Tipperary Senior footballer Brian Fox has this morning announced his retirement from Inter County Football. The Eire Óg Annacarty Donohill man has served the Premier County with distinction since first putting on the blue and gold jersey as a Minor in 2006. Brian made his senior Inter County debut in 2009 against Limerick and he has been an ever dependable team member ever since.
Announcing his retirement Brian said: “After 14 years playing with Tipperary, I feel now is the right time to step away from intercounty football. I feel very honoured to have been given the opportunity to represent my county and even more privileged to have played alongside and enjoyed a few successes with some of the most talented footballers Tipperary has ever produced.
Firstly, I would like to thank all the Tipperary players I’ve shared a dressing room with. The great memories and friendships will always be prized more than any silverware won. I am also very grateful to the various managers and their backroom teams who gave me so much advice and encouragement throughout my career.
I always received great support from the Tipperary County Board, team sponsors and the GPA. I wish to thank them all. I would like to make special mention of the Friends of Tipperary Football, a group of the most loyal supporters who follow the team to the four corners of the country and do their best to promote and grow football at all levels in Tipperary. It was a pleasure getting to know all of you and celebrate some special moments along the way.
To my club, Eire Og Annacarty Donohill, a very special thanks to everyone in the club. We are a small but proud club, and I couldn’t have been prouder to have represented you for Tipperary. I look forward to many more years in the blue and white.
My parents, Kevin and Josefa, who instilled a huge love of Gaelic games in me, and did everything to help me try and realise my dream of playing for Tipperary. My siblings Fiona, Karen and Kev who in no small way helped me develop my competitive nature! And to all my extended family and friends who have travelled everywhere in convoy to support me and made those memorable moments all that bit more special, Thank you.
I am very fortunate to have had the support of my wife Siobhan throughout the course of my career. She has seen all the highs and lows and often been the sympathetic ear after a tough loss but that has just made the good days that bit sweeter. Last years Munster final victory was obviously the highlight of my career but getting to share it with her and our two children Tadhg and Lily made it all the more magical.
Finally, I want to wish David and the lads all the best for the year ahead. I look forward to watching and roaring you on from the stands for what I’m sure will be many more great days. Tipp Abu”.
Tipperary Senior Football manager David Power also paid tribute to Brian saying: “Brian Fox has been a great servant to Tipperary Football, he has represented the blue and gold with great distinction over the years, he will be massive loss to the senior panel not only for his leadership on and off the pitch, but he was superb with all the new players that came into the panel, he was always there to help. On a personal note, I will never forget his face of pure emotion and joy when that final whistle was blown down in Cork last year and thank him for all the great memories, he was part off over the last ten years”.
Tipperary County Board Chairman Joe Kennedy also paid tribute to Brian, “He was an outstanding player who was very committed and passionate about football. He represented his county with absolute distinction over the course of his career, he will be a big loss to Tipperary football”.
Tipperary GAA wish Brian the very best of good luck in his retirement and thank him most sincerely for his dedication and commitment to football during his career.
Ends.
Jonathan Cullen
PRO Tipperary GAA
By Jonathan Cullen Tue 23rd Nov
