Nicky English

Nicky English

Nicholas J."Nicky" English (born 1962) is a former Irish hurling manager and former player from Cullen, County Tipperary, in Ireland. He played hurling with his local club Lattin-Cullen GAA and with the Tipperary senior inter-county team from 1982 until 1996. His claiming of a position on the Tipperary Hurling Team of the Century marks English out as one of Tipperary's greatest-ever players.

In a senior inter-county career that spanned fourteen years he won two All-Ireland titles, five Munster Senior Hurling Championships (1987, 1988, 1989, 1991 and 1993) titles, two National Hurling League titles (1988 and 1994, although he missed the final in '94 through injury) and two Railway Cup titles. His tally of 20 goals and 117 points from 35 championship games marks him out as Tipperary's third highest scorer of all time.

English has also been the recipient of numerous awards and honours off the field. In 1989 his hurling prowess earned him the prestigious Texaco Hurler of the Year award. He was later honoured in 2000 when he was named, by popular opinion, in the left full-forward position on the Tipperary Hurling Team of the Century. In addition during his career English won six All-Star awards.

As a manager English has had considerable success with his own native county. In 2001 he guided Tipperary to All-Ireland, Munster and National Hurling League titles. What is more remarkable is the fact that these victories came at a time when many believed that Tipperary hurling was on a downward spiral again.

English currently works for TV3 in their coverage of the hurling championship season and commentated on the 2012 All Ireland minor final. He also has a weekly hurling column in the Irish Times.