Terryland Park to be renamed in honour of Chick Deacy

Galway’s greatest-ever soccer player is to be permanently commemorated in the city after the Galway FA voted unanimously to rename Terryland Park as Deacy Park in honour of Eamon ‘Chick’ Deacy, who died suddenly in February.

Chairman of the Galway FA, Joe Keating, confirmed to the Connacht Tribune yesterday that a ceremony will be held later this year to mark the official renaming of the ground, at which it is hoped that Aston Villa’s 1982 European Cup winning squad – of which Chick was a member – will play an exhibition game against a West United/Galway United select from the same period.

Chick graced Terryland Park both in the colours of Galway United in the early stages of his career, and West United in later years. In a further link, the land originally belonged to his grandfather, Martin J Morris, who sold it to the Galway FA to develop a soccer pitch; while Chick’s mother, Christine, was also born there when it was part of the family farm.

“The Galway FA felt it was appropriate to rename the ground in his honour, and we are planning a day of celebration of his life to mark the official renaming of the ground later in the year. We will be doing everything in consultation with, and with the blessing of, his wife Mary and children Dawn and Jake, as well as his brothers and sister.

“We’ll be putting together a committee in the coming week or so to start planning for the event, and are hopeful the Villa squad from Eamon’s time there will travel over and play an exhibition game,” Mr Keating told the Connacht Tribune.

Chick’s brother Don said the family was “absolutely delighted” with the decision, and was looking forward to planning for what he also said would be a big celebration of Chick’s life and sporting career.

See full story in this week's Connacht Tribune.