Out on his own.
Back in the day it was a big thing for inter-county players to have their socks pulled up in games. Without question, all players pulled up their socks for the pre-match parade as a sign of respect, and though some of them used to loosen them and let them down for the game, the majority of players kept them flying high.
It was the done thing, not many players broke from tradition, as can be seen from this Kerry team photo from 1984.
You wouldn’t see the likes nowadays, especially with the recent introduction of smaller-length socks, but even before that, even in the early 2000’s, players who kept their socks high were few and far between, as this Tipperary team photo from the 2009 All-Ireland final shows.
One man who has never broke tradition is Dublin star Bernard Brogan, with the five time All-Ireland winner stretching the seams of his navy socks from his debut in 2006 all the way to the current day.
The four-time All-star winner was speaking to SportsJOE recently at SuperValu’s Behind the Ball campaign when he revealed his reasons behind doing so.
His explanation will be music to Dublin’s fan’s ears as he claimed his inspiration came from Dub star of the 1980’s and 1990’s, Mick Deegan, a man who young Bernard grew up watching and admiring.
“It was actually Mick Deegan who used to do it back in the day, playing with Dublin. I just liked the way it stood out, he used to be bombing up and down the pitch at pace, I remember,” he began.
“I started off doing it and I kicked a couple of scores the first few days, and then I suppose it just became superstitious,” added the 33-year-old.
It is now a hallmark of his play, and something that makes him instantly recognisable, which can even help out his parents watching him, he added.
“It stuck since then, sure I can’t pull them down now, my mam and dad won’t know where I am on the pitch now, they go looking for the socks up.”
Brogan, along with Lar Corbett, David and Andy Moran are some of the few players flying the flag nowadays, even Paul Mannion, who used to do it, has resorted to the mini-socks recently.
Bernard Brogan was training parents and kids at SuperValu’s #BehindTheBall Camp at Trim GAA Club. SuperValu’s volunteer camps took place nationwide and were designed to encourage more parents to lend their support and get involved in their local clubs throughout the country.
