Ireland take on Czechia in the must-win tie to ensure a place in Tuesday’s play-off final which the Boys in Green are guaranteed to play in the Aviva Stadium, should they be victorious tonight.
Speaking to Liveline on RTÉ Radio 1 live from the Irish Times Bar in Prague this afternoon, Troy’s mother, Jennifer, revealed how much she and the family stuck by him after things did not work out at his old parent club, Tottenham Hotspur in London.
“I moved over to England when he went on loan and the loans weren’t working out for him,” she said.
Republic of Ireland’s Troy Parrott. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA
“I just said ‘you know what, we’re just going to pack up and we’re going to go over and support him’, and we did.”
Despite his very obvious talents as a footballer, Troy’s career trajectory took a dip into uncertainty before and after leaving Tottenham in 2024, making just two first-team appearances for the club and being sent on loan to Millwall, Ipswich Town, MK Dons and Preston North End.
“[When] he went to MK Dons and all, he just picked up from there,” Jennifer added.
Admitting to her son suffering from a certain degree of homesickness amid a turbulent career, she said that she pulled out all the stops to keep the now-Irish hero mentally on the straight and narrow.
“Some of the clubs weren’t working out for him and he had no family over there. And even like any time, Christmas or anything, I’ve always gone over for him for Christmas, spent Christmas with him. He’s never been over there on his own on an important day like Christmas.”
Troy has scored 14 goals in 23 Eridivisie league appearances so far this season.
Troy Parrott celebrates his hat-trick against Hungary with team-mates in Budapest – much will rest on his shoulders. Photo: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Describing his €4m move to current club AZ Alkmaar in the Netherlands two years ago as “the best decision he ever made”, Jennifer hailed the pride with which he wears the green jersey every game.
“When he’s playing for his club, that’s his job,” she said. “And [when] he’s playing for his country, that’s his duty.”
Looking ahead to what is at stake in Fortuna Arena tonight, Jennifer remains excited, but admits to the aniticpation being “overwhelming” at times.
“I don’t really want to think about it until I get there. When I get there, that’s when the nerves will kick in. I still can’t believe it. I still feel like I’m in a dream, like it’s no happening. It’s brilliant.
Members of Troy Parrott’s family pose alongside RTÉ Radio 1 Liveline presenter Kieran Cuddihy at a bar in Prague ahead of tonight’s crucial match with Czechia. Pitcture: RTÉ
The Irish have taken over Prague’s Old Town Square ahead of tonight’s crunch World Cup play-off semi-final against Czechia
“Coming up to this last week I have been thinking about him and praying that they are going to win. If Troy gets a goal, he gets a goal. But it is just about winning now.”
His sister Emmie said: “I hope they all do really well. Me and Troy were very close growing up, and we still are. To me, if something goes wrong, it’s on all of us. We all feel it for him.”
His girlfriend, Lauren Bowry, said that “Dublin boy” Troy enjoys life playing for AZ Alkmaar, but is cut out to represent Ireland on the world stage.
“He just loves his country so much that he’s just got so much more excitement in him. He loves Ireland.”
She added: “I think it’s all he could ever dream of – playing for your country.”