These are dark times for former Dundalk goalkeeper and League of Ireland champion Eddie Van Boxtel. The brilliantly named keeper from Ballymun was today sentenced to 10 years in jail having been found in possession of £3.5 million worth of cannabis resin in Kill in Co. Kildare seven years ago.
Van Boxtel claimed the LOI title with Dundalk in 1995 after a massively dramatic last day finish with Derry City and Shelbourne also vying for the title. Watch the highlights to that memorable finale to a League of Ireland season here.
Van Boxtel can make a rare claim - saving a penalty from the unflappable Mr. Cantona. Pictures have been floating around of Van Boxtel flying through the air to repel the Franchman's shot. And here is some moving picture footage.
It comes from one of those Manchester United pre-season videos narrated by Robert McCafferty. Incidentally, on that same tour of Ireland (1994), Man United, clad in that green and yellow jersey, played Shelbourne in Tolka Park and a girl impetuously jumped out from the crowd and gave Ryan Giggs a peck on the cheek as he was about to take a corner. She then skipped back to her pals in the crowd.
In this game, Dundalk shot into a 2-0 lead, but were pegged back and lost 4-2. Eddie is interviewed after the game and this video also finished with an interview with famous United fan and RTE soccer pundit Bertie Ahern at Temple Street Children's Hospital.
His name was misspelt in the caption.
