From soccernet (amongst others):
Steve Finnan may not be a household name yet, but the Fulham defender has come a long way since a rejection from Crystal Palace almost dumped him on football's scrapheap nine years ago.
Finnan: A rising star
(MikeFinn-Kelcey/Allsport)
The 25-year-old has been in sparkling form for Jean Tigana's side this season and his assured performances have attracted appreciative glances from several managers.
Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson, for example, is thought to highly rate the right-back. He has made no approach, but is said to want him to replace Phil Neville - probably his team's weakest link.
Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy also appears to be on the verge of making him his first-choice in that position for his country's World Cup finals campaign this summer.
But as Finnan prepares to press his case for the Irish in their friendly against Russia at Lansdowne Road in Dublin tomorrow, he knows how lucky he is to have got this far.
He said: 'I was with Palace as a boy, but they released me at 16 and I thought that might be my last chance of doing anything in the game. If Welling had not been starting their first year of taking on YTS players then I didn't know what I was going to do.
'That was my last option and if it had not come off I'd have probably gone to college and got a trade.'
As it was, Finnan learnt his trade amid the rough and tumble of the Conference. He was playing as a right midfielder then and caught the eye of bargain hunter Barry Fry, who signed him as a teenager for Birmingham for £100,000 in 1995.
The move didn't entirely work out, but Finnan was loaned out to Notts County and eventually earned himself a £300,000 transfer in 1996. During his stay at the County Ground, the Limerick-born player was called-up to Ireland's Under-21 squad.
At the time he thought nothing of giving up his qualification to play for England - where he has lived most of his life - as his chances of doing so seemed extremely slim.
He was playing in Division Two and could not have predicted that he would be transferred to Fulham during one of their most exciting periods.
Finnan made that £600,000 move in 1998 when Kevin Keegan was in charge and after helping them achieve two promotions, he has been converted into a right-back by Tigana.
He has proved safe defensively in his new role and been impressive going forward, dealing well with the wide men including Ryan Giggs, Harry Kewell and Robert Pires.
Had he retained his qualification to play for England it may not have been just Ferguson looking to him as the way of improving his defence.
But Finnan said: 'I was 19 when I was called up and it was a great chance for me. I have never regretted my decision. I have never once thought that if I had waited I could have played for England, even though people have mentioned it to me.'
Even as a young Second Division player, Finnan says he always believed he was capable of doing well, but the success he is experiencing now was something he only dreamed about.
A lot of credit must go to Tigana for converting him from a wing-back to a full-back, but a knee injury to Tottenham's Stephen Carr has also opened the way for him to claim a place in Ireland's squad heading for Japan and South Korea in May.
Finnan added: 'You concentrate on your club football at this stage of the season, but as the finals get closer there is more talk about it and it is in the back of your mind.
'The thought of playing in the World Cup can give you that bit extra in your game, but the main thing is to look after yourself and stay in form, which you hope for anyway.'
He does seem to have a good season, and I agree that the right back position is probably our weakest, but surely finnan isn't that much better than phil or gary?
Steve Finnan may not be a household name yet, but the Fulham defender has come a long way since a rejection from Crystal Palace almost dumped him on football's scrapheap nine years ago.
Finnan: A rising star
(MikeFinn-Kelcey/Allsport)
The 25-year-old has been in sparkling form for Jean Tigana's side this season and his assured performances have attracted appreciative glances from several managers.
Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson, for example, is thought to highly rate the right-back. He has made no approach, but is said to want him to replace Phil Neville - probably his team's weakest link.
Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy also appears to be on the verge of making him his first-choice in that position for his country's World Cup finals campaign this summer.
But as Finnan prepares to press his case for the Irish in their friendly against Russia at Lansdowne Road in Dublin tomorrow, he knows how lucky he is to have got this far.
He said: 'I was with Palace as a boy, but they released me at 16 and I thought that might be my last chance of doing anything in the game. If Welling had not been starting their first year of taking on YTS players then I didn't know what I was going to do.
'That was my last option and if it had not come off I'd have probably gone to college and got a trade.'
As it was, Finnan learnt his trade amid the rough and tumble of the Conference. He was playing as a right midfielder then and caught the eye of bargain hunter Barry Fry, who signed him as a teenager for Birmingham for £100,000 in 1995.
The move didn't entirely work out, but Finnan was loaned out to Notts County and eventually earned himself a £300,000 transfer in 1996. During his stay at the County Ground, the Limerick-born player was called-up to Ireland's Under-21 squad.
At the time he thought nothing of giving up his qualification to play for England - where he has lived most of his life - as his chances of doing so seemed extremely slim.
He was playing in Division Two and could not have predicted that he would be transferred to Fulham during one of their most exciting periods.
Finnan made that £600,000 move in 1998 when Kevin Keegan was in charge and after helping them achieve two promotions, he has been converted into a right-back by Tigana.
He has proved safe defensively in his new role and been impressive going forward, dealing well with the wide men including Ryan Giggs, Harry Kewell and Robert Pires.
Had he retained his qualification to play for England it may not have been just Ferguson looking to him as the way of improving his defence.
But Finnan said: 'I was 19 when I was called up and it was a great chance for me. I have never regretted my decision. I have never once thought that if I had waited I could have played for England, even though people have mentioned it to me.'
Even as a young Second Division player, Finnan says he always believed he was capable of doing well, but the success he is experiencing now was something he only dreamed about.
A lot of credit must go to Tigana for converting him from a wing-back to a full-back, but a knee injury to Tottenham's Stephen Carr has also opened the way for him to claim a place in Ireland's squad heading for Japan and South Korea in May.
Finnan added: 'You concentrate on your club football at this stage of the season, but as the finals get closer there is more talk about it and it is in the back of your mind.
'The thought of playing in the World Cup can give you that bit extra in your game, but the main thing is to look after yourself and stay in form, which you hope for anyway.'
He does seem to have a good season, and I agree that the right back position is probably our weakest, but surely finnan isn't that much better than phil or gary?
