I will mention Manchester in other posts, notably the England v. Northern Ireland match of 2005, but in 2006 I travelled up to Manchester to represent the South of England Northern Ireland Supporters Club in the annual five a sides tournament for mainland NISCs. This was the first one, and was organised by the North Read more about Mainland NISC 5 a sides, Manchester, England (July 2006)[…]
In the first week of my 2007 World Tour, I was in Toronto, Canada. I had booked to stay there for six days, but was totally unaware at the time that Toronto was hosting the Under 20s World Cup! What a pleasant surprise then when I disembarked at Toronto Pearson Airport to see an advert Read more about The Under 20s World Cup 2007, Toronto, Canada![…]
This night will always be one I remember from Dean Court. So many things happenned and suddenly everything in the cherry garden was rosy and we were heading for Division Two (or whatever stupid name the English FA have decided to call the second tier of their national football league). The day started very ordinarily. Read more about “6-0 up and we’re having a laugh” – Hayter makes history on Pancake Day!! (24th February 2004)[…]
I had never been to Denmark, but had met a few Danish people in my time, notably Nethe from working on Bournemouth beach, and Hans from Tesco in Springhill. Northern Ireland were often drawn in the same qualifying group against Denmark, and I had been to 3 home matches against them. My only Northern Ireland Read more about On the roof? You’re having a laugh! (Copenhagen, October 2006)[…]
For some bizarre and unknown reason (justified only by money and the cost of travel) I didn’t go to a single Northern Ireland away match until March 2005, my 25th birthday match in Poland (except the one I’m about to write about and the England away match, both on UK soil, so not really ‘away’ Read more about Sent off for celebrating…Wales 2-2 Northern Ireland (September 2004)[…]
I spent manys a day in Castlerock during the 1990s. Castlerock is an excellent little seaside town on Northern Ireland’s north coast. A number of reasons influenced the fact that I spent Summer and Easter days there. One was with my old school, Bangor Grammar who made a habit of holding summer camp at Guysmere Read more about Castlerock, Northern Ireland, The 1990s[…]
When AFC Bournemouth beat Carlisle United 2-1 in early January 2005, me and three mates decided we would go to the fourth round match no matter where it was. The day after when the draw was made, The Cherries were drawn away to the winners of the Burnley v. Liverpool replay. Naturally this was fantastic Read more about Bournemouth does Burnley…FA Cup Fourth Round – January 2005[…]
Twenty one years after a heroic night on the Spanish coast for a Northern Ireland football team, a white shirted and green shorted male walks through the (almost) Franco-resistant city of Valencia to investigate the demonic effect that a goal by Gerry Armstrong has had on a patriotically Spanish population. I walked through Valencia on Read more about Hunting Down The Ghost Of Luis Casanova: Valencia, Spain, 2003[…]
Having lived in Dorset for nigh on five years and devoted so much time to watching and supporting AFC Bournemouth (The Cherries), the time came to support Dorset’s other big team (albeit only for 90 minutes). Weymouth is a beautiful English seaside town, lined with narrow streets, traditional shops, a beach, a pier, some excellent Read more about Oh we do like to be beside the seaside…Weymouth 2-1 Droylsden (15.04.2008)[…]
Northern Ireland’s support was pretty shit in the 1990s. That’s just the way things were. I attended at least one home match a year, and for the last 4 years of the decade, I didn’t miss one. I have fond memories of EVERY trip to Windsor Park to watch my beloved Norn Iron (win, lose Read more about The night the world champions came to town – Northern Ireland 0-1 France (August 1999)[…]