The Kevin Nolan saga

**NeilMcD** · 22/02/2006, 12:24 PM

As far as I can see Wayne Rooney as more rights to play for Ireland than Kevin Nolan does, so we should go for him too.

**eirebhoy** · 22/02/2006, 1:01 PM

Originally Posted by as_i_say

tbh there is still loads o confusion over this. instead of quoting from FIFA regulations someone here who knows why he cant 100% play for us should post with bullet points the reasons why!!!

The FIFA regulations couldn't be clearer.

**Karlos** · 22/02/2006, 1:05 PM

Originally Posted by NeilMcD

This should be a sticky

I thought the previous 100 posts saying he couldn't play were a wind up!!

**Karlos** · 22/02/2006, 1:09 PM

Originally Posted by totalfootball

Kevin Nolan has already represented England at underage level. This means that he could only change associations if:

- he is under the age of 21 and hasn't already changed associations.

SO i'm assuming there is still the possibility of James Milner (if indeed he is eligable) under these criteria?

**nedder** · 22/02/2006, 1:33 PM

Seen as we can't get Nolan, is it too late to pull out of the Euro qualifiers?? We'll have no hope!!

**Roverstillidie** · 22/02/2006, 1:42 PM

Originally Posted by klein4

we have to get Nolan playing for us at all costs!

do we fu.ck.

have some pride

**thegit** · 22/02/2006, 1:53 PM

Ireland never needs to beg players to play there's plenty of passionate players waiting in the wings to give 110%. F**k him the last thing we need is someone with no pride for the green jersey.

**eirebhoy** · 22/02/2006, 2:34 PM

Originally Posted by totalfootball

Well, having argued that we should forget about Nolan because he is not eligible, I am now wondering if he might not be eligible after all. The FIFA regulations are clear, but what is not clear to me is if he has actually represented England in a competitive international at under-age level.

I think so but not 100%.

November 3, 2000
Bolton manager Sam Allardyce seems to have got his way with the news that his young midfielder Kevin Nolan has been picked for the England u18 squad to face Belgium at Bradford's Valley Parade on November 16.

Allardyce called on the English FA not to lose the player to Ireland, who picked him for a recent friendly against Switzerland, and his cries seemed to have been heard at Lancaster Gate as Nolan has been included in the very next squad.

Irish manager Brian Kerr takes a philosophical outlook on what has happened.

He said: "I don't know what kind of influence that Sam Allardyce has on the move but if somebody does not want to play for Ireland then they shouldn't.

"A player needs to want to represent his country and it is not my job to convince them of their Irishness. I wish him well in his decision and hope it works out for him."

Nolan qualified for Ireland through his parents, who are Irish - but Allardyce seemed to be the motivating factor on him being picked for England.

http://www.kickinmagazine.ie/kevinnolan03112000.htm

**NeilMcD** · 22/02/2006, 3:09 PM

unless the rules change ha ha

**as_i_say** · 22/02/2006, 3:10 PM

well done. i always thought it was grandparents for him though...

**livehead1** · 22/02/2006, 5:07 PM

i thought it was only competative under 21 games that counted??

**livehead1** · 22/02/2006, 5:10 PM

also, does anyone know how australia were able to call up tim cahill, he played for samoa's full international team

**Closed Account 2** · 22/02/2006, 5:57 PM

think they did that in the amnesty didn't they... fair play to them he's a quality player would get into most international squads.

**bawn79** · 23/02/2006, 8:05 AM

I remember reading an article before the 2002 world cup when Tim was at Millwall and about how it was his dream to represent Ireland at the world cup through his grandparents. Dont really agree with mercenaries but he is one hell of a player!

**Zidane** · 23/02/2006, 8:34 AM

As far as I know it was Cahill who brought legal action to get the rule chaged so that he could represent Austrailia even after playing for Somoa. FIFA then allowed this one year rule so that you could change over.

I also remember reading about wanting to play for Ireland and then he changed him mind to play for his native Austrailia.

**feo123** · 25/02/2006, 1:36 PM

ragin if he cant play for us! he's way better than S.Reid, Kavanagh, miller, kilbane and more

**JoeSemi** · 26/02/2006, 9:46 PM

Originally Posted by Roverstillidie

do we fu.ck.

have some pride

I take it you were on O' Connell street yesterday judging by that curt reply!

**tricky_colour** · 26/02/2006, 11:26 PM

Originally Posted by totalfootball

First of all, Kevin Nolan was born and has lived all his life in England. He has a British passport and actively wants to play football for England. He does not want to play for Ireland. He had a second chance to reconsider during the amnesty and showed no apparent reluctance to continue declaring for England. As far as I am concerned, he has every right to call himself English, which he does.

As for whether both his parents are Irish-born, I am not sure what the situation is. There are contradictory reports. For instance this eleven-a-side article claims he qualified for Ireland only through the grandparent rule. Also, this article talks about Kevin Nolan's father playing for a football team in England when he was just a teenager. So if Nolan's father was born in Ireland (I'm not sure he was), then he moved to England when he was still young. Finally, in this article, Sam Allardyce is reported as saying that Kevin Nolan's father wanted him to play for England. So, although many in Ireland wanted Nolan to play for Ireland, it seems that he and his father always wanted to him to play for England, because they think of him as being English. So do I.

This article says his parents were from Dublin
http://www.irishabroad.com/news/iris...IrishHopes.asp
Ultimately nationality is a matter of opinion, if both his parents are from
Dublin then he is more Irish than English in my opinion, he certaintly doesn't
have any English blood in him as far as I can see, (nor does Rooney for that
matter, I believe) but as they have choosen England they must see themselves as English. I wonder whether Nolans father considers himself English or Irish and who he would support if England were playing Ireland?

**Donegalcelt** · 26/02/2006, 11:47 PM

Nolan spent his MOTD2 interview spaeaking about how much of a dream it would be to play for England, so it's definately time for us to move on

**eirebhoy** · 27/02/2006, 12:10 AM

Originally Posted by JoeSemi

I take it you were on O' Connell street yesterday judging by that curt reply!

"we have to get Nolan playing for us at all costs!"

Someone that disagrees with the above statement must have been rioting on O'Connell street yesterday? Don't be ridiculous.