Legendary Waterford football star Alfie Hale became the first person ever to be inducted into the Waterford Sporting Hall of Fame at the Waterford Sports Awards in association with WLR on the Granville Hotel on Saturday night.

Joined by his wife Sarah, sons Darryl and Dean, daughter Jenny, grandchildren and extended family - it was a special night as Waterford came together to pay tribute to one of the county's finest sporting sons.

Alfie Hale is widely regarded by many as one of the greatest footballers ever to play in the League of Ireland. Alfie's foundations began at St. Joseph's before going on to represent Waterford United, Aston Villa and St. Patrick's Athletic among others while also going on to play 14 times for the Republic of Ireland - scoring twice.

His playing career saw him win an incredible six League of Ireland Premier Division titles, five of which came with his native Waterford. Alfie Hale has scored 153 goals in the League of Ireland, ranking him in the top ten players of all time. Hale also managed Waterford, Kilkenny City and Cobh Ramblers - while he also guided Tramore to their first league title in 50 years from the sidelines.

Speaking following a rapturous round of applause from those present, Alfie Hale said he was honoured to have been recognised: ““To be entered into the Hall of Fame in Waterford - I feel emotion. I think of my brothers and my father. To me, I was lucky enough to play 14 times for Ireland - 30 times altogether including youth and schoolboy football. I don't mean anything wrong in this sense - this really beats them all."

To listen back to Alfie's interview with Damien Tiernan, press the play button on the photo above.