The end had come at Edgar Street and we headed away from the stadium and back to our cars. There was no “Hurrah, a final match victory for Ulster Cherry”. There was no “post match pint for old time’s sake”. There was no “golden dream”. Whatever dreams I had when arriving in Bournemouth in 2003…
Read MoreSo to the match itself then. The whole point of the day trip in reality, we were after all “only HERE FOR Da football” and to meet a new friend, who goes by the name of Edgar. Edgar is old and worn, but vibrant and welcoming. It’s neither a he or a she, it’s an…
Read MoreWe parked near the centre of Hereford but in a slightly different area than before. We were looking for a poky old English pub with a pool table. And we found it in The Treacle Mine. They had pool so a few games were in order. Ironically the following Tuesday night I’d be playing again…
Read MoreThis post really takes me back and I am so glad I found these photos last month at my Mum and Dad’s house on a rare return to Northern Ireland. I found them in a box in the garage…above is the amazing view out of my bedroom window as a 10 year old. We moved…
Read MoreIn 2004 I flirted with the idea of visiting the Caribbean, with my childhood friend Michael McClelland. The reason being, we were mad Northern Ireland fans and Northern Ireland organised a 2 week tour of the tropical islands as a warm up for the 2006 World Cup qualifiers. However, the tour was confirmed in 2003,…
Read MoreThe Hong Kong Northern Ireland Supporters Club was successfully launched on Leap Year Day (Wednesday 29th February 2012) in Mong Kok, Kowloon. Including one member from the Far East NISC, a turn up of 6 on the night, plus 2 randoms saw Hong Kong defeat Taiwan 5-1 at home in a comprehensive friendly victory against…
Read MoreI often need to reflect on the past to understand the present. It’s now New Year’s Day 2012. I’ll be 32 this year. Three years ago on New Year’s Day I celebrated with my girlfriend at the time who cooked for me and came down to visit from London for 2 days. After the 2nd…
Read MoreSan Marino City – nestled high in the mountains with extraordinary views was some experience. It was the height of winter and there was snow everywhere. It was just amazing. Our bus broke down on the way, we got a replacement bus which climbed slowly but surely to this amazing city. We had crossed the…
Read MoreI worked in 2009 on the Cross Channel Ferries. My routes varied between the English ports of Weymouth and Poole, the French ports of St. Malo and Cherbourg and the Channel Islands. We often docked in Jersey and the summer of 2009 was my first (and only) chance so far in life to tour the…
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