This weekend, if you’re not in Qatar for the World Cup final, everywhere else in football feels a million miles away.
The 19-year-old left back is the only player under the age of 20 in the division to play more than 1,000 minutes so far – 1,001 to be exact. After not being taken on by Bohemians for the U15 National League, Roughan joined his local side Phoenix FC. When he impressed there, a trial with Leeds United was secured, during which time others became aware of him.
“Even though it’s not that long ago I still needed so much growing up to do to realise why staying in school was important,” Roughan continues. At the start of this season, Roughan, who has played for Ireland at U17, 19 and 21 level, set himself a goal of reaching 50 senior career appearances. If he features in Lincoln’s next three games – which on current evidence is very likely – he will achieve that target before the new year.
A loan spell with Drogheda United for the first half of the 2022 League of Ireland Premier Division season also helped fuel the fire, providing the kind of platform which he insists was crucial to his understanding of what’s actually required to survive in the game.