Stephen Cluxton

infobox GAA player


name=Stephen Cluxton
irish=Stiofán Cluxton
placeofbirth=Dublin
countryofbirth=Ireland
nickname=Cluxo, Clucko
occupation=Teacher, part-time Student
sport= Gaelic football
code=Football
county=Dublin
province=Leinster
club=Parnells
clposition=Goalkeeper
clubs=Parnells
clyears= ?- Present
clapps(points)=
clcounty=
clprovince=
county=Dublin
counties=Dublin
icyears= -Present
icposition=Goalkeeper
icapps(points)=
icprovince=5
allstars=3|

Stephen "Clucko" Cluxton is a Gaelic football goalkeeper with Dublin. He plays his club football for Parnells. Cluxton was part of the Dublin side that won the Leinster Title in 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008. In 2002, 2006 and 2007 he received an All Star.

Early life

Cluxton was born into a soccer background. His father Pat Cluxton won a lot of medals with Postal Celtic. Stephen played soccer at St David's primary school in Artane, Co. Dublin, and played at left back or on the left wing with Tolka Rovers. It wasn't until he went to St David's secondary school that he began to play gaelic. He played at corner forward for St Davids until the school goalkeeper Robert O'Connor was suspended. Cluxton was asked to stand in for him in that position and he has remained in that position ever since. [http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/stories.php3?ca=95&si=&issue_id=13092 "Irish Independent" story]

Inter-county football

Cluxton was an All-Star winner in 2002, and he received the Young Personality of the Year Award at the 2002 RTÉ/Hibernian Sports Ceremony held in the Burlington Hotel, on Saturday 4 January 2003.Following Cluxton's sending off in the third round of the All-Ireland qualifiers in 2003 against Armagh, then manager Tommy Lyons blamed him for Dublin's defeat. [http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/stories.php3?ca=95&si=&issue_id=9492 "Irish Independent" story] After this incident, Cluxton seriously considered quitting the Dublin panel to play professional soccer with Eircom League side St. Patrick's Athletic.

Stephen was part of the Dublin City University team which won the 2006 Sigerson Cup, winning a place on the "Third Level Hotshots Team". He was an All-Star winnner that year.

Cluxton won the 2007 O'Byrne Cup with Dublin against Laois at O'Connor Park in Offaly. The game finished on a scoreline of 1-18 to 2-13. However, many football supporters blamed him for Dublin's loss to Kerry in the 2007 All Ireland semi-final. Dublin had mounted a comeback to get within 1 point of Kerry late in the game when Cluxton got possession of the ball. He proceeded to slowly run out about twenty yards away from his goal line and kick the ball straight to a Kerry player. This resulted in an important Kerry score. Despite the criticism of him, Cluxton was awarded a second consecutive All-Star. [ [http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/championship/footballallstars2007.html RTÉ Sport GAA Championship: Football All Stars 2007 ] ]

Overall, he has been described as "arguably...the best shot-stopper at inter-county level". [ [http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/championship/footballallstars2007.html RTÉ Sport GAA Championship: Football All Stars 2007 ] ] On the other hand, he has also been described as an overrated player who would not have received his three All Stars if he did not play for the much-hyped Dublin team. [http://www.roscommonherald.com/news/story/?trs=gbqlqlmh "Roscommon Herald" story]

International Rules

Cluxton has a fear of flying and therefore, if he was selected, he could not play International Rules for Ireland in Australia. [http://www.unison.ie/irish_independent/stories.php3?ca=95&si=&issue_id=13092 "Irish Independent" story] However, he has appeared for Ireland against Australia in Ireland, winning the Irish player of the tournament award in 2004. [ [http://www.hill16.ie/viewstoryhill16.asp?mainheading=Word+on+The+Hill&id=4243&viewstory=yes HILL 16 ] ] Cluxton has not been a member of the compromise rules panel since. [ [http://www.hoganstand.com/dublin/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=66649 Hoganstand.com - GAA Football & Hurling ] ]

Outside football

Cluxton is currently studying for a BSc in Science Education part time, and is also a secondary school teacher at St Vincents CBS in Glasnevin. He became a member of the faculty at the beginning of the September 2006 term. He is usually viewed as the school celebrity and is held in high regard by many students. Stephen has also served as a member of the school football team coaching staff.

References

External links

* [http://www.cumannparnell.com/ Parnells GAA Website]
* [http://www.hoganstand.com/Dublin/HomePage.aspx Dublin GAA]
* [http://www.hill16.ie/ Official Dublin GAA Website]
* [http://www.hill16.ie/viewstoryhill16.asp?mainheading=Word+on+The+Hill&id=6199&viewstory=yes 2005 Sigerson Cup Final]

"For more details of the GAA in Dublin, see Dublin GAA, Dublin GAA Honours and Dublin Senior Football Championship."