Eddie Van Boxtel

Eddie Van Boxtel
Eddie Van Boxtel
AppsGoals
League 64
FAI Cup 5
Europe 2
League Cup 7
Leinster Cup 8
Others 1
Totals 87
91-92 4
92-93 4
93-94 23
94-95 23
95-96 33
Totals 87
Date Of Birth: 14-Aug-1973
Place Of Birth: Amsterdam
Total Appearances: 87
Position: GK
Nationality: HOL

Bio:

Born in Amsterdam (his father was of Dutch origin) Eddie Van Boxtel’s developing years were spent in Ballymun, Dublin and he ended up with Home Farm. A goal-keeping ‘boy-prodigy’, he filled several hat boxes with his Irish International Cap collection—32 in total between Schoolboy and Youth level. Invited by Leeds United to join their squad for an International Youth tournament in Germany, his brilliant displays and his nomination as ‘Goalkeeper of the Tournament’ led to a Leeds contract.

After a disagreement with the Leeds Youth coach, Eddie returned home and Turlough O’Connor snapped him up for Dundalk as cover for Alan O’Neill. In his first season (1991-92) he received a first team call up for the last four League matches of the year and in the following term he was between the sticks in four Leinster Cup games.

Following the departure of Alan O’Neill Eddie was still playing second fiddle when Mick Kavanagh took the number 1 shirt for the 1993-94 season. Eddie’s chance came in November and he grabbed it, holding on to the first team spot for the rest of the year thanks to a string of excellent performances including 10 clean sheets from his 19 League starts. At the season’s end he got the supporters’ seal of approval when they selected him ‘Player of the Year’.

For the Championship-winning 1994-95 year he traded places with Jody Byrne but for the final part of the year Eddie got the nod and played a significant role in the victory, keeping 10 clean sheets in 19 appearances. The highlight came in the last six high-tension games when an inspired Eddie conceded only one goal.

After these heroics he finally got undisputed starting rights and was an ever-present for the 1995-96 term, his last with the club. His seven caps with the League of Ireland included membership of the League squad that travelled to the USA in May 1996 for a 3-match tour against the American Olympic squad and on his return he got two further caps against Croatia and the South Korean Olympic XI.

The arrival of John Hewitt, with Les Fridge in tow, saw Eddie depart for middle-of-the-table First Division Galway United where he collected League Cup and First Division Shield medals. A year later it was back to the Premier Division with the Martin Lawlor-managed Drogheda United, but a nightmare season saw the Boynesiders relegated after finishing last, winning just 2 games—both against Dundalk!

For Eddie it was another P.45 and a 1998 move to Monaghan United, where he spent two seasons at the wrong end of the First Division before closing his 11-season League of Ireland career with a spell at Bray. He later managed AUL side Sandyhill Celtic.

Sadly, the next time that Eddie made headlines it was page one news, and for entirely the wrong reasons, when in 2008 he appeared before the courts on drugs-related charges.

Honours:

1 Win: League 1994-95.

1 Runner Up: Presidents Cup 1995-96

7 LOI Caps

Player of the Year 1993-94

Career Stats

League Games
Apps
Dundalk 1991-96 64
Galway Utd 1996-97 20
Drogheda Utd 1997-98 11
Monaghan Utd 1998-00 47
Bray Wanderers 2000-02 12
League Games Career 154