BARTLEY RAMSAY, the Finn Harps historian, posed a question on his Facebook page last night about player who had ‘cult’ status at Finn Park.
A cult hero isn’t necessarily the ‘best’ player, but rather a player who, for some reason, has managed to obtain near-legendary status from supporters.
There have been plenty of them at Finn Park over the years, but here’s a list of my own cult heroes from my time supporting Harps.
5 Neil Fitzhenry
FROM 2000 to 2002 the terrace refrain ‘Fitzy for England’ was echoed out from the stand at Finn Park.
It was in honour of Neil Fitzhenry, a rugged, no-nonsense and combative player who was comfortable at centre-back or in midfield.
Fitzhenry regularly walked the disciplinary tight ropes, but made 62 appearances in his two seasons at Finn Park, scoring two goals – one in a 3-1 win over Athlone and the other in a thrilling 3-3 draw with Kilkenny City.
Fitzhenry arrived in Donegal in September 2000 after a troubled time at Chester City. A frustrating period at Chester had wages coming sporadically and the club’s financial plight meant that bouncing cheques were a regular occurrence.
Not long into his time at Finn Park, the financial hammer fell on Navenny Street, too, but Fitzhenry stayed around, even after relegation.
His last game was in the play-off defeat to Longford Town in 2002.
His link-up with Harps came via agent Gerry Cassidy.
Fitzhenry is now the physiotherapist at Blackburn Rovers and previously worked with Wigan Athletic and Northampton Saints.
4 Johnny Masegala
IN November 1990, John O’Neill, the then Harps manager, announced the signing of a South African midfielder.
“A black midfielder from Soweto, near Johannasburg, will play at midfield for Finn Harps on Sunday,” was how the Donegal News led with its preview of Harps’ clash with Longford Town.
Masegala, from Soweto, had been linked with Derry City and Shamrock Rovers prior to his signing for Harps.
He’d been recommended to O’Neill and it looked like the shot in the dark had worked when midfielder Masegala netted twice in the 5-0 win over Longford.
Known as ‘Black Sunday’ in South African, Masegala – who stayed with Harps player Ray McGuinness in Dery – played in the 3-2 win against Monaghan United and scored in a 3-1 win over Kikenny.
Just 20 days after arriving in Ireland, Masegala was on a plane back to South Africa.
“To put it simply, he was looking for the kind of money whoch I know for a fact First Division players in England are not getting. The amount was outrageous,” was how O’Neill described it and with that Masegala was history.
3 Mike Turner
HARPS were battling relegation in January 2000 when Gavin Dykes confirmed the arrival of Mike Turner, a striker, on loan from Barnsley in the English First Division.
“He is six foot one, weights thirteen stone and scores goals,” was how Dykes described his new man – and he wasn’t wrong.
In 14 appearances, Turner netted seven goals as Harps stayed up, surving a play-off spot by a point.
He scored a debut goal in a 4-0 win over Waterford and was a real hit during his five months in Ballybofey.
Turner came highly rated from the Barnsley boss, Dave Bassett. In December 1998 Turner, after signing from Bilston Town in the Midlands Division of the Doctor Marten’s League, scored in a 2-0 win over Ipswich Town.
He was fast-tracked by then manager John Hendrie to the first time and once asked to be excused from a Pontin’s League reserve game against Sheffield Wednesday – to attend his graduation.
Turner holds a degree in Movement Science from University of Liverpool and now works as the Director of Business Development and Customer Account Management with Arden and GEM Commissioning Support Unit.
2 Eloka Asokhu
THERE was a real sense of anticipation and wonderment around Finn Park one Saturday morning in March 2003 as Harps unvieled their new Nigerian signing.
Eloka Asokhu was recommended to Jonathan Speak, the Harps manager and he saw brief footage before offering the player a contract.
Asokhu was a member of the Nigeria squad that won the Under-17 World Cup in Japan in 2003, playing alongside the likes of Nwankwo Kanu, Celestine Babayaro and Wilson Oruma.
He played for Udoji United, BCC Lions, Garos International and Rangers International in Nigeria before signing for Harps.
The affable Asokhu spent five seasons at Finn Park and was an instant hit with supporters. He scored in a 1-1 League Cup draw with Derry City for his first Harps goal.
Asokhu still lives in Ballybofey, where he works in Jacksons Hotel and is a coach with the Finn Harps Under-19s.
1 Sammy Johnston (pictured above)
LITTLE did Sammy Johnston, or anyone for that matter, know when he signed for Finn Harps from Glenavon in 1997 that his name would still be remembered with such affection 19 years on.
The Scottish midfielder is revered at Finn Park simply for the events of August 23rd 1997.
In a League Cup game at Brandywell Stadium, Johnston netted twice in the second half to give Harps a 2-1 win over Derry City. It was the first time Harps had ever beaten Derry in a competitive game.
“A half-hit shot and being in the right place at the right time to slot it home,” was how Johnston described his goals in an interview five years on from his heroics.
He cancelled out Gary Beckett’s opener when he volleyed past Derry goalkeeper Tony O’Dowd and, in the 81st minute came that moment that conferred iconic status upon the unassuming Scot.
Davy Dowling flicked on and Johnston riffled home at the far post.
Johnston left Harps in January 1998 to join Irish League outfit Coleraine.
“Things have not really suited him,” explained manager Charlie McGeever.
“He was travelling to Harps by flying in from Scotland on a Saturday morning and not getting home until lunchtime on the Sunday. In the Irish League, he can fly to Belfast on the morning of the game and return that evening.”
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