Linden - when is he going to retire - 20/07/03

By Alex McGreevy, The People - www.people.co.uk

Whenever I hear Mickey Linden's name, it conjures up an image of one of his children hanging on with all their might to his sports bag as he prepares to leave his Mayobridge home. It's an image formed from an interview conducted a few years back when he was being chased for an answer to the question we've been asking of him for a decade... the 'so when are you going to retire?' poser. From the moment each of his children entered this world they were learning to live with a father who spent most winter nights outdoors and the past 22 summers in a sporting spotlight. They had to accept that while most kids in their street were enjoying evenings at the cinemas and fun parks, daddy was training for his club or for his county. "It can be hard to leave the house at times, especially when the kids are crying because they want to come with me," he once said. Daddy was always training, always playing. For every time a club tournament finished, another would start. And when the club demands diluted, the county came calling. Not that his kids were neglected. Linden is a devoted family man and father. He has had to balance his books and it's clear he's been able to do so with considerable ease. Linden was 18 and dating his future wife when he was called up for county duty. He'd been involved with the minor team and was considered a star of the future. No one, not even he, would have known that 'future' would have lasted this long. Last weekend, aged 39 and 11 months, Linden was greeted by his adoring Down fans and warmly applauded by Fermanagh supporters as he entered the action in the Ulster semi-final at Clones. His introduction to the game at a time when Down had all but booked a place in the Ulster Final, brought a little piece of magic back to life for Moune county fans. There he was running and jinking in a forward line that included the lethal James McCartan and supported by the colourful Gregory McCartan and resolute Brian Burns. On the sideline, fellow legends Paddy O'Rourke and Greg Blaney directed their former playing colleagues to the provincial decider. It was as if it was meant to be. And at almost 40 years of age Linden was still a danger. His swerving figure unnerved Fermanagh defenders, many of them playing in awe as their childhood hero breezed in and out of their fainting tackles. In the final throws of the semi-final he won every pass that was played into his path. His experience gave Down time to breath before his instinct gave his followers reason to cheer. Long before many of his summer '03 opponents had represented their counties in underage football, Linden had earned legendary status. With two All-Ireland medals to his name, an All-Star, two club championship honours and league titles from Division Four to One in Down, it would seem there's nothing left for him to win. But there is. Ask him what keeps him going and the driving inspector will tell you that there is no secret. He'll tell you he's just lucky that his engine is running without need for inspection. I believe Linden's timing-belt is still in great shape because of his desire to win the one honour that has escaped him to date - the Ulster club title. To take that accolade back to St Patrick's Mayobridge would complete him. But only he knows the real reason why his fuel light never shows. Maybe he'll be happy with another Ulster final medal this summer. Maybe not....

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