INTRODUCING GARY BREEN
Posted on: Wed 17 Dec 2008
Former Republic of Ireland World Cup defender Gary Breen decided to ring down the curtain on a distinguished career after playing for Wolverhampton Wanderers in a 1-0 victory against Plymouth Argyle in the final game of last season.
Neither Premiership clubs nor Championship sides likely to make it into the top flight were around and the veteran of more than 500 League and Cup games for eight clubs did not fancy dropping down the leagues.
That was six months ago and, although he had one chance to join a Championship side, Breen turned his thoughts to staying in the game in a coaching role. He started taking his coaching badges - a process that could take two years.
Then Paul Fairclough came knocking ... and Breen celebrated his 35th birthday on Friday by signing for Barnet as player-coach until at least the end of the season after training with the squad for a fortnight.
Why the Bees? Breen, born in NW London, was attracted by the Barnet offer to "learn the ropes" under Fairclough alongside the wealth of experience provided by Ian Hendon, Lee Harrison and Mark Stein.
Another telling factor was when chairman Tony Kleanthous showed him the work under way at the 44-acre Prince Edward playing fields project at Canons Park ... due to be completed next summer to provide the Bees with a first-rate training headquarters. "It looks impressive", says Breen. He was also impressed on hearing the chairman's future plans for the club.
Gary's parents have lived in the Barnet area for the past 10 years and his father, a keen supporter of football, keeps in weekly touch with the progress of the Bees.
Among Breen's friends in football are former Barnet players Giuliano Grazioli, Scott McGleish, Lee Flynn and Jonathan Hunt. Lee Harrison was in the Charlton youth team when Breen was staring his career at The Valley.
Another Barnet connection: John Still was manager of Peterborough United when Breen was there.
In an exclusive interview with www. Barnetfc.com Breen takes the opportunity to introduce himself to Bees fans.
He said: "I have enjoyed my career in the game but I made the decision at the end of last season not to play on. My aim was to focus on coaching ... now I want to help make the Barnet team better playing alongside them or at the training ground. I am aware of the task ahead.
"I am not ego-minded and I feel it would be disrespectful just because of my record and after my time out to come to Barnet and expect to just walk into the team. I am, of course, happy to play and help others around me in what is a young side to learn but equally I will be happy to step aside and concentrate on passing on my knowledge as a coach at the training ground if there is improvement.
"I watched Barnet being beaten by Notts County as a spectator and that 4-0 defeat was not a particularly good impression'
"I watched Saturday's draw against Gillingham from the main stand and saw a lot of positives to take forward. It was 100 per cent better than the game against Notts.
"There were negatives too, of course, such as conceding that second equaliser in added time. It is a young squad and I feel that if they are receptive they will get better. That's my aim in joining the club ... to help make them better playing alongside them or coaching at the training ground. One priority is to stop the leaking of goals.
"I met the lads a fortnight ago and was introduced to them in my role as player-coach. The reason for the delay in my signing was to be sure that it was understood that I was not coming just to play but to learn.
"Although I haven't played for months I am normally fit - I enjoy fitness work and will carry on with it for the rest of my life.
Gary and wife Hayley plan to relocate to the Barnet area from their current home in the Midlands
Dennis Signy
Neither Premiership clubs nor Championship sides likely to make it into the top flight were around and the veteran of more than 500 League and Cup games for eight clubs did not fancy dropping down the leagues.
That was six months ago and, although he had one chance to join a Championship side, Breen turned his thoughts to staying in the game in a coaching role. He started taking his coaching badges - a process that could take two years.
Then Paul Fairclough came knocking ... and Breen celebrated his 35th birthday on Friday by signing for Barnet as player-coach until at least the end of the season after training with the squad for a fortnight.
Why the Bees? Breen, born in NW London, was attracted by the Barnet offer to "learn the ropes" under Fairclough alongside the wealth of experience provided by Ian Hendon, Lee Harrison and Mark Stein.
Another telling factor was when chairman Tony Kleanthous showed him the work under way at the 44-acre Prince Edward playing fields project at Canons Park ... due to be completed next summer to provide the Bees with a first-rate training headquarters. "It looks impressive", says Breen. He was also impressed on hearing the chairman's future plans for the club.
Gary's parents have lived in the Barnet area for the past 10 years and his father, a keen supporter of football, keeps in weekly touch with the progress of the Bees.
Among Breen's friends in football are former Barnet players Giuliano Grazioli, Scott McGleish, Lee Flynn and Jonathan Hunt. Lee Harrison was in the Charlton youth team when Breen was staring his career at The Valley.
Another Barnet connection: John Still was manager of Peterborough United when Breen was there.
In an exclusive interview with www. Barnetfc.com Breen takes the opportunity to introduce himself to Bees fans.
He said: "I have enjoyed my career in the game but I made the decision at the end of last season not to play on. My aim was to focus on coaching ... now I want to help make the Barnet team better playing alongside them or at the training ground. I am aware of the task ahead.
"I am not ego-minded and I feel it would be disrespectful just because of my record and after my time out to come to Barnet and expect to just walk into the team. I am, of course, happy to play and help others around me in what is a young side to learn but equally I will be happy to step aside and concentrate on passing on my knowledge as a coach at the training ground if there is improvement.
"I watched Barnet being beaten by Notts County as a spectator and that 4-0 defeat was not a particularly good impression'
"I watched Saturday's draw against Gillingham from the main stand and saw a lot of positives to take forward. It was 100 per cent better than the game against Notts.
"There were negatives too, of course, such as conceding that second equaliser in added time. It is a young squad and I feel that if they are receptive they will get better. That's my aim in joining the club ... to help make them better playing alongside them or coaching at the training ground. One priority is to stop the leaking of goals.
"I met the lads a fortnight ago and was introduced to them in my role as player-coach. The reason for the delay in my signing was to be sure that it was understood that I was not coming just to play but to learn.
"Although I haven't played for months I am normally fit - I enjoy fitness work and will carry on with it for the rest of my life.
Gary and wife Hayley plan to relocate to the Barnet area from their current home in the Midlands
Dennis Signy
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