7^th Heaven for Peter as he followed grandson’s James’s career:

Watching the child you reared excel on the sports field must bring immense joy and this is something that Peter Sugrue has experienced for many years as he followed his grandson James Sugrue who started playing the game when he was nine. Peter and his late wife Winifred reared James and one can hear the pride in his voice as he talks about the supremely talented number seven.

Peter Sugrue & Tralee Dynamos

Peter was the guest of honour at the Bray Wanderers game and at half time was presented with a framed number seven shirt signed by James and all of his Dynamos team-mates as well as a life time membership of the club.

I met Peter before the game and he told me that soccer wasn’t James’s first sport. He added “James joined Tralee rugby club but soon found soccer and has loved it ever since”.

Peter started going to games that James was playing in and has missed very few of his games with Kingdom Boys, Tralee Dynamos and of course with Ireland as James has been capped at Junior International level.

James Sugrue & Peter Sugrue

Peter remembers many good and bad days and has many fond memories of a young James and in particular when he was part of a Kingdom Boys side that travelled to England and came home with the Yorkshire Cup.

Indeed Peter told he has a scrap-book full of cuttings about James including a letter a nine year old hopeful wrote to Liverpool. According to Peter James said “take me while I’m cheap!” as he dreamed of wearing the red of Liverpool .

The club wrote back and Peter has this as one of his proudest possessions.

Ger Moloney & Peter Sugrue & Colm Clifford.

His love of ‘The Pool’ has led to many sporting arguments in the Sugrue house as Peter is a big Man United fan!

I asked Peter what he would say was James’s biggest attribute and he said that “he gives his heart and soul in every game”.

Peter is now 77 and it was very enjoyable to listen to him reminisce about his life. He was born in Castleisland but lived for ten years in Canada where he worked as a mortician. He moved back to Tralee with his wife in 1966 and worked in the Kerry Precision Ball Bearing factory for many years.

Darren Dennehy, Peter Sugrue, Billy Dennehy at the Bray game.

Peter and his beloved late wife enjoyed 50 years of married life together before she passed away.

To happier issues and Peter told me of the other members of his extended family that are also excelling in soccer including Castleisland keeper Stephen Bartlett, nephew Robbie O’Connor and across the water another nephew Keith Doyle who also plays the game.

Padraig Hartnett interviews Peter at the Bray game.

Peter is one of life’s gentlemen who speaks in low tones and draws you in when he starts telling you his life’s story. What comes across is his pride in and joy from the years of watching James play soccer at a very high level. While he is unable to attend as many matches as he would like now due to deteriorating health Peter still keeps in touch with what is happening and long may he listen out for the name of James Sugrue starring for Dynamos in the League of Ireland.   

Pre match against Bray

Peter Sugrue with Lol O'Leary.

James Sugrue with his Grandfather Peter at Ireland vs U.S.A. Sunday July 29th 2007

Vincent Barry with Peter Sugrue at the Munster Senior Cup game away to Kinsale.

PETER SUGRUE HONORARY MEMBER OF TRALEE DYANMOS