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Quote:
Originally Posted by Gather round
September 7th 2005. Windsor Park - David Healy scored. Some of your fellow fans may still remember it. :D
I was in the west upper stand at Lansdowne as we were playing France - now that's one I'd like to forget.
At home with my father, when houghton scored he went out the front door and done 3 laps of the house shouting his head off, usually the neighbours might think you were mad, but they knew the significance.......
I was only 9 at the time but i remember it well, happy days.............
Hi guys,
Long time lurker, first time poster.
I was 16 years old and me and a couple of friends had managed to save up enough to interrail over to Germany for the games. We got the tickets from Ray Tracy travel for about 20 quid each belive it or not. I was behind the goal when Razor scored. I still remember it now. Time seemed to slow down. I remember watching the ball loop into the net and then looking at the linesman expecting it to be a foul or something. Then going absolutely mental for what seemed like a lifetime. I watched most of the rest of the match through my fingers, I still can't believe that Lineker didn't manage to score.
That night in Stuttgart will live long in my memory. What a laugh... I've been to a lot of away games since but nothing comes close to that (Including beeting Italy in new York). On my way out of the stadium I managed to buy a tee shirt with "We beat the brits in Deutschland 88" on the front and "Houghton 12mins" on the back. I still have no idea how they made them so quickly. I still have it but it doesn't fit anymore!!
What a day!!
The only downside for me from the whole 88 experience was that it suddenly became very difficult to get tickets for games any more because everyone jumped on the bandwagon and the FAI started all the corporate rubbish (I had to queue for 17 hours on D'Olier street to get tickets for the England game in 1990)
Can't believe it's 20 years ago. Good times, great memories
http://www.christymoore.com/lyrics_t...tail.php?id=45
Joxer Goes to Stuttgart
Christy Moore
It was in the year of eighty-eight, in the lovely month of June,
When the gadflies were swarming and dogs howling at the moon,
Ah with rosary beads and sandwiches for Stuttgart we began,
Joxer packed his German phrase-book, and jump-leads for the van.
Ah well some of the lads had never been away from home before.
It was the first time Whacker put his foot outside of Inchicore.
And before we left for Europe, we knew we'd need a plan,
So we all agreed that Joxer was the man to drive the van.
In Germany the Autobahn was like the Long Mile Road
There was every make of car and van, all carrying the full load
Ford Transits and Hiaces, and an old Bedford from Tralee,
With the engine overheating from long-hauling duty free.
There were fans from Ballyfermot, Ballybough and Ballymun
On the journey of a lifetime and the craic was ninety one
Joxer met a German's daughter on the banks of the River Rhine
and he told her she'd be welcome in Ballyfermot anytime
And as soon as we found Stuttgart, we got the wagons in a ring
Sean Óg got out the banjo and Peter played the mandolin.
Oh there were fans there from everywhere, attracted by the sound
At the first Fleadh Ceól in Europe and Joxer passed the flagon round
But the session it ended when we'd finished all the stout
The air mattresses inflated and the sleeping bags rolled out
As one by one we fell asleep, Joxer had a dream
He dreamt himself and Jack Charlton sat down to pick the team
Joxer dreamt they both agreed on Packie Bonner straight away
And that Moran, Whelan and McGrath were certainly to play
Ah but tempers they began to rise, patience wearing thin
Jack wanted Cascarino, but Joxer wanted Quinn
And the dream turned into a nightmare, Joxer stuck the head on Jack
Who wanted to bring Johnny Giles and Eamonn Dunphy back
Ah well the **** crew in the morning, it crew both loud and shrill
And Joxer woke up in his sleeping bag many miles from Arbour Hill
Ah next morning none of the experts gave us the slightest chance
They said that the English team would lead us on a merry dance
Ah with their union jacks all them English fans for victory they were set
Until Ray Houghton got the ball and he stuck it in the net
What happened next is history, brought tears to many eyes
Oh that day will be the highlight of many people's lives
Well Joxer climbed right over the top and the last time he was seen
Was arm-in-arm with Jack Charlton, singing 'Revenge for Skibbereen'.
Ah now Whacker's back in Inchicore, he's living with his Mam
And Jack Charlton has been proclaimed an honorary Irishman
Listen do you remember that German's daughter on the banks of the River Rhine
Ah jeez, well didn't she show up in Ballyfermot last week ....
