Ireland's longest serving fans

[JossCrowley]

How many years have you been attending Ireland matches? Was just thinking about how there must be some of you out there who have been going to games for years and years?

[OwlsFan]

First away game Paris in 1974 (France 2 0 Ireland). First home game. I remember being brought by my parents to an Ireland vs Iceland game at Dalymount I think which Ireland won comfortably but I have no idea when that was. First match on my own might have been Hungary 1-2 in 1969 but I can't be sure. We used to lose them all at home in those days.

First great home victories I remember were the Givens 7 goals in Soviet Union 3-0 and Turkey 4-0. Standing under the shed behind the goal at Dalymount with 100 people on the roof above: now I wonder how it never collapsed but then it wouldn't cast me a thought.

[gspain]

First home game - Switzerland May 1975.

First Away game - Holland September 1981

My first football match would have been Limerick at the Markets Field towards the end of 70/71 season. Not sure which game.

[gspain]

First away game Paris in 1974 (France 2 0 Ireland). First home game. I remember being brought by my parents to an Ireland vs Iceland game at Dalymount I think which Ireland won comfortably but I have no idea when that was. First match on my own might have been Hungary 1-2 in 1969 but I can't be sure. We used to lose them all at home in those days.

First great home victories I remember were the Givens 7 goals in Soviet Union 3-0 and Turkey 4-0. Standing under the shed behind the goal at Dalymount with 100 people on the roof above: now I wonder how it never collapsed but then it wouldn't cast me a thought.

Paris would have been 76. Iceland would have to be 62.

[soccerc]

Home, Poland in '69. Away England '80

[OwlsFan]

Paris would have been 76. Iceland would have to be 62.

Thanks. Correct: 1976 (first time abroad ever). DO you happen to know the Iceland score? Was it 4-1 or something like that.

[OwlsFan]

My first football match would have been Limerick at the Markets Field towards the end of 70/71 season. Not sure which game.

I was going to Milltown in the mid-1960s. Think Al Finucane was the big Limerick star then or he might have been 1970s.

[casso36]

Started going to matches at the age of 7 and that was 30 years ago.
And for the life of me can't remember match.

As you will see i'm not as old as the rest!!!;) :D

[paul_oshea]

DO you happen to know the Iceland score? Was it 4-1 or something like that.

what kinda fan are you? were you just going for the craic?!?! :p :D

[Wolfie]

Ireland v Switzerland, 1985.

I was ten years old and we won 3 nil.

[gspain]

Thanks. Correct: 1976 (first time abroad ever). DO you happen to know the Iceland score? Was it 4-1 or something like that.

4-2 we won. European Championship qualifier. Did you make the next round v Austria a year later when we recorded one of our greatest ever wins?

Al Finucane first played for us circa 1963 and went to Waterford from 1973-1981.

[gspain]

Home, Poland in '69. Away England '80

Probably being too pedantic but it would have been 1968 (2-2) or 1970 (lost 2-1). We didn't play Poland in 1969.

[soccerc]

Probably being too pedantic but it would have been 1968 (2-2) or 1970 (lost 2-1). We didn't play Poland in 1969.

Gary

You've pointed this out to me before - it was the 2-2 draw and for some reason I have it stuck in my head that it was '69. Then again I was only a nipper and was probably only brought so the old man could have a pint.

[lopez]

Holland away 1981.

[OwlsFan]

4-2 we won. European Championship qualifier. Did you make the next round v Austria a year later when we recorded one of our greatest ever wins?

Don't think so. Never remember going to a game after that with my parents. I think my mother (being a farmer's daughter from Waterford) was a bit shocked by the language used by the "Dublin gurriers" at the game. Never tried to put me off going to games though except after I came back from a Rovers visit to Dalyer with a bloody nose. Told her I had fallen but she checked with my friends' mothers and soon found out that I had taken exception to a Bohs fan deliberately bumping in to me coming out of the ground and ended up with a reddner for my troubles :o I kept my head down in future at those games. Only other violence I encountered was at the Blaxnit trophy games with teams from Norn Iron when a friend of mine had a stone meet his face inside the ground.

