Madam, - Kevin Myers is badly misinformed if he thinks that "Irish Catholics were as welcome as the plague" at Manchester United before Matt Busby's time (An Irishman's Diary, April 14th).
There were several Irish Catholics on United's books prior to Busby's arrival, not the least of whom was the great Johnny Carey. Carey had gone to Old Trafford some nine years before Busby on the recommendation of fellow Dubliner and former United goalkeeper Billy Behan.
Another Irish goalkeeper, Tommy Breen, had his United career curtailed by the start of the second World War.
The United career of Dubliner Pat O'Connell was similarly curtailed by the start of the first World War. O'Connell had replaced Belfastman Mickey Hamill in the United squad and captained the team. A largely forgotten figure, he subsequently became manager of Real Betis, leading them to the Spanish Championship in 1934. He then managed Barcelona but his career there ended with the commencement of the Spanish Civil War.
As early as 1893, when the club was still called Newton Heath and played in green and gold jerseys, an entrepreneurial director was promising supporters a new stadium. O'Reilly was his name! Incidentally it was the Catholic (albeit not Irish) Louis Rocca who suggested the name change to Manchester United in 1902. - Yours, etc.,
KEVIN O'SULLIVAN,
Letterkenny,
Co Donegal.