Out on Lough Ree getting the course ready for the Athlone Boat Club rowing regatta while the lads were watching in the nearby pub. Got somebody to video it for me but think I have never actually looked at it.
I was 8, and was on a sponsored 10km walk for our parish, of all places. I still have vivid memories of our parish priest walking past myself, my mum and my brother with a radio held to his hear saying "Ireland are winning", and having no idea what he was talking about! I wasn't really interested in football until Italia '90
There's a short interview with Ray Houghton on the Colin and Jim-Jim Euro 2008 podcast here: http://www.rte.ie/podcasts/2008/pc/p...mandjimjim.mp3
Ray comes on at about 11:50
You'd imagine there will be something done about it on rte tonight
I was only 11 when that game was on. I was never into football much at that time, it was GAAH for me. That game sealed it for me.
I was 15 watching it at home. I remember when houghton scored I ran out of the front door and celebrated with the rest of the neighbours who'd done the same thing.
After the match I remember loads of cars driving arround with flags and horns beeping.
What a day!!
I watched it at home alone, study break from the dreaded Leaving Cert.
Yeah, never realised when I started this thread it would get such a response. Hopefully Bill and the lads will do something it on it tonight during Euro 2008.Quote:
Originally Posted by razor
Great days indeed and fantastic to have those memories. We were priveliged to be part of it !
Ten years of age, kitted in my green shirt, crowded round a screen with all my family at my Grandad's in Coventry. I remember my old lady terrified that the deafening roar which followed Houghton's Goal would have us lynched by the neighbours. Although my Grandad, a proud Mayoman and fervent Irishman, had never looked prouder at our reaction to the goal against the country of our bith.
Blood was spilt on the streets & playgrounds in the weeks after, having hearlded our victory so much in the face of my fellow english neighbours. It toughened the soul and there was no going back.
That match was the start of something beautiful.
I was 15 and was out in the shed weltering my drumkit -probably to a Sex Pistols or Deep Purple tape -when my bro stuck his head out the door and told me to shut the fcuk up 'the match has started.
I extracted myself from behind the kit, the shower rails and old curtains contraption that acted as volume dampeners that surrounded it, the wall of tacked up carpets that lay beyond and finally the shed itself and arrived into the TV room just as the cross came in. Cue mayhem.
radio commentary captures the moment ... and the roar at the end.
funny how a lot of people ran out of the house that day after the goal or after the final whistle .. I did the same. had to be let all out!
10min highlights... Enjoy!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...08/7429395.stm
Quote:
Originally Posted by beautifulrock
Bloody hell, thats where I was too !!!!! Was over visiting my 2 brothers and sister with my mam and dad, so the brothers brought Dad and I down there to watch the match as it was their local at the time (the only place that would cash the cheques for them). mad. I was only 11 at the time but still got drunk !!! :D
An uncle of mine wrote a play about the Euro 88 experience tying it in with the whole emigration thing that was on-going in Ireland in the 80's. It was called 'In High Germany', if there's ever a production of it on anywhere neor you I'd recommend it, It's excellent. It was on the box years ago, think I have it on tape somewhere at home....
http://irishplayography.com/search/play.asp?play_id=278
He used to be on the arts council in the 80's and arrange readings and the like in cities when we were playing away so he could arrange a grant for himself to get to the matches on government money, nice touch! ;)
I would have guessed that to be honest. /
Did anyone ever hear of the "Singer" Brendan Shine.He had a pub in Athlone and thats where we were.Though only 17 years of age we could get served alcohol and this was one of the first(if not the first time) I got intoxicated so any time im now hungover I think back to Ray Houghtons goal and blame him for my drinking habits!!!!!!!!!!!!(I told him this story when I met him in later life and it raised a laugh)
On a different note I read in The Daily Tar today that the goal was scored at 306pm,my memory tells me it was 236pm...can anybody please confirm?cheers
5 and no recolliction whatsoever :( I can remember Italy 2 years later like it was yesterday. Guess it cant get any better beating England in the first ever game in a major tournament.
