Union man with Trim ties

The train from Alexanderplatz in Berlin's centre headed east for what seemed like an age. Deep into the heart of the old GDR (East Germany) it eventually found its' way to Kopenick, a quaint little place, like a Bavarian Christmas card - all odd roofs and dim street lights under evening mist. The directions from FC Union Berlin's media official were to walk down a dirt track through a wooded area to the Old Forester's House football ground. Doing so I couldn't help but think it was the strangest place imaginable to go looking for an Irish defender. Then I saw him, Patrick Kohlmann, walking up the track toward me, striking out his hand in greeting. The former Republic of Ireland u-21 international and Borussia Dortmund defender currently plies his trade with Union Berlin. The team, living in the shadow of Hertha have been making waves in the lower reaches of the German league system after being promoted from the 3.Bundesliga last season. Union have more than held their own in the second tier this term, finishing mid-table. "I love to speak English because it is great practice for when I visit Ireland," greeted Kohlmann whose mother, Philomena Newell hails from Trim. She lived in Pinebrook with her father Norman and mother Bella before she emigrated to Germany. The return visits to her parents became a feature in Patrick's life, long before ever the call came to don the green jersey. "Every year when I was younger we went to Ireland on holiday and every day I was out playing football with the lads in Trim. I felt very comfortable with those guys." added Kohlmann of his trips to Meath. As an established German full-back and a constant on the Union team, Kohlmann is notably solid and consistent, in the mould of Denis Irwin. He said that opting to play for Ireland as a youth was an easy choice. "Whenever I went to Ireland it was like everybody liked you and talked to you and everyone was very friendly so I loved my holidays there. It was a very easy decision for me to play for Ireland." Kohlmann first registered on the international scene in June 1999 after Brian Kerr had gone on a scouting mission around Europe to find under-age football players of Irish descent. The young Patrick had come up on Kerr's radar when lining out for the youth team of Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund. "The first time I went to the Ireland squad was when I was 16. I was invited to a training camp in Rotterdam. "I think Brian Kerr knew I played for Borussia, he didn't know me, but decided to invite me along." The Dortmund native impressed Kerr sufficiently to earn a place for European Olympic u-16 tournament that was staged in Denmark. Being a part of the international set-up with his adopted country was a source of great pride for the family. "My grandparents were very proud as there had never been any sport in the household before I made the breakthrough." On the books at one of Europe's top club sides of the late '90s, Kohlmann recalled his own involvement when Borussia claimed European football's top prize in 1997. "I was still a youth in '97, but when we won the Champions League I was a ball boy at the club. I wasn't old enough to play with those great players, but I have played with some very good players like Tomas Rosický and Jan Koller." Moving from the youth team up to the reserve squad at Dortmund, Kohlmann went on to make his u-21 international debut against Poland in August 2003. Over the next year he made four more appearances with the u-21 team and was subsequently called up to Borussia's first team squad. Kohlmann made his Bundesliga debut in November 2004 against Kaiserslautern, but within 43 minutes turned badly on his right knee causing serious ligament injury. It was that singular moment of misfortune that put paid to his hopes of pinning down a first team spot and his name thereafter has been consigned to the memory vaults of Irish football. "Yes, it was a great disappointment for me. It was very hard to get into the first team when I came back from that injury." The likes of Christoph Metzelder (recently signed for Schalke 04 from Real Madrid) and Brazilian defender Dede had become established full backs in Dortmund's defence and after spending a further two years on the fringes of first team football Kohlmann opted for a change of direction. In 2007 he moved to 3.Bundesliga side Erfurt where he established himself as their first choice left-back before moving on to Union Berlin in 2008. Playing in front of a capacity 19,000 at The Forester's House, the natural left-footer has pinned down a place in Union's defence having played the full 90 minutes in 30 of Union's 34 league games this season. He cites the fanatical and historically anti-Stasi (former East German secret police), working class support as one of the main reasons he has settled so well at Union. "I love it here. It's the club for the people of Berlin, the workers. Anyone would love football here. It's a great experience, even when you watch a game." With his career on an upward curve with a team in the hunt for even more success, Kohlmann has not cast aside his dreams of returning to the Republic of Ireland set-up. "It would be a big dream for me. To play for Ireland is still the dream. "If I was told to come over and join the team of course I would, I always look out for the results because my eyes are always on the Irish national team," he concluded.