The first memory that comes to mind when I hear the name Stephan Paisley isn't even football related. It was New Year's Eve, 2011. I was in the Grand Social on Lower Liffey Street with friends and 2012 had long been rung in by the time I decided to pick up my jacket and head home. As I was leaving, I spotted a familiar face.
I knew Stephen Paisley from covering Sporting Fingal games in the summer of 2010 for the Fingal Independent and he had joined Shelbourne in August of the same year for the Reds' promotion push. I had also chatted to him on a couple of occasions when he came into my shop in Clongriffin.
So, as I made my way towards the exit, I spotted Paisley, a little worse for wear (let's face it, who wasn't?), chatting with some friends. Stopping in front of him, I yelled suddenly, "You're Stephen Paisley! You're a legend!"
Paisley was chugging from a bottle of something or other in his left hand when this happened, so his reaction was simple: still chugging, he nodded through squinted eyes (because it was dark and he, most likely, had no idea who I was but may have had the impression that he knew me from somewhere) and simply raised his right hand - which I duly high-fived.
When I heard about his recent departure from Bohemians, I was reminded of his exit from Sporting Fingal in 2010 under similar circumstances.
He appeared in my shop at some stage that summer and, when I asked about his Fingal exit, he explained that the job opportunity that had arisen at the time was just too good to turn down, which is perfectly understandable. When he signed for Shelbourne a few months later, he appeared in the shop again - and when I said it was good to see him back playing, he smiled and replied with something along the lines of, "Ah, I missed it too much."
The centre-back seemed poised to play at the highest level after signing for Manchester City at 16 years of age. However, his three-and-a-half year stay would end without him making a first team appearance and he would return home with a different outlook on the game he played.
A column he wrote in May 2005, which originally appeared in the Daily Mirror, offers an interesting insight into the change of mentality Paisley underwent as his top-flight dream gradually deteriorated and he realised the error he made in choosing not to complete his education before crossing the water.
Now, Bohemians will certainly miss his experience as they seek to consolidate their position in mid-table this season.
This is a man who has won three FAI Cups (two with Longford Town in 2003 and 2004 and another with Fingal in 2009, which he lifted as captain), as well as a League Cup (also with Longford in 2004).
He could have had a fourth FAI Cup, but despite winning man of the match in the 2011 final for Shelbourne against Sligo Rovers, the heroics of Bit O'Red substitute 'keeper Ciaran Kelly in the penalty shoot-out put paid to that feat and assured vengeance for the dramatic 2009 final loss to Paisley's Fingal.
He was part of the St. Patrick's Athletic side that reached the first round proper of the UEFA Cup in 2008, defeating JFK Olimps and IF Elfsborg along the way, with the latter containing former AIK Solna, Leeds United and Bayer Leverkusen centre-back Teddy Lučić, who amassed 86 caps for Sweden during his long career. Hertha Berlin eventually proved a hurdle too far for Johnny McDonnell's side in the next round, but Paisley didn't feature in either leg of that tie.
He was a key figure in the promotions of both Sporting Fingal and Shelbourne to the Premier Division during his respective spells at both clubs, but league titles eluded him - he was promoted a runner-up on both occasions (via a two-legged play-off victory over Bray Wanderers in the case of Fingal), and this allied with his runners-up medal from 2008 (where Pats finished a distant second to Bohs) will rankle with him.
It is sad that a player with this much experience is forced to essentially retire at 29 years of age through circumstances beyond his control, but which cannot be ignored. Ultimately, a man's livelihood and ability to provide a good quality of life for his family is more important than football.
It is surely not the first time this has happened in this country and it won't be the last as the semi-professional set-up here forces a number of players to 'double-job' in order to make ends meet - and if a clash should arise between the two, football will almost always take a back-seat to a steady job with a regular wage.
It is just incredible to think that most players plying their trades in leagues of roughly the same standard as the League of Ireland - such as Leagues 1 and 2 in England or even the SPL - will never face dilemmas like this as they are involved in professional set-ups, with players earning enough to be able to make a solid living from the game.
Hopefully, the decision which faced Paisley last week is one that other players playing in the League of Ireland will not have to make during the course of their careers here. And as for Paisley himself, hopefully at some stage in the future he will be able to re-return from his enforced exile as he surely has a lot more to offer the game here yet.
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