| goals2 = 9
| years3 = 2001–2002
| clubs3 = Bohemians
| caps3 =
| goals3 =
| years4 = 2002–2004
| clubs4 = Galway United
| caps4 =
| goals4 =
| years5 =
| clubs5 = Galway Hibernians
| caps5 =
| goals5 =
| nationalyears1 = 1996–1997
| nationalteam1 = Republic of Ireland U18
| nationalcaps1 = 3
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 1997–1999
| nationalteam2 = Republic of Ireland U21
| nationalcaps2 = 6
| nationalgoals2 = 0
}}
Anthony Stephen Folan (born 18 September 1978) is a former professional footballer who played as a midfielder for Brentford and Crystal Palace. Born in England, he represented Republic of Ireland at age-group level.
Club career
=Crystal Palace=
Folan was born in Lewisham, England. Growing up in Galway, he was a classmate of Colin Hawkins at St. Joseph's Patrician College and played youth football at Galway Hibernians.{{Cite news |title=Galway Independent – Galway Hibernians AFC 1942 |work=galwayindependent.com |url=http://galwayindependent.com/20130515/news/galway-hibernians-afc-1942-S17903.html |access-date=15 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103115830/http://galwayindependent.com/20130515/news/galway-hibernians-afc-1942-S17903.html |archive-date=3 November 2013}} At the age of 14, he signed schoolboy terms at Crystal Palace.{{Cite book |last1=Croxford |first1=Mark |title=The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties |last2=Lane |first2=David |last3=Waterman |first3=Greville |publisher=Legends Publishing |year=2013 |isbn=9781906796723 |location=Sunbury, Middlesex |page=433}} He made steady progress through the ranks at the club, signing a professional contract in 1995 and appearing in the 1997 FA Youth Cup final against Leeds United.{{Cite web |title=Greatest Leeds United Games |url=http://www.ozwhitelufc.net.au/15-05-1997%20Crystal%20Palace%20v%20LUFC.htm |access-date=11 October 2018}} With Palace's relegation from the Premiership already confirmed,{{Cite web |title=Crystal Palace results for the 1997–1998 season |url=http://www.statto.com/football/teams/crystal-palace/1997-1998/results |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304073243/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/crystal-palace/1997-1998/results |archive-date=4 March 2016 |access-date=13 April 2020 |website=Statto.com}} Folan made his first team debut in the final match of the 1997–98 season against Sheffield Wednesday, when he replaced Saša Ćurčić after 75 minutes.{{Soccerbase season|9539|1997|access-date=11 April 2016}} Early in the 1998–99 season, he started in the first leg of Palace's Intertoto Cup third round match against Samsunspor, but was replaced by Simon Rodger after 63 minutes.{{Cite web |title=Crystal Palace – Samsunspor 0:2 (UI-Cup 1998/1999, 3. Round) |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/report/ui-cup-1998-1999-3-runde-crystal-palace-samsunspor/ |access-date=16 March 2025 |website=worldfootball.net |language=en}} Folan subsequently injured his groin and was out for six weeks after undergoing surgery. He turned down the offer of a contract extension from new manager Terry Venables and departed Selhurst Park in September 1998.
=Brentford=
Folan dropped down two divisions to sign for Third Division club Brentford for a £110,000 fee on 22 September 1998.{{Cite book |last1=Haynes |first1=Graham |title=Timeless Bees: Brentford F.C. Who's Who 1920–2006 |last2=Coumbe |first2=Frank |publisher=Yore Publications |year=2006 |isbn=978-0955294914 |location=Harefield |page=58}} He enjoyed a solid first season, making 35 appearances, scoring six goals and being awarded a Third Division winner's medal as Brentford dramatically beat Cambridge United on the last day of the 1998–99 season.{{Cite web |last=Street |first=Tim |title=Looking back: When Brentford won the title at Cambridge |url=http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/looking-back-brentford-won-title-7151388 |access-date=11 April 2016 |website=getwestlondon|date=21 May 2014 }} A broken foot kept Folan out for six months of the 1999–00 season and he only made 12 appearances. He managed 23 appearances and two goals during the 2000–01 season, but missed four months of the season after being forced to undergo a cartilage operation in December 2000. On 23 October 2001, Folan was made available for transfer and was released on 4 November,{{Cite web |title=Tony Folan |url=http://www.brentfordfc.co.uk.p.preprod.performgroup.com/page/LatestNews/0,,10421~114045,00.html |url-status=dead |access-date=11 February 2018 |website=brentfordfc.co.uk |archive-date=11 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181011181428/http://www.brentfordfc.co.uk.p.preprod.performgroup.com/page/LatestNews/0,,10421~114045,00.html }} after failing to make an appearance during the early months of the 2001–02 season.{{Soccerbase season|9539|2001|access-date=11 April 2016}}{{Cite web |title=Tony Folan Departs |url=http://www.brentfordfc.co.uk.p.preprod.performgroup.com/page/LatestNews/0,,10421~120119,00.html |url-status=dead |access-date=11 February 2018 |website=brentfordfc.co.uk |archive-date=11 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181011181431/http://www.brentfordfc.co.uk.p.preprod.performgroup.com/page/LatestNews/0,,10421~120119,00.html }} He scored 9 goals in 70 appearances in just over three years at Griffin Park.
