Cliffy's Last Stand

By Seamus Morris (Fingal Independent)

LIFE as we know it at Lansdowne Road will come to an end this weekend when the very last international fixture takes place at the famous old ground. One man who had a touchline view of proceedings last Sunday as Ireland made short work of top side Australia was Swords Rugby Club physio Paul Clifford.

But the Swords man was not tending to the medical needs of the Irish team, rather he was making sure everyone in the old stadium enjoyed the game in safe environment.

Clifford is one of the head stewards at Lansdowne Road, having responsibility for the East Terrace and East Stand sections. In this position for the past 12 years, Clifford has one more big day out on Sunday, when Ireland face the Pacific Islands in the last rugby international at the current Lansdowne Road.

“There are 10 head stewards that run the show for the IRFU. I also work in Thomond Park for the Heineken Cup matches with Munster. I do the Leinster matches in Donnybrook as well.” Stewarding is not Paul's full-time job as he works Monday to Friday with AIB, so this time of the year sees him working most days of the week.

He began his time on the turnstiles, beginning as a 16 year old. Paul then began stewarding, and has seen much in his time at the old stadium. One night in particular, the ‘friendly' soccer international against England in 1995, stands out in Paul's mind. This was the occasion when English fans in the upper West Stand began rioting, resulting in the match being abandoned. “I was on duty at the Havelock Square end when the English fans rioted. That was a scary night, to get everybody out as quickly as possible was my objective.”

A question that many people ask is, just how much of the action on the pitch do stewards see while they are on duty? “I watch a bit of the matches, once the match starts I patrol the East touchline. That's my role once the game is on. Towards the end I have to get the stewards in place for their end of match positions.”

When the rugby internationals move to Croke Park in February, Paul will be going with them. “I'll just be working for the rugby matches for that ( Croke Park). I'm not sure yet how we will deal with keeping the crowd off the pitch. We use the orange mesh for the rugby matches at Lansdowne Road and that is very effective - it has been a tradition at Croke Park for the crowds to come on to the pitch after the match is over.”

“The FAI use stewards instead of the mesh - a fella got on to the pitch on Wednesday night (in the match against San Marino) though. The orange mesh saves us from having to tackle somebody.”

How this issue is dealt with will be one of the many interesting asides to hosting rugby and soccer internationals at Croke Park. Paul says he will miss working at the old Lansdowne Road ­ “I will miss working there, I really enjoy it. I started off when I was 16. There's a whole adrenaline rush, it's a big responsibility to get 40 to 50,000 people in on time.”

“I have had a match every weekend for the last couple of weeks, it will be a bit of a break for me after the match against the Pacific Islands! I will still be doing Leinster matches in Donnybrook though.² Mention of Leinster brings Paul to one of his most memorable matches at Lansdowne Road. “Leinster versus Munster was a great match (in the Magners League this season). Munster had won the Heineken Cup, so it was a big match to win - I'm a very big Leinster fan!”

“ Ireland versus New Zealand in 2001 was also a memorable occasion. We were ahead with 15 minutes to go and then they mowed us over like a lawnmower. It was an amazing atmosphere.²Paul will be back working at the new Lansdowne Road, which is due for completion some time in 2009. With the new stadium all-seater, Paul's job as a steward will be made easier. “Getting the crowd into terracing is the most difficult part of my job, it will be easier with it all-seater.” Those who have braved the elements on the North and South terraces will agree wholeheartedly with Paul Clifford on that one!