[OwlsFan]

P.S. Al Finucane was a class act.

[geysir]

. Only other violence I encountered was at the Blaxnit trophy games with teams from Norn Iron when a friend of mine had a stone meet his face inside the ground.
Blaxnit Trophy, I'd forgotten what it was called. Still you have to credit those Northerners, they were fearless, into the valley of death and all that, whereas the LOI fans regarded the border as the entry to the gates of hell and stayed at home.
I have a very vague memory of my brother bringing me to a midweek drab draw with Denmark (amateurs then) '68, we conceded a late penalty, the Rovers fans behind the goals were not amused and the toilet rolls/ busrolls flew, maybe even a bottle or two.

[Superhoops]

Probably being too pedantic but it would have been 1968 (2-2) or 1970 (lost 2-1). We didn't play Poland in 1969.
We lost the 1970 game 2-0?

[Superhoops]

I have a very vague memory of my brother bringing me to a midweek drab draw with Denmark (amateurs then) '68, we conceded a late penalty, the Rovers fans behind the goals were not amused and the toilet rolls/ busrolls flew, maybe even a bottle or two.
The 1-1 game against Denmark when we gave away a late penalty was played on October 1969, Don Givens scored for us.

This game was a replay of the game played in December 1968 and which was abandoned just after the second half started when the score was 1-1. In that game Denmark scored first and Giles scored a penalty just before half time.

[onenilgameover]

ireland v brazil 1987. i was 9. brady was clinical.

[billybunter]

cant hang with this crowd, but here goes. first home game v wales in 86 (jack's first game!) first away game was against england in stuttgart, let me see which year again, 87 or 88 i think... :)

[danonion]

first game sort of away some US cup thing when i was 4 in 1992 (McCarthy was captaining the side), first game i can remember, WC group match against the italians in 94. Not bad credentials for a born yank

[gspain]

We lost the 1970 game 2-0?


ooops You are correct. we lost 2-1 in Poznan and 2-0 in Dublin that year in our regular Polish friendlies.

[SuperDave]

my first game was when i was 9 as well. home v bolivia in the 94 world cup warm up.

though my first away game was only a couple of weeks ago.

[Dotsy]

First home game Argentina 1979. First away England in Stuttgart 1988.

[shakermaker1982]

geez we've got some veterans on this board!

[NY Hoop]

First home game Russia 1984. Last home game Austria 1995.

First away game Egypt 1990 WC.


KOH

[Jamjar]

my first game was when i was 9 as well. home v bolivia in the 94 world cup warm up.

though my first away game was only a couple of weeks ago.

Coincidently, I think that was the last Ireland match I was at. After Italia '90 I couldn't be arsed when it started becoming a chore to get tickets. First started going to matches in 1978 I think, and it was either pay at the gate or get a ticket from Elverys and bunk off school.

[Dotsy]

We used to get schoolboys tickets in Brennans shop beside Glenmalure in Miltown and bunk off Wednesday afternoons to go to the match. A bit risky as Brennan was my maths teacher in school.

[Cowboy]

Anyone remember the shop in Capel st. that sold tickets?

[AidoM]

Anyone remember the shop in Capel st. that sold tickets?

It was O'Neills Sports (the wholesaler in sports gear) who had a shop in Capel Street :confused:

[pineapple stu]

Didn't think I'd be lowering the age on this thread! :eek:

First game I watched was Ireland-England in Euro 88. Been downhill frmo then, to an extent. :)

First game I was at was Ireland-Finland in 1990 - Liam Brady testamonial.

First away game was Portugal - Ireland in 1995.

[DmanDmythDledge]

Vaugly remember watching USA '94. First game was either the Celtic or Mexico friendly.