=Bohemians=
In November 2001, Folan returned to Ireland and signed for League of Ireland Premier Division club Bohemians.{{Cite web |title=On The Move – November 2001 |url=http://www.espnfc.com/soccernet/editorial/onthemovenovember01.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160420073243/http://www.espnfc.com/soccernet/editorial/onthemovenovember01.html |archive-date=20 April 2016 |access-date=11 April 2016 |website=ESPN.com Soccernet}} He made his debut for Bohemian in a televised Dublin derby against Shamrock Rovers on 9 November, but he ended up on the losing side as Rovers won 1–0.{{Cite web |title=v Bohs 09/11/01 |url=http://shamrockrovers.ie/archive/48-2001-02-match-reports/2465-v-bohs-091101 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160412070538/http://shamrockrovers.ie/archive/48-2001-02-match-reports/2465-v-bohs-091101 |archive-date=12 April 2016 |access-date=11 April 2016 |website=shamrockrovers.ie}} Within weeks, manager Pete Mahon was sacked and Folan found appearances limited.{{Cite web |title=Mahon leaves Bohemians |url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0180-0f84336ff126-b207db3a82f7-1000--mahon-leaves-bohemians/ |access-date=11 April 2016 |website=UEFA|date=4 December 2001 }} He scored in a 4–1 rout of Longford Town in the second round of the League of Ireland Cup, as Bohemian progressed to the semi-finals before being knocked out by Derry City.{{Cite web |title=Football: Paths To The Semi-finals; Bohemians. |url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Football%3A+PATHS+TO+THE+SEMI-FINALS%3B+BOHEMIANS.-a083638934 |access-date=15 June 2015}}
=Return to Galway=
Folan joined hometown club Galway United during the 2002 off-season and helped the club into the League of Ireland First Division play-off final in the 2002–03 season, which ended in defeat to Premier Division side Drogheda United.{{Cite web |title=Eircom League Play-off Final Special |url=http://www.independent.ie/regionals/droghedaindependent/entertainment/eircom-league-playoff-final-special-27109396.html |access-date=11 April 2016 |website=Independent.ie}} In August 2004, Folan departed the club to join Galway & District League club Galway Hibernians, where he began his career. He won the title with he club during the 2005–06 season.
International career
Folan appeared for the Republic Of Ireland at the 1997 UEFA European U18 Championship in Iceland, eventually losing the third place playoff to Spain.{{Cite web |title=Tony Folan |url=http://www.11v11.com/players/tony-folan-4318/search.html/?s=11v11&q=oalfur+gottskalksson |access-date=15 June 2015 |website=11v11.com}} He won six U21 caps as Republic Of Ireland failed to qualify for the 2000 UEFA European U21 Championship.
Personal life
Folan is the older brother of footballer Stephen Folan.{{Cite news |title=Folan enjoying life with Newcastle |work=Galway First |url=http://www.advertiser.ie/galwayfirst/article/2861/folan-enjoying-life-with-newcastle |access-date=11 October 2018}}{{Cite news |last=Scully |first=Michael |date=12 May 2017 |title=Irish player reveals touching tribute to dad before every home game |work=irishmirror |url=https://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/soccer/soccer-news/stephen-folan-continue-commemorate-father-10401089 |access-date=11 October 2018}}
Career statistics
{{Expand section|1=
- Career from 2001 to 2006
|date=April 2016}}
| style="text-align: center;" class="wikitable"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||
| rowspan="2" |Club
! rowspan="2" |Season ! colspan="3" |League ! colspan="2" |FA Cup ! colspan="2" |League Cup ! colspan="2" |Europe ! colspan="2" |Other ! colspan="2" |Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals
!Apps !Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="3" |Crystal Palace
|1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— |1 |0 | ||||||||||
| 1998–99{{WorldFootball.net|id=anthony-folan}}
|0 |0 | colspan="2" |— |0 |0 |0 | colspan="2" |— |1 |0 | ||||||||||
| colspan="2" |Total
!1 | 0 | 0
!0 | 0
!0 !1 !0 | colspan="2" |—
!2 | 0 | |||||
| rowspan="4" |Brentford
|1998–99{{Soccerbase season|9539|1998|access-date=11 April 2016}} |30 |4 |3 |2 |1 |0 | colspan="2" |— |1Appearance in Football League Trophy |0 |35 |6 | ||||||||||
| 1999–00{{Soccerbase season|9539|1999|access-date=11 April 2016}}
|9 |1 |1 |0 |2 |0 | colspan="2" |— |0 |0 |12 |1 | ||||||||||
| 2000–01{{Soccerbase season|9539|2000|access-date=11 April 2016}}
|Second Division |21 |2 |0 |0 |2 |0 | colspan="2" |— |0 |0 |23 |2 | ||||||||||
| colspan="2" |Total
!60 | 7 | 4
!2 | 5
!0 ! colspan="2" |— !1 | 0 | 70 | 9 | ||||
| colspan="3" |Career total
!61 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 0
!1 !0 | 2 | 0 | 72 | 9 |
{{Reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
Honours
Brentford
- Football League Third Division: 1998–99
- Football League Trophy runner-up: 2000–01{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/1289338.stm |title=Vale vault Brentford to lift Vans trophy |website=BBC Sport |date=22 April 2001 |access-date=22 March 2024}}
Galway Hibernians
- Galway & District League: 2005–06
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerbase}}
- {{Premier League player|1375}}
- [https://www.fai.ie/ireland/player/26343 Tony Folan] at fai.ie
{{DEFAULTSORT:Folan, Tony}}
Category:Republic of Ireland men's association footballers
Category:Premier League players
Category:English Football League players
Category:League of Ireland players
Category:Crystal Palace F.C. players
Category:Brentford F.C. players
Category:Bohemian F.C. players
Category:Galway United F.C. (1937–2011) players