Anyone able to download this? I can only stream it - I suppose it's only available during the Euros...Quote:
Originally Posted by Éire Óg
I watched it with my dad. I was in the middle of the leaving cert and remember the two of us dancing around the house when houghton scored
Right behind the goal. Just along from the guy with the drum (believe he was from Bray). Just a fantastic day. Never to be forgotten. In Dublin's fair city never sounded so good.
at 12 yrs old, i got in trouble after running out of the room and screaming a 3 minute barage of something along the lines "take that u fing mother fing beeeeepp"
High up behind the goal which Ray scored in. A fantastic day. I found a tape of the game recently amongst my late dad's stuff. Was planning to watch it today again - the Euros aren't the same without the tans getting beaten - but the car broke down and had to hang around for the AA. :mad: I'll watch it again tomorrow.
Sounds kinda familiar. My body was in Watford but the rest of me was in heaven! And the [English] neighbours' insults all just waaashed over me afterwards...Quote:
Originally Posted by Manc Irish Wolf
:D PP
Yeah I was behind the goal to the left (where Houghton ran to when he scored).Quote:
Originally Posted by gspain
The Germans treated us like lepers (English) from Friday to the Sunday before the game. After the game they lined the streets and cheered as coach loads of Irish fans drove by.
Another memory I have was in Hanover before we played USSR and about 1000 fans crammed into the only bar that had a tv to watch Holland-England. The bar was designed to seat about 100. The only barmaid couldnt cope and closed the bar. Everyone got trays of cans for like 20c a can and drank them in the pub watching van Basten. The Germans walking by were astounded but also amused.
PS Someone mentioned Hoddle. I couldnt believe that Robson picked Webb, Waddle and Sansom instead of Hoddle, Trevor Steven and Pearce. Honestly I KNEW we would win.
http://www.shareonall.com/Euro_1988_...8_rwbv_rar.htm
Full Match, RMVB form for those of us who weren't yet born when it happened
credit to original uploader
Wishing Well blackrock, the wife was babysitting our eldest, other one not born till following year, what a night fell out of some club very late wearing a tshirt 1-0 Houghton, on one side and We beat the brits on the other! Paid a £5 for it, in those days a fortune but it was worth it:D
up behind the goal as well. Will never forget it. Had the pleasure of inter-railing (route took us from Dover to Ostend where we were part of about 150 paddies, and there must have been about 600 english. they were hateful, nasty bas**rds, and that made the win all the more sweet. Greatest day of my life. I will never forget the sight of the ball sailing over Shilton - seemed to hang in the air, and then the net just gave that beautiful ripple. ****n magic. Will we ever have it again?
Tommy Smyth talked about the goal today on the ESPN broadcast, but did not mention that today was the anniversary (at least not in this part, I missed most the rest of it). I've emailed him to see if he knew.
http://www.shareonall.com/Tommy_Smyt...r_bofk_avi.htm
Also don't forget yesterday was the day Sheedy scored against them in 1990
Fred54 posted them on my requestQuote:
Originally Posted by graham_d
http://www.shareonall.com/Euro88.Eng...4_bwhw_avi.htm
It was the day before my leaving cert Irish exam. I remember the day that Gary Mackay scored against Bulgaria I begged my father to allow me to defer the exams so I could go to Germany - he wouldn't let me. My older brother (RIP) went though and I will never forget the feeling when we won that game. When the Irish exam came along the next day I think I wrote an essay about the match despite the fact that it had no relevance to the question.
For all of us on this forum who had been going to games for years (since 1977 in my case) this was a moment that we had all dreamed of but couldn't quite believe when it happened. It's one of the defining moments in my life (sad but true) alongside the penalties in Genoa and Trigger's goal against Holland.
(1) Gary Mackay's goal - I will never equal the excitement of that result. 30+ years of waiting, hoping, disappointment, despair (2) Ray Houghton's goal against England. (3) Alan McLoughlin's goal against Norn Iron. (4) Jason McAteer's goal against Holland. (5) Robbie's goal against Germany. (6) Ray's goal against the Italians in USA.Quote:
Originally Posted by EastTerracer
Your memory is 100% correct 2.36pm Irish time 3.36pm local time.Quote:
Originally Posted by prince20
Cant believe the response, great to relive the memories . I was living in London at the time (1988) and went down to The Swan, Stockwell the night Gary McKay scored to put us through but came home to Carrick for finals, especially the England game . What a holiday , loads of beer etc.Quote:
Originally Posted by gspain
At home in Longford, hitched back to Dublin aftre game and took about 10 seconds to get a lift. The following day down in the newsagents people buying 6 and 7 papers - I don't think there were any Irish tabloids so everyone wanted