A Fair Chance

[backstothewall]

I did something tonight I haven't done in 15 years. I attended an Irish League game. Crusaders v Donegal Celtic.

The last time I went to an Irish League game it was a display of bigotry and sectarianism on a par with the twelfth. Chanting, flags, everything. Some punter took it upon himself to throw a golf ball at the referee.

All I can say is that things are improved beyond belief. At £5 it was the best value I have got in a long time. Terrific entertainment.

Barely a hint of the green and orange eyed monster in the ground. Only 3 clowns felt the need to have flags there. One enormous Tricolour. One enormous NI House of Commons Flag, and one ordinary NI House of Commons Flag.

The worst I heard in chanting was the "cheer up kevin keegan" song, with the lyrics changed to refer to David Jeffrey as a fat orange b*stard. In time I would hope that David Jeffrey will be called a fat baldy b*stard in this song, but if it is down to 3 flags and 1 song, its almost beat. I felt safe at all times, even walking to the car through the Crusaders on the Shore Road after.

I'll be back.

P.S. Yes Crues fans. You were robbed in broad floodlight :p

[Not Brazil]

Glad you enjoyed the experience backtowalsall.

Good value for £5 - it's usually £9 or £10 entrance to IL games for adults.

I wouldn't get hung up on the flags thing - very few of the IL regulars get "offended" by displays of National Flags these days. If DC fans want to bring their Tricolours to matches, there's no problem whatsoever.

Oh, and on the song - "Fat successful *******" is what they really mean.:D

[punkrocket]

Your night out was greatly enhanced by the improvements carried out at Seaview in the last while I'd say. It has come on rightly and is a decent wee ground now.