50 Years On The Stretford End

The Offaly Native Who’s Been Watching Manchester United Since 1961

The Best I've Ever Seen: George Best

By Justin Kelly

Des Grogan has spent more than fifty years in the stands at Old Trafford following his beloved Manchester United in the footsteps of his father. Spanning the careers of greats like George Best and Bobby Charlton, and modern stars Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney, Grogan’s love affair with United was passed down from his father, Banagher man, John Joe Grogan.

John Joe Grogan hails from Banagher, but he packed up and left for Manchester in 1948. There he met Ann Hourigan, originally from Rathcabin near Birr, and the pair married and built their home in Salford. “My dad started watching United as soon as he came over,” Des told InOffaly this week. “Manchester City were considered to be the establishment club at the time, and migrants flocked to United. The Irish in particular began to follow United because they were the catholic club,” Des said.

An affinity with United was handed down to Des and he recalled his earliest memories with InOffaly: “The first game I attended was against Sheffield United in 1961, and although we lost 1-0, I was completely hooked. Dad used to take us to all the home games, and if he could get a lift, we would travel to some of the away games too. I remember queueing up early to get on the Stretford End as a youngster before noon on a Saturday. I worked at the ground whilst at college and got to meet Sir Matt Busby and George Best, and both of those great men were lovely people. I have been a season ticket holder since 1978, and enjoyed some great away days as well, but having kids of my own and mounting mortgage repayments meant I had to curtail the away trips.”

Des Grogan is very proud of his Offaly roots, and says his “emotional family home is still on the Birr Road at the top of the hill in Banagher.” Des used to stay with his grandparents in Offaly every summer as a child, and he has fond memories of “the freedom” in the countryside as opposed to the bustle of Manchester: “It was the highlight of the year and we used to love going there as youngsters. Granddad was a wonderful gardener and I still recall his floury home-grown potatoes. When I started visiting their house on the Birr Road, there was no running water, and it was a great adventure trekking up to the church to fill buckets for granny.” “I love Banagher in particular because of those memories, and we always consider it home,” Des added.

Back in Manchester, Des’s finest memories belong at Old Trafford, where he says he has experienced “some truly incredible” atmospheres: “I used to come off the Stretford End with my ears ringing and a sore throat some days. Sometimes I have felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand up such was the noise. I still go, but now I’m standing on the Stretford End with my two sons, Dan and Ben, both of whom share the family passion for United. Des’s stand-out memory, however, came away from the noise of Old Trafford and the famous Stretford End; “Winning the Champions League in the dying embers of the game against Munich in Barcelona in 1999 has to be one of the greatest nights I spent watching United,” Des recalled. Manchester United overturned a one goal deficit in the final three minutes of injury time when striking duo Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scored the crucial goals.

Irish legend Denis Irwin

Denis Irwin was playing that night, and Des rates him as one of the finest Irish United players he’s ever seen: “Denis Irwin and Tony Dunne would be the full backs in my all-time eleven, but George Best was the best Irish player ever to wear the red in my opinion.” Controversially to some Irish fans, Des would find no place for one Roy Keane in his United all-stars, and instead would give that midfield marauding role to Bryan Robson, who he describes as a legend. Des’s experience of Manchester United is still an Irish affair after all, and he occasionally meets up with fellow Offaly native, and former All-Ireland Final referee Pat Horan: “Pat runs the Brosna Lodge in Banagher, and my sons and I occasionally meet him after games for a few scoops,” Des said. Pat Horan was one of the most prominent hurling referees in the country in the 1990s, and he was the man at the helm when Wexford won the 1996 senior All-Ireland by two points from a gallant Limerick outfit.


Des has also graced the stands and sidelines of the GAA, and recalls watching St. Rynaghs when on holiday, and has watched Offaly in both hurling and football over the years. His uncle Seamus played for Rynaghs at one time, and his cousin, also Seamus from Cloghan, played football for Offaly. “I have been to several Leinster finals and was always amazed that opposing fans sat together. I loved the atmosphere and meeting up in Bermingham’s for a Guinness or three,” Des quipped. “However, one of my fondest GAA memories was Dad’s return from the first All-Ireland Offaly won. Well, he arrived in on the Monday night completely stocious, but very happy having detoured to the local conservative club roaring “Up Offaly” as he entered, much to the bemusement of the regulars.”

Des Grogan still returns to Banagher as much as he can with his family: “I still get a thrill as we approach the town and reach the crest of the hill on the Birr Road.” He also still attends games to watch his beloved Manchester United at Old Trafford, and is looking forward to watching them “challenge for the title” again next season as he heads toward his 55th year as a regular at the Theatre Of Dreams.