One of the biggest influences on Bermingham was John Howard. John Howard, was a Garda stationed at Pearse St in central Dubln, was also one of the reasons Bermingham did not opt to play for Faughs, despite the fact that his father Ned was a committed Faughs supporter and his cousin Mick Gill was a star of the team in the 1930s and 1940s. Faughs did not have a juvenile team and, as the young Crokes stars developed and bonded under the guidance of John Howard, there was every incentive to stay put.