[strangeirish]

First game was Ireland v Turkey in 1975. I was eleven. Was more thrilled at getting the day off school, than freezing my butt off at the game. Bit of aggro at the game, IIRC.
First away game was Ireland v Italy at Giants Stadium '94 World Cup.:eek:

[OneRedArmy]

First game v Northern Ireland, Windsor Park in 1993.

Had to sit on my hands when Alan Mc scored.

Given the continued mistreatment of EL fans by the FAI I'm not sure when I'll see my next match.

[Schumi]

First game I watched was Ireland-England in Euro 88. Been downhill frmo then, to an extent. :)

First game I was at was Ireland-Finland in 1990 - Liam Brady testimonial. Spooky, the same as my firsts (except that I spelled testimonial right :p).

[Raheny Red]

Given the continued mistreatment of EL fans by the FAI I'm not sure when I'll see my next match.

Get in touch with Ollie :p :eek: :rolleyes:

[soccerc]

First game was Ireland v Turkey in 1975. I was eleven. Was more thrilled at getting the day off school, than freezing my butt off at the game. Bit of aggro at the game, IIRC.
First away game was Ireland v Italy at Giants Stadium '94 World Cup.:eek:

LOL, it wasn't cold that day.

It wasn't so much the aggro, stones been pelted at the Turkish keeper from the Shed, or the lads on the roof or the floodlight pylons that I recall.

It was when the lights failed for about 15 minutes and this bloke beside us wit a huge brass school bell ringing it with gusto.

We too bunked off school and walked to and from Ballyfermot. Supposed to be 25p in but the gates at the school end were opened and everyone just surged into Dalyer

[Wolfie]

Anyone remember the shop in Capel st. that sold tickets?

A few Northsiders might remember "ShoeMacs" in Finglas Village was a great little gaff for tickets.

I remember my Da assuring me he'd get us tickets for the Ireland v Brazil (in '87) no problem on the morning of the game. He did too.

(Its all gone a bit Bill Cullen.........dose were de days, so dey were an dat......)

[OneRedArmy]

Get in touch with Ollie :p :eek: :rolleyes:The tickets aren't the problem! its my willingness to be seen to be supporting the current FAI regime.

[Jamjar]

First home game Russia 1984. Last home game Austria 1995.

First away game Egypt 1990 WC.


KOH

Jaysus, that was an endurance test alright. Travelled on trains planes and automobiles for Italia '90 and that has got to be the worst game I have ever attended in my life.

[strangeirish]

LOL, it wasn't cold that day.

Fair play to your memory, but to a little 'skinny malinks maloney' eleven year old, it was cold!:D

[RedMick]

Argentina at Lansdowne 1998 (Robbie's debut?)
Cyprus away 2005, (the one we won!!!)

[jmurphyc]

First home game: Canada 2003.
Away: San Marino 2007.

[DeNiro]

First home game was USA 1992. 5 o clock kick off. Anyone know why we went for 5pm kick offs in those days? I think we had Albania at 5 pm the following month as well. Then we went to 1.30pm KO's for some games. Bizarre times.

[Paulie]

My first home game was against Wales at the RDS in 1992 (I think). We got beaten 0-1. My first away game was in 1994 away to Latvia which we won 3-0.

[JossCrowley]

I guess some of the older fans won't be online. was wondering if any of you know of any real long time Ireland fans? would be great to hear stories of matches from the 40s and 50s... :confused:

[AidoM]

I guess some of the older fans won't be online. was wondering if any of you know of any real long time Ireland fans? would be great to hear stories of matches from the 40s and 50s... :confused:

I went to my first home game in 1967 (in a pram :p ) and have not missed a home game since 1969 - competitive or friendly. My first away game was France in 1977 with a long gap to my next away one in Basel in 2003 - marriage, kids, etc :eek: in between.

[jmurphyc]

I guess some of the older fans won't be online. was wondering if any of you know of any real long time Ireland fans? would be great to hear stories of matches from the 40s and 50s... :confused:

heard 2 guys on a bus in san marino saying they've been going to all of the games for 60 years.

[citizenerased]

Jaysus thats amazing 60 year!!!