WALES 2 NORTHERN IRELAND 2 8th SEPTEMBER 2004, MILLENNIUM STADIUM, CARDIFF
ENGLAND 4 NORTHERN IRELAND 0 26th MARCH 2005, OLD TRAFFORD, MANCHESTER
AUSTRIA 2 NORTHERN IRELAND 0 12TH OCTOBER 2005 ERNST HAPPEL STADIUM, VIENNA
PHOTO’S
After losing our opening game 3-0 at home to Poland only four days earlier there really was no grounds for optimism going into this game. When we arrived at Cardiff on a sunny afternoon the streets and bars were 40 shades of green.
When Healy scored to put us 2-0 up the atmosphere was electric, then the referee deemed his customary goal salute offensive and sent him off. After the Welsh had pulled two goals back the game reached a nail biting climax with us down to 9 men and Wales 10.
PHOTO’S
6000 GAWA made the short trip across the water for this one. After holding out at 0-0 to half-time, the second half seen the stronger team go up a gear. When England scored their fourth Norn Iron fans broke straight into the ‘we’re gonna win 5-4’ chant. Unfortunately the game was too far gone for the five goals to come.
Joe Cole
Photo.s
As this was the last game of the campaign and it was mathematically impossible for us to qualify long ago this was a bit of an end of season party for the supporters. The group we travelled with stayed in Bratislava, Slovakia and finding the stadium in Vienna took us 8 hours, two taxi’s, two tram’s and a walk through what must be the biggest park in Europe.
The mood amongst the Norn Iron fans was brilliant the whole time and we even had a self imposed lock in at the stadium for 30 minutes after the game ended, bit like a massive drunken choir practice. Lawrie Sanchez came onto the pitch to thank us for our support and see if there was any chance of us leaving as the ground staff wanted to go home!
(PS Jim Rainey’s bus got us back to our hotel in 40 minutes)
 |
