May 15, 1967 – Sean Thomas introduced as Boston Shamrock Rovers coach

Sean Thomas was considered among the Republic of Ireland’s top coaches, having guided Shamrock Rovers the 1964 League of Ireland title. Thomas had a reputation for finding talent, once bringing Liam Neeson (yes, the actor) in for Bohemians to play in a match against Shamrock Rovers.

But when the United Soccer Association season started, the Rovers ended up with Liam Tuohy in a player-coach role as they finished in last place in their only year of existence.

Thomas, a carpenter by trade, had guided Shamrock Rovers to the 1964 League of Ireland title and Bohemians to a 1970 FAI Cup win, later coaching the Irish national team for one game.

I checked with Seamus Malin, who covered Rovers games for the Globe, but he could not recall why Thomas did not end up coaching the team. Malin also worked as color commentator with Bruins announcer Fred Cusick on Rovers games for Ch. 38-TV.

The Shamrock Rovers opened with a 1-1 draw against the Detroit Cougars (Northern Ireland’s Glentoran FC). Malin wrote an excellent game story, the match concluding with a Cougar goal being disallowed for offside, and linesman Bobby Jack being punched in the nose by player-coach John Colrain, who had earlier equalized with a spectacular volley off a back heel assist.

May 28, 1967 – Boston Shamrock Rovers 1:1 Detroit Cougars at Lynn Manning Bowl (Att.: 7,300)

TODAY IN NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY