After seeing the trailer at the end of last week, we knew that Loosehorse's documentary to be aired on RTÉ about the career of Johnny Giles was going to be great, but our high expectations were exceeded by what was a truly outstanding watch.
Starting with Giles' earliest memories and the difficulties he faced as a 'soccer man' in Ireland at the time, we were slowly taken through his career and shown some absolutely brilliant archive footage along the way.
If you haven't seen it yet, it's up on the RTÉ player and you really should take the time out to enjoy it. The overwhelmingly positive reaction on social media proved that the doc struck just the right chord with Irish football fans, many of us getting goosebumps as the man himself sang Amhrán na bhFiann under his breath as Ireland prepared to take on Wales.
So there was a show called Sport Spectrum on Rte? Amazing questions "Have you got the ability to be a bit of a bastard" #Giles pic.twitter.com/l1a9yMu6p3
— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) July 3, 2017
"I made the most of what I had" John Giles. I think every sports man and woman would be satisfied to finish with that, regardless of medals
— John Doyle (@johnnydoyle78) July 3, 2017
Giles, what a show
— Sinéad Kissane (@sineadkissane) July 3, 2017
I hope Johnny Giles is feeling all the love tonight ..!! Fantastic job by @LoosehorseTV on the making of #Giles
— Des Cahill (@sportsdes) July 3, 2017
Couldn't have a Giles programme without him singing. What a man
— aidan o'hara (@oharaa) July 3, 2017
Loved that! #Giles
— Alan Cawley (@alancaw) July 3, 2017
No, YOU'RE crying at Johnny Giles singing the national anthem under his breath...#Giles
— Ross Gaynor (@ross_gaynor) July 3, 2017
Really enjoyed #Giles, especially the Leeds stuff. Undoubtedly one of the finest footballing talents we've ever produced. What a top man.
— Oisin McQueirns (@McQueirns) July 3, 2017
#Giles by god he could pass a ball better dan i can pass wind
— fergaltully (@fergaltully1) July 3, 2017
Amazing documentary tonight on RTÉ #Giles a great insight and story behind a great man and fantastic player.
— Gary (@lfcgazza1997) July 4, 2017
In all my time working on @offtheball I don't think I ever saw anyone enjoy the same adulation as John got during our live shows 1/2 #Giles
— Cian Murtagh (@cianmnews) July 3, 2017
What a magical treat the #Giles documentary on RTE was tonight. What a player. #coybig https://t.co/YUgwfGVxyI
— eire.guide (@eireguide) July 3, 2017
I'm still getting over that Don Revie massage scene #Giles
— Brendan Kelly (@BrendanKelly33) July 3, 2017
Classic Gilesy #giles pic.twitter.com/aynYXi6l7V
— Larry Ryan (@RyanLarry) July 3, 2017
One of the biggest mistakes #lufc made was hiring Clough and not making #Giles manager.
— Matt Cooper (@cooper_m) July 3, 2017
So many great stories to be told, hopefully we will see more like that #GILES
— Marie Crowe (@mariecrowe) July 3, 2017
Hats off to the makers of #Giles. A brilliant story, brilliantly told.
— Neil Treacy (@neil_treacy) July 3, 2017
I hope #LUFC fans outside Ireland get to see the johnny #Giles documentary - IMO the best player to put on that famous all white strip
— Robert Giles (@howyabuddies) July 3, 2017
Sat my kids down and showed them a sporting and social history lesson tonight #Giles. Going away at 14 on the ferry shocked them..
— Kildaregaa365 (@kildaregaa365) July 3, 2017
Goosebumps!!!#Giles 1969
First League title
Two defeats, 42 matches
Most points EVER
That was Leeds established@WACCOE@MartinMarty1974 pic.twitter.com/YqIaLN2aqo— John (@John_MooreMOT) July 3, 2017
Well done all @LoosehorseTV #Giles was superb.
— Con Murphy (@ConMurphySport) July 3, 2017
#Giles Everything a great documentary should be. High praise to @TwisterTiny @LoosehorseTV emmet harte @JohnMurphyEdit. Johnny Giles legend
— Adrian McCarthy (@aidomc) July 3, 2017
That John Giles documentary was fantastic. He is an absolute Irish legend #baller
— Sheriff YC (@Sheriff_YC) July 3, 2017
My Dad always talked about how good #Giles was,watching this doc shows other generations what a super talented football man he was.#Respect
— George Murray (@murrayg9) July 3, 2017
The Giles documentary ends with a few clips of his playing days including a rabona pass for Leeds against Southampton. #Giles brilliant
— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) July 3, 2017
Sincere well done to all ivolved, RTÉ and Loosehorse collaborated for a beautiful tribute to Ireland's greatest ever footballer, and we can only hope they continue to do more of the same.
