As a nation we have handed out some pretty strange international caps over the years.
Many Irish football fans will fondly remember the experience of flicking through the match programme while watching the players warm up on the pitch, and wondering "Who the hell is he?". We got to know these players because we support the boys in green, but what happens when they stop receiving the international call?
We at Balls.ie set out to investigate the whereabouts of some of the lads who, often as late call-ups, filled out our national team's squads before drifting off into the sunset.
Stephen Elliot
Update: Upon leaving Carlisle United, Elliot returned to Dublin to ply his trade for Shelbourne. However, his time at Tolka Parl was shortlived as he left the club by mutual consent. He has since joined us at Balls HQ, where he shared quite the tale about Roy Keane.
Dominic Foley
Limerick lad Foley had high expectations as a youngster at Wolves. A string of unsuccessful loans before a move to Watford, and more loans, were to follow, before Foley set off on a European adventure. Braga were the first destination, although Dominic only made 12 first team appearances before returning home to play for Bohs, but a move to Belgium followed and Gent offered Foley some stability as he bagged 29 goals in 103 games. Another pit-stop in Belgium with Cercle Brugge preceeded a move to his native Limerick where he retired in 2012. He was last seen commenting on this Balls.ie post about Gary Neville criticising Simon Mignolet's Merseyside Derby performance:
Update: As far we are led to believe, Foley is still enjoying retirement. But glad to know he tried his hand in a pick up game while at Watford.
@benclarkewfc29 @michaeldevine_ and me won 3v3 basketball game vs Dominic Foley,Clint Easton and David Perpertuni #watfordfc
— STGWFC (@sturge18) September 27, 2016
Alan Maybury
Update: None. Maybury still remains in a coaching role at Falkirk two years later.
Liam Lawrence
Update: At 35 years old, Lawrence is still playing at a decent level. However, the former Irish international left Shrewsbury for Bristol Rovers, who are currently in League One.
Alan Bennett
Update: Alan Bennet returned to Cork City in 2015 before lifting the FAI Cup final in the Aviva Stadium a year later. Fitting.
Dreams come true for a young Benno! Happy @CorkCityFC fan tonight! pic.twitter.com/vaMixYHOh0
— Alan Bennett (@AlanBennettFAI) November 6, 2016
Alan O'Brien
Update: O'Brien went from making his international debut against the Netherlands in 2006 to playing football with Hungerford Town six years later - where he has remained since.
Caleb Folan
To call him nomadic would not be accurate. Caleb Folan is more like a voyageur, a frontiersman, a free spirit unbound by borders. Oh, and a dedicated footballer, too.
via Edmonton Sun.
Update: Last spotted playing football in Myanmar.
In Myanmar yesterday, Caleb Folan came off the bench to score in Kanbawza's 3-1 win vs Manaw Myay FC. He won MOTM. pic.twitter.com/KX1EBBYPRw
— Emerald Exiles (@EmeraldExiles) September 14, 2015
Martin Rowlands
Update: Rowlands has since retired but was inducted into the Brentford hall of fame earlier this year.
Martin Rowlands inducted into the #BrentfordFC hall of fame https://t.co/peVX37zI0q pic.twitter.com/9VHUkTJdpc
— Beesotted Brentford (@Beesotted) April 1, 2016
Jonathan Douglas
Update: Douglas plays under the guidance of Mick McCarthy at Ipswich, alongside Leon Best and David McGoldrick.