THERE is a large montage on a wall in Steve Foley's home that resembles a footballing Hall of Fame.
From Jose Mourinho to Cristiano Ronaldo, Arsene Wenger to David Beckham, photographs of some of the game's greatest figures sit proudly alongside pictures of Foley and his family.
It reflects not only a remarkable life in football but also the respect Foley commands throughout the game following a career that began at Colchester United and has spanned almost 60 years.
READ MORE: 'Enjoyed every bit of it': Moses Sesay loving Colchester United loan
His Lawford home is packed with football memories and mementoes. As visitors enter, they are greeted by a sign reading Zora's Pad.
The nickname dates back to his playing days, when he was sent off in a match at Charlton Athletic and likened to former Canadian boxer Zora Foley.
It is just one reminder of a football journey unlike many others.
"Every manager I played under at Colchester shaped my ideas on coaching, good or bad. I've mixed it," says Foley.
"I went up to see Bobby Roberts in Leicester. I thought so much of him.
"He was the best coach I worked under.
"I can't remember him ever slagging anyone off.
"We had Jim Smith, who was right in your face, but Bobby just calmly said what was needed."
Born in Clacton, Foley progressed through the schoolboy and junior ranks at Colchester United before dedicating much of his life to the club.
From arriving at Layer Road as a fresh-faced 14-year-old, he served the U's as an apprentice, player, coach, youth-team manager, assistant manager and caretaker manager on three separate occasions.
He even swept the terraces.
"It's where I started," he said.
"If I didn't have Colchester, I wouldn't have had Watford, Norwich or Ipswich, so I'm grateful to Dick Graham for signing me as a professional.
READ MORE: Colchester Women out of League Cup after extra-time defeat
"I've been to Norwich, won promotion and been named coach of the year, but Colchester's my team.
"I used to travel all the way from Clacton to Wilson Marriage School. Can you imagine a kid doing that now?
"I didn't think anything of it. That's just how it was in those days.
"I had to get on with it and I loved it."
Foley was a 17-year-old apprentice at Layer Road on arguably the most famous day in the club's history, when Colchester stunned Leeds United 3-2 in the FA Cup on February 13, 1971.
He vividly recalls one lesson from legendary manager Dick Graham.
"As an apprentice, Dick sent us on a cross-country run around Layer-de-la-Haye," he said.
"Luckily, I was a good runner but as we came back to Layer Road I stopped near the ground, walked in and went back to sweeping the terraces.
"Then someone said, 'Steve... Dick wants to see you'.
"When he wanted to see you, you knew there was something up.
"I knocked on his door and he said, 'Come in, you cheating b*****d'.
"I opened the door and he said, 'I saw you. You walked in'.
"I said, 'Well, I was winning'.
"He went absolutely mad and replied, 'You do your best every f*****g time'.
"He said, 'You never walk'.
"I had to do the whole thing again but what it taught me was that you've got to work, otherwise he wasn't happy.
"He wasn't a great coach like Bobby Roberts, but you worked for Dick."
READ MORE: Ex-Colchester United defender signs for National League high fliers
Foley announced himself in style at senior level, scoring twice on his first-team debut in a 3-0 win over Exeter City under the Layer Road floodlights in November 1971.
A year later, he signed his first professional contract.
Over the next decade he became one of Colchester’s most dependable performers, helping the club secure promotions in 1974 and 1977 while making almost 300 appearances in a variety of positions, often as captain.
Asked to name the best player he played alongside at Colchester, Foley pauses.
"I'd put Tony Adcock up there," he said.
"He was a very elegant player.
"And I can remember a little boy called Bobby Svarc."
After leaving the U's as a player in 1981, Foley returned five years later to join the club's youth coaching staff under Roy Massey.
Apart from a brief spell at Watford, where he coached future stars including John Barnes, Tim Sherwood and David James, Colchester remained central to his coaching career.
During one of his three caretaker spells in charge, in 1988-89, he helped steer the club away from relegation danger and preserve their Football League status.
Despite coming close on several occasions, Foley never took the U’s manager's role permanently.
READ MORE: 'Why I wasn't quite sure how to feel after U's draw at Shrewsbury'
"I just tried to be the same when I was caretaker manager because that's why they wanted me," he said.
"I am who I am and obviously you learn because you have to in coaching.
"I was close to doing it and you look back and think maybe I should have done it.
"I remember being in Gordon Parker's office for about 20 minutes with him telling me how to play football and I disagreed with a lot of it.
"It put me right off and I just couldn't put up with that."
In 1996, former Colchester team-mate and close friend Mike Walker persuaded Foley to leave Layer Road and join him at Norwich City.
Initially appointed reserve-team manager, Foley quickly established himself as one of the club's most influential coaches.
He played a significant role in the development of players such as Darren Huckerby, Paul McVeigh and Craig Bellamy.
Bellamy, who went on to enjoy a stellar playing career with clubs including Liverpool, Newcastle United and Manchester City and now manager of Wales, later acknowledged Foley’s influence on his development.
Foley's coaching career ultimately stretched across three decades at every level of the professional game.
READ MORE: Colchester United U18s held to 2-2 draw at Sheffield Wednesday
Alongside his work at Norwich, he spent many years at Ipswich Town, working within the academy and as a specialist skills coach.
Among those he coached was former Real Madrid and Spain midfielder Ivan Campo.
In recognition of his contribution to the U’s, Foley was inducted into the club's Hall of Fame in 2019 and now serves as president of the Colchester United Former Players' Association.
Yet for all the achievements, accolades and famous names, Foley is quick to acknowledge the person he credits most.
"My wife Heather has been unbelievable and I wouldn't be here if it weren't for her," he said.
Talk to Foley about coaching and the passion remains undimmed.
His home still contains countless folders packed with training sessions, drills and exercises collected over decades in the game.
READ MORE: Goalkeeper acknowledged after answering Colchester United SOS
Even now, he continues to volunteer at Ipswich Town, coaching young players on Wednesday evenings.
And his philosophy remains as simple as ever.
"Keep passing the ball," says Foley, with a grin. "I haven't seen it sweat yet."
Share