But there was one point in the poignant film where some came flooding back, a moment which brought tears to the eyes of many on these shores. Charlton watches an old clip of the Irish team when a figure walks into the frame. “Paul McGrath,” he announces, before smiling at the camera.
It’s been over four years since his former manager passed away, a “father figure” and a man he “genuinely loved”.
McGrath has seen the clip, but not the documentary in full. It’s too painful.
“I did actually see that,” he said. “I didn’t watch it when it was put out. I haven’t watched the whole thing. I had to switch off to be honest, you know. When it got to that bit, I just forgot about it.”
The 88-times capped Irish legend was in Dublin yesterday to help launch a men’s mental health campaign ahead of Movember. The ex-Manchester United and Aston Villa defender has been open about his own struggles with depression and addiction in the past, and while admitting he has been through some difficult times in recent years, he’s on the other side of it now.
“Men’s mental health, it’s something as fellas, we don’t talk about how we’re feeling too much. So I thought this would be a good thing to get involved in,” said McGrath, speaking at the launch on behalf of Pringles.
“I’m getting back to normal. I don’t feel a little battered or anything like that, but I feel like I’ve been through quite a bit in the last couple of years and especially in the last year. But I’m coming out of it now and trying to start just getting back out into the public and doing one or two things, so it’s good.
“I think footballers who are leaving the game struggle. I wish people were able to talk to people to get their feelings out there and not just bottle it up. Especially in my case, it was with alcohol and stuff like that. So yeah, it’d be nice [for footballers in my time] to be able to talk to someone, explain you’re feeling a certain way and ease your track to civilian life again.”
While having an active role in football nowadays is an idea that doesn’t appeal to him, the 64-year-old still watches the game regularly.
“When Ireland are playing, of course I want to watch. I watch the rugby, I watch hurling. I love sport. I love football most of all, but I’m actually watching far too much,” he laughed. “If I’m watching football, it’s usually teams I’ve been involved with. I love them all doing well. Manchester United is another one that people think, for some reason, that I dislike them. They gave me my first chance in England. It didn’t end well for me when Alex [Ferguson] popped up, but I still love United.”
As he prepares to tune in to Ireland’s clash away to Finland, McGrath shared his views on the current squad, but also others who used to wear the green shirt.
“I have met Jack [Grealish] quite a few times and I love Jack for how well he did for Villa. So I hate the thought, just because he is a brilliant footballer, he made a choice, or his dad or his agent made a choice, I don’t know, that they wanted to switch [to England]. Declan [Rice] as well.
“If you are not totally committed to playing for this country, you shouldn’t do it.”
