Mark Sykes

2023 - 3 - 20

Post cover — Image courtesy of "Irish Examiner"

Mark Sykes: It wasn't a difficult decision to switch from Northern to ... (Irish Examiner)

Keane spoke during the recent FA Cup tie against Manchester City of his admiration for the bravery shown by Bristol City's Sykes in switching allegiance. The ...

“For me, until I got a little bit older - I didn’t move to England until I was 20 or 21, whenever that came out, I believe the FAI had an interest. If I was the best player, someone might have come to have a look. “I knew the decision was hard.

Belfast boy Mark Sykes 'all positive' about decision to declare for ... (The Irish Times)

Kenny has included the 25-year-old Bristol City player in his squad for friendly against Latvia and the Euro 2024 qualifier against France.

“And never being around the Ireland set-up I knew it was going to be difficult. “Yes, brave in a way as there may be a bit of backlash and people not thinking it was the right thing to do, but I’ve said in many interviews now that it’s not them who is living my life. It makes me feel proud to do something so good for the people back home, you know obviously being the first person from Belfast in a long time to do such a thing.

Mark Sykes: 'An Irish player playing for Ireland, I don't see the problem' (Belfast Live)

Former Glenavon man made his senior Ireland debut against Malta in November, becoming the first Belfast man to represent the Republic since Jackie Vernon ...

An Irish player playing for Ireland, I don’t see the problem. For me it was all positive.” “I know it was only a few minutes and wasn’t the biggest game in the world, but for me it felt unbelievable.” “(Making my debut in Malta) was unbelievable for me and a dream come true to represent Ireland. “Yes, brave in a way as there may be a bit of backlash and people not thinking it was the right thing to do. [Roy Keane was on pundit duty](https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/roy-keane-hails-mark-sykes-26357159) for [ITV](https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/all-about/itv) and said Sykes had made a “brave” decision declaring for Ireland.

Mark Sykes reveals emotional moment he knew he was right to ... (The Irish Sun)

MARK SYKES insisted opting for the Republic of Ireland was a no-brainer - and his Ormeau Road homecoming last November confirmed it.Bristol City.

He added: “I want to play minutes, whether that’s a friendly or a qualifier. Yes, brave in a way as there may be a bit of backlash and people not thinking it was the right thing to do. “To come on the pitch… Nobody deserves to be here just because they have declared for Ireland. For me it was all positive. His decision to declare, he revealed, was also not one that required much consideration.

'Nobody deserves to be here just because they have declared for ... (Independent.ie)

Belfast boy Mark Sykes says he never lost faith that Ireland's call would come for him once he made the difficult decision to switch allegiance from ...

And I played in that game, I played right back for half of the game," he says of the City Cup tie, a 3-0 home defeat. “For someone like myself, I haven’t played there a lot in my career and you’re constantly aware of what’s going on around you. “I'm out there putting the sacrifice in and hard work in and I made that decision full well knowing what is going to happen. I wasn’t the top of the tree. Yes brave in a way as there may be a bit of backlash and people not thinking it was the right thing to do, but I've said in many interviews now that it's not them who is living my life," added Sykes. I always put it down to myself.

Mark Sykes eager for more game-time with Republic of Ireland ... (The Irish News)

A DECIDEDLY balmy March afternoon in Abbotstown and it's the first proper chance for Ormeau Road man Mark Sykes to meet the Irish media after declaring for ...

We also want to put in a good performance and I think we did alright.” It makes me feel proud to do something so good for the people back home, being the first person from Belfast in a long time to do such a thing. And for me it was unbelievable that they did. I wasn’t top of the tree. And I think that stands for everybody. But thankfully now with club performances I feel I have deserved my chance here and hopefully this week I can get some more minutes.”

Sykes: I'm just an Irish player playing for Ireland (RTE.ie)

Mark Sykes became the first Belfast man in 76 years to play for the Republic of Ireland when he came off the bench against Malta last November.

"Nobody deserves to be here just because they have declared for Ireland. If I'm not, then someone else will be there to take it." For someone like myself, I haven’t played there a lot in my career and you’re constantly aware of what’s going on around you. "It's going to be difficult," he admits. "I'm out there putting the sacrifice in and hard work in and I made that decision full well knowing what is going to happen. It makes me feel proud to do something so good for the people back home, you know obviously being the first person from Belfast in a long time to do such a thing. "We went into the game with no pressure, just go out and express ourselves, enjoy ourselves as much as possible. It'll be a similar story when the French rock up next week. I played right-back for half of the game. "I mean, listen, there are many things that people have said and it's a nice thing I suppose. I don't see the problem". Ahead of Bristol City's FA Cup tie against Manchester City last month, ITV pundit Roy Keane singled the versatile Sykes out for some praise.