Austin Healey: Evertonian & Rugby’s Roy Keane?

Healey...Evertonian
By Chris Kirwan
September 26 2002

The issue of outspoken views that has come to the fore of football is old hat in the sport of rugby, partly thanks to an Evertonian… Austin Healey.

The mercurial talent of Wallesey-born Austin Healey brightens up the world of rugby. Austin Healey has the versatility of David Unsworth, the skill and vision of Anders Limpar and ,like Limpar, Healey possesses the ability to change a game in a split second. Healey was raised watching the Blues from the Bullens Road but turned to rugby, where the lessons learnt from the ‘School of Science’ no doubt served him well. He has tasted success with England, the British Lions, and was the spark of creativity in the last two European Cup finals that brought the trophy to Leicester. Yet Healey is one of rugby’s most controversial figures; he suffers a similar fate to Matt Le Tissier in that he is often considered a luxury, and his forthright views create controversy.

Healey has shown that it is not just football (or Old Trafford) that is rocked by what is written in print. On the eve of the Lions’ deciding test match he was roundly criticised for comments about the Lions’ backroom staff and the people of Australia. Despite hitting the nail on the head regarding the nation of Australia he became something of a hate figure, despite the fact his ghostwriter had taken artistic license with his comments. This led to Healey being fined after appearing before a committee. Nonetheless Healey went on to write ‘The Austin Healey Story’.

The parallels with the events at Old Trafford are interesting in that, like Keane, Healey is too valuable a commodity to rein in. He suffers a fate similar to Keane in that his club Leicester may discipline him behind doors but he is never openly condemned. Similarly, while Jaap Stam was booted out of Old Trafford by Ferguson, Roy Keane remains club captain.

However, unlike Keane it is honesty rather than malice that create controversy. It is not because Healey comments are so appalling that they demand action from the authorities, it is because people are surprised he is so frank. But similar to Keane Healey receives a great deal of stick from opposing fans, of which a great deal can be attributed to grudging respect, because despite courting controversy he is one of his sport’s most valuable and entertaining assets.

Keane is unlikely to be treated quite so leniently as Healey. This is because the business side of football will not allow it, and the FA is worried about football’s image. You are allowed to think about hurting a fellow player, but you are not allowed to vocalise such thoughts. But Keane will receive support from inside Old Trafford, just as Healey receives from inside Welford Road, because when you’re good you can get away with a lot more than if you’re average.