An interview with Keith Fahey, by Callum McFadden for WFi.
The first thing I’ve got to ask you about is the League Cup success with Birmingham City in 2011. Ahead of the final against Arsenal, fans and media commentators didn’t think the club had much of a chance, and I believe that there wasn’t even a party booked afterwards. What was the build-up like from your perspective?
“The week leading up to it was all about focus for me. I wanted to be in the starting eleven, so I trained as hard as I could and waited for the team news. When it was named on the Friday, I was relieved to be in.
“We didn’t think about celebrations – Arsenal were massive favourites, and we knew we had to be at our best.
“On the day, Ben Foster was incredible, we rode our luck at times, but to win it the way we did was unforgettable. For a club like Birmingham, it was a huge achievement.”
Alex McLeish had a lot of faith in you and said you proved yourself as a Premier League player. What was he like to work under?
“He was brilliant with me. Coming from the League of Ireland, it was a big step up as I was training with top players, playing against world-class opposition.
“Alex had a great backroom team too: Roy Aitken was outstanding, later Peter Grant and Andy Watson helped him. He gave me confidence, picked me regularly, and I think I repaid that faith.
“Birmingham didn’t pay much for me, so expectations weren’t sky-high, but I did okay.
“Those years under him were the most successful in the club’s history: a ninth-place Premier League finish, the cup win, and then, under Chris Hughton, a memorable European campaign. Special times for me and for Birmingham fans.”
Were there any stadiums you were particularly looking forward to playing at?
“Old Trafford. My very first Premier League game was away to Manchester United, and my dad was very sick at the time. Sadly, he passed away a week or two later, but he got to see me play in the Premier League. That meant everything.
“Playing against those United stars was surreal, especially given I’d come straight from the League of Ireland. That match is etched in my memory for personal reasons as much as footballing ones.”
Who were your toughest opponents from your time in the Premier League?
“It was more teams than individuals that stood out for me. Liverpool away – we got hammered. Manchester United away in my second season – another thumping. Chelsea at Stamford Bridge were on another level in terms of how they moved the ball. Those matches showed me just how high the standard was.”
Let’s go back to the beginning of your career. You came through at Cherry Orchard in Ireland before joining Arsenal and then Aston Villa as a trainee. What were those early years like?
“Tough, very tough. I didn’t enjoy being away from home. I was homesick and lonely, and I started drinking far too young – I was only 15. I was on a path of self-destruction off the pitch, and it spoiled a lot of the good things I had in football.
“Arsenal was difficult, Villa was similar. When I came back to St Pat’s, living at home around familiar people, I was far more comfortable. That stability allowed me to play my football properly.”
Your first spell at St Pat’s saw you win the League Cup in 2003 before moving to Drogheda. What are your memories of that time?
“Once I made my debut, I kept my place in the team.
“Playing in front of crowds, even if it was only a couple of thousand, felt incredible. Drogheda came in with investment and ambition, so I moved, but it didn’t work out. I ended up going back to Pat’s, where I kicked on again.”
You did win the Setanta Sports Cup at Drogheda. What was that like?
“At the start, it was a great competition with the north and south clubs competing. Big games. But after a few years, it became more of a hindrance.
“We beat Cork in extra time. I came off the bench and helped set up the winner. But the medal just sat on my wardrobe gathering dust for years. It didn’t mean much to me at the time.”
Your second spell at St Pat’s was special, with you winning Players’ Player of the Year, Goal of the Season and earning a move to Birmingham. Was that the best football of your career?
“Absolutely. I had something to prove after Drogheda. We had a really good squad – Gary Dempsey was my main midfield partner – and I played with confidence.
“I carried the ball, opened up teams, sprayed passes, scored more goals than ever before. It was the most confident I felt on the pitch. That spell earned me the move to Birmingham and changed my life.”
You went on to play for Ireland, earning 16 caps and scoring three goals. What did it mean to you?
“It was an honour, of course. But honestly, I struggled mentally in camps. I suffered from social anxiety, so being locked in hotels with the squad for a week or two wasn’t easy.
“Playing was fine, but everything around it was tough. I don’t always look back with joy, but I know how special it is to say I represented my country.”
You missed out on Euro 2012 through injury. How tough was that to take?
“It was devastating at the time. But looking back, maybe it was just the way that things were meant to be.
“The lads didn’t do great in that tournament anyway, so maybe I dodged a bullet. Football moves so fast because one minute you’re in, the next you’re out.”
You played alongside Robbie Keane. Just how good was he?
“Phenomenal. In training, he was always hungry for goals; linking up with Damien Duff was something else. That
“That generation had the likes of Keane, Duff, Shay Given, Richard Dunne, and all of them were household names. I was lucky to come in when they were still around.”
You returned to St Pat’s for a third spell, winning the FAI Cup in 2014. How do you reflect on that?
“At first I was disappointed because I’d got used to Premier League facilities, and the League of Ireland hadn’t moved on much. We struggled in the league and in Europe, but winning the Cup was special. I’d been sent off in the 2003 final, so lifting the trophy in 2014 made up for that.
“The Pat’s fans were incredible with me throughout my career. When I came back from Villa at 20, I was in a bad place, and they made me feel wanted. That support meant more than they’ll ever know.”
You’ve been very open about your struggles with mental health. How has life been since retiring?
“I’ve struggled all my life – with addictions, mental health, emotional health. Football was my lifeline, so when it ended, I had to figure out who I was without it.
“At first, I found it really hard to let go. You go from being ‘Keith Fahey the footballer’ to no one ringing your phone anymore. It’s a big shock.
“But over time, I’ve realised football doesn’t define me. Today, I’m in a good place. Simple things bring me joy now – things money and medals can’t buy. I don’t struggle today, thank God. Tomorrow could be different, but for now I’m content.”