"He's a Liverpool player so he must be good," they said. A
youngster who had impressed in his native Dublin before signing up
(but never actually playing for) Liverpool, he only spent 6 months
with Leeds before moving on to Hull. He never did much to impress
the fans at Elland Road, and when local lad David Batty made the
breakthrough into the first team, his chances of getting a place
were ever more remote.
Beef says: Scored a cracking diving header on his debut I think
against Man City, I do believe he made his debut along with Jim
Melrose that day. Shame he lost it after that.
Lordy says: Ken de Mange - what a legend. Him and where's jim
melrose. Eee them were days lad!
Deano says: Hes a legend. A myth. My mates from Hull and moved up
north and told us stories about Ken De Mange. Turns out I kinda
adopted his name and have been called Deano De Mange by everyone ever
since! Wonder what he's doing now.
Enda says: I saw Ken DeMange come on as a sub for Ireland in a
friendly against Brazil in Dublin in May 1987. A special Liam Brady
goal was enough to beat Brazil for the only time on their European
tour.
Kenneth Toucan says: I am a Hull City fan and used to live opposite
Ken De Mange.He was a crap player but had a very exciting life.He was
a notorious drinker and womaniser with one hell of a temper.Throughout
his time in Hull but allegedly something mysterious and suspicious
occured whilst on loan with Cardiff and soon after returning to Hull
left the club and the country to make a new life in America.What a
fuching loon!
Dave says: I went to school with Ken. He was a fantastic
footballer in our eyes back then. He stood out head and shoulders.
He used to play for one of the big Dublin teams Tolka Rovers as a
schoolboy. We usen't have a soccer team in school it was Gaelic
football that took precedence over everything. Then one year we all
lobbied for a soccer team and in the first season reached the Dublin
final. School sports day was a waste of time turning up, he won
everything from the 100m to the mile(tho me mate Red gave him a great
run one year in the mile) He was a big Doors fan (before it was
fashionable). I remember him signing for Liverpool, I think he got on
the subs bench for the first time against Burnley and him remarking
the extra money he got that week. Then when he signed for Leeds and
scored on his debut, diving header against Man City. Jaysus a dream
come true for him and us, coz he was a mad Leeds fan in school and I
could brag to me workmates that one of me best school mates had scored
for Leeds on Saturday. I know he played a couple of seasons in League
of Ireland and Irish League (nth of Ireland) after leaving UK. He had
this special trick of being able to turn his eyelids inside out, not
something to impress the girls I grant ya, but hey skule days best
days of yer life !!!!!!!
Anon says: played for limerick fc in the irish league. brilliant
player
Derek Lynch says: To my knowledge he finished back were he started
with Home Farm, and he played schoolboy first with Stella Maris not
Tolka Rovers playe for Home Farms first team while still on the
schollballs team.
Dave Kelly says: Yeah, I too went to the same schools as him in
Ireland - Ballygall, on Dublin's northside (Sacred Heart and St
Kevins). Also happened to live around the corner from him. As
previously stated the guy was a legend (schools sports days were a
waste of time). But unfortunately for him, he never had a chance of
making it 'cause of his temperament. Having a huge ego isn't that big
of a problem, when you're a big fish in a small pond, but it didn't
help when he landed at Liverpool and Leeds with something needing to
be proved. One class moment I can remember was him once running off
the pitch during a schools final in tears 'cause his team were
losing.
Gary says: Ken was a class player while at Limerick FC. The year he
was their he helped them to win the league cup and keep them in the
top 6 of the premiere division. He was also selected for the league of
Ireland all star team that year. He is now currently working for
British Airways in Heathrow.
macca says: i saw the game in dublin that day and i live in leeds
and just barely recall him. errr legend...no...but something to tell
his grand kids eh....
Stephen says: Does anyone what became of Ken Demange? I am trying
to write a book about cult heroes of footballers and this site is the
nearest thing I've been able to find ot about him, is he still working
at Heathrow? Would be interested in some information
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