Date of Birth: 17th September 1932

Place of Birth: Wexford Hospital

Date Interviewed: 16th November 2010

Summary: Sport has been at the centre of Nicky Delaney’s life since he was a child. He boxed, played Gaelic football and soccer, and “unfortunately” gambled. A favourite memory is of playing alongside Willie Goodison, whose legs were bigger than Nicky’s body! Nicky was picked to play for Wexford in Croke Park but on the way through Enniscorthy “a certain Mr. Browne” of the GAA ordered him to stay behind. He believes this was because he was a “soccer man”. He started soccer in 1952 and describes the hardships and hostility he and others faced developing the sport. Nicky also spent many years as a referee and was physically attacked on a couple of occasions. He speaks fondly of his late wife Theresa’s support for his sporting activities – she was often on the sideline when he played or refereed. Nicky was awarded a badge from the Football Association of Ireland for his sixty years service to soccer and he has a fifty years medal from the Referees Association.