View from the Stands: Gary 'Banger' Bryson

The Listener recently caught up with a man who is widely considered to have been one of Lisahally's most dedicated fans. However not only was he an avid fan, Gary 'Banger' Bryson is sometimes viewed as one of the 'Lost Boys' of Lisahally, because despite his undoubted ability, 'Banger' never got the chance to display his skills in a Lisahally shirt. As a result, he is often viewed as the Andy Reid to Topher Whoriskey's Giovanni Trapattoni. Speaking from the Southern Hemisphere, Bryson shares his thoughts.

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Gary Bryson before scoring the winning penalty during last year's annual 'Married Men versus Single Men' game. (Photo: Ronan Whoriskey)

Lisahally Listener: Good evening Gary, The Listener is delighted to have the opportunity to interview one of the greatest goal-scorers in Strathfoyle history. How are you?
Gary Bryson: Yeah I'm not bad, all is very well over here in Australia!

LL: Now that you are based in Australia, do you miss getting up on those cold Sunday mornings to watch your favourite local team?
GB: I never miss the cold weather back home but I do miss the games. Great entertainment provided week in week out.

LL: Have you been keeping up to date with the fortunes of Lisahally?
GB: Yeah now that I've moved to a city in Brisbane I can get online more and keep up to date with folk back home.

LL: What do you think about the change of management?
GB: I was always a big Topher fan but I was delighted when Rory decided to take the job. When he retired I said many times that he would go into management. You can ask him yourself and he will tell you. I did however recommend him for the Maydown job. [smiles cheekily]

LL: With Lisahally currently top of the league and on course for promotion, do you think they can maintain their form? If so, who do you think will be key to success?
GB: I can't really comment as I havent watched many of the games. That said, from what I've heard from Mark Duffy, he should get the Player of the Year award. Although I don't know if he is being biased but I wouldnt put Mark down for one to blow his own trumpet. [laughs]


LL: You have built up a reputation as being a deadly finisher, with many Stra-Heads dubbing you 'Van Bangelrooy', given your similarity to Ruud Van Nistelrooij. Do you ever feel that your talents were unduly overlooked by the Lisahally management?
GB: Listen, when I was younger I was always confident in terms of scoring goals. I think the problem with me not making it at Lisah' was the fact my that my overall ability was overlooked. Most Stra Heads dubbed me a 'joker' and claimed that I didnt take it seriously enough. With Topher being an old-fashioned manager too, I was never going to be considered for a callup. I think I was was judged on everything other than my goalscoring credentials, which was a pity.

LL: You famously scored the winning penalty in last year's 'Married Men versus Single Men' game and with this years' coming up, will you be making a reappearance?
GB: I'm afraid I wont be making an appearance this year. I would love to land back on a helicopter and grab the winner but that's something which I don't think will happen.

LL: Who would you consider to be Lisahally's best ever player?
GB: Lawrence 'Libby' Mullan is my favourite all time Lisah' player. I've played against him for the Single Men and he's a hard player to get past.

LL: Any final thoughts?
GB: I'd like to tell the Lisah' players to keep barking the way they have been barking and hopefully the league title is on its way. I also would like to bet anyone who believes the single men will be beaten by the married men this year cause it aint gona happen. Thank you Listener!

From 'Superstar' to 'Sub-erstar'

Last season he was phenomenal. He could do no wrong. The young man was widely considered to have the potential to be the 'Next Big Thing' to hit Lisahally since 'Crying' Dick Tracey. However, fast-forward just one season and shockingly, it seems that Mark Duffy's star is on the wane.

The versatile full-back has found himself on the fringes at Lisahally this season and, to his disappointment, he is fast becoming acquainted with the substitute bench. When asked about his situation, Duffy said,

"What can I say? The man's not happy. I mean, let's admit the facts here, Mark Duffy can't be on the bench."

In the final game of pre-season, Duffy was substituted early on leading fans to believe that the defender had been injured. Their fears were allayed however when Duffy started the opening game of the season against Beechtree, but once more, Duffy was taken off ten minutes before half-time. In the following game, Duffy was relegated to the bench, a reality which he is struggling to accept. Duffy told the Listener,

"What more do the managers expect from the big man? More to the point youngfellow, I'll be sitting down with my agent [Alan Duffy] to assess the situation and if I'm not in the managers' plans, then obviously I'm going to have to consider other options that are available to me."

In response to the ongoing media speculation over the Duffy's future, Lisahally's management team of Rory Kirk and Danny Brown today issued a brief statement clarifying the club's position on the matter:

We, the managers at Lisahally Football Club, would like to unequivocally state that Mark Duffy remains a part of our plans; as such we would kindly discourage speculation over the player's immediate future. However, recent developments concerning the discipline of the player with regard to his social life have left the club with no other option but to impose stringent disciplinary measures, with the aim of discouraging a repeat of such behaviour. The club simply can not and will not have players turning up for training and matches in "a bad way". We sincerely hope that Mark Duffy will benefit from this action and strive to improve his behaviour and his performances in future.

It remains to be seen what will become of Duffy's future, but Lisahally fans are hopeful that the whole affair will be resolved sooner, rather than later.