Phil Harrington

Phil Harrington (born 23 November 1963, Bangor, Gwynedd) is a Welsh goalkeeper and goalkeeping coach for Cork City Football Club. Previous clubs have included Cobh Ramblers, Chester City, Blackpool, Preston North End, Rhyl, and Chesterfield.

Although he was born in Bangor, Harrington grew up in nearby Caernarfon and it was while on the books of Caernarfon Town that he was spotted by Chester coach Cliff Sear and joined the Football League club on schoolboy terms."Focus on Phil Harrington", Chester City v. Crewe Alexandra matchday programme 6/3/85, p. 13] He became an apprentice with the club after leaving school in 1980, with his performances for Chester's reserve and youth sides prompting a call up to the Wales Youth side for the 1981 European Youth Championships.

Harrington made his first–team debut for Chester in a 3–1 home win over Huddersfield Town on February 20 1982.cite book | author=Chas Sumner | title=On the Borderline: The Official History of Chester City 1885-1997 | year=1997| pages= stats section |id=ISBN 1-874427-52-6] He went on to make 76 appearances over the next three years, amid competition from Grenville Millington, Mike Salmon, Billy O'Rourke and John Butcher. Harrington was first–choice goalkeeper at Chester by the end of 1982–83, but an injury in the penultimate game of the season at Torquay United prematurely ended his campaign and led to defender Noel Bradley having to deputise for him. But Harrington recovered in time for one of his most memorable games for Chester in a Milk Cup tie against Bolton Wanderers in September 1983, when he saved the first three Bolton penalties in the penalty shoot-out to give Chester victory. [cite book | author=Chas Sumner | title=On the Borderline: The Official History of Chester City 1885-1997 | year=1997| pages= p.99 |id=ISBN 1-874427-52-6] This season saw him miss just five games for Chester, but unfortunately the campaign ended with the club finishing bottom of The Football League.

Three months of 1984–85 were spent on loan at Oxford United without making any appearances. He then moved on to Blackpool in March 1985, but again did not make the first–team. He did though play two games for both Burnley and Preston North End during 1985–86.

Made his Cork debut on the 4th of September 1988.

"Biscuits", as he is nicknamed, made an amazing return to action in the 2005 season coming on for the injured Michael Devine in the away Uefa Cup tie against Ekranas. He managed to keep a clean sheet in that game and further added to his legend by marking another shut out against Drogheda in a league match in United Park which City won on their march to league glory.

External links

* [http://www.claretsmad.co.uk/news/loadfeat.asp?cid=ED35&id=341712 Burnley career stats]

References