Former Irish soccer international Terry Phelan has been drafted in by New York GAA bosses to improve the fitness of the city's Gaelic football team ahead of their May 15th Connacht Senior Football Championship encounter with Galway.

Phelan, who runs a successful chain of soccer schools across the US, was asked by New York officials to head a number of special training sessions high in the Catskill Mountains in preparation for their crunch encounter.

"My main job is to get the lads fit," Phelan explained from his office in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. "The fitness training will be the same as soccer - stretches, sprints, running and maybe one or two games - drills designed to get the boys moving. My business partner, Todd, who is a goalkeeping coach, will take the ball-handling exercises. The idea is to blow off any rustiness."

Phelan admitted to being surprised by the opportunity. "I was at a function, handing out medals, and one of the club officials approached me and asked me if I wanted to get involved. At first I thought he wanted me to play. It's nice to be asked and it's something different. I'm really looking forward to it."

The healthy Irish economy, coupled with tighter, post-9/11 immigration laws, has hit New York GAA clubs badly, with a dramatic decrease over the last 10 years of young men emigrating and then playing for local teams. New York's last couple of championship outings have been painful defeats, but Phelan was upbeat.

"I don't really know that much about their previous form, to be honest. I don't know much about Galway either, I'll have to look up all the details on the net. But anything can happen in sport."

Phelan, who won an FA Cup with Wimbledon when they upset the mighty Liverpool, once held the world record for being the most expensive full back following his £2.5 million transfer to Manchester City.

He also played for Leeds United, Chelsea, Everton and Fulham, before moving across the Atlantic to South Carolina outfit Charleston Battery, before becoming a director with One on One Soccer.

"Sometimes you do miss home," he admitted. "Training the team up in New York will be a great way to keep connected."

Phelan grew up in London and first played Gaelic football during childhood holidays in the family home in Tubbercurry, Co Sligo.

"Anytime I'm home I would watch Gaelic football," he admitted. "It reminds me of Aussie Rules. It's fast, very hard and very physical."

Phelan now follows in the footsteps of former Manchester City and Irish team-mate Niall Quinn in hanging up the soccer boots and re-acquainting himself with an O'Neill's ball.

"I had heard that Quinny was back playing Gaelic football. If I had his new number I'd give him a phone call to get a few tips."

Another former team-mate, Gareth Farrelly, is managing Bohemians in the League of Ireland, and Phelan would be interested in any domestic coaching opportunities that may arise.

"I'd never say never," he admitted. "Eventually I'd like to come home and coach some day, so I'd look at any offers."

It is perhaps fitting that Phelan returns to New York: he was part of the last Irish team to taste sporting success in the Big Apple when Ireland defeated Italy 1-0 in Giants Stadium at World Cup '94.

One of the endearing images of that game is a very psyched up Phelan celebrating the goal, his eyes bulging, his face overwhelmed with emotion, embracing goal-scorer Ray Houghton.

"It was unbelievable, we had just scored against the best team in world and that's the way I am. I'm still the same."

New York will be hoping some of that magic rubs off.