Club career: After spells playing in Sligo, Limerick and Clyde (where he spent just three months) the 21-year-old full back left Galway Rovers for Aston Villa in February 1979, after writing 12 letters to the club requesting a trial. He went on to have an unforgettable five years at the club, during which time they won the League Championship, European Cup and European Super Cup. Was one of only 14 players used by Ron Saunders in the 1980-81 league-winning season, making enough appearances (11 in all, including six starts) to win a medal (he was Villa's number 12 on 19 occasions that season). Had a brief loan spell at Derby, where he played five games, before rejecting an offer of a new two-year deal from Villa to return home to Galway, where he resumed his League of Ireland career until retiring in 1991.

International career: Won four caps, all in 1982, the first when he came on as a sub against Algeria in Algiers (2-0 defeat) in April. He was a member of Eoin Hand's depleted squad that set off on a tour of South America that summer and played in defeats by Chile (1-0), Brazil (7-0) and Trinidad and Tobago (2-1). Where is he now? Now 40, Deacy helps out in the family fish, fruit and vegetable shop in Sea Road, Galway, and plays in the Night Owls floodlit league for the wonderfully named Orang-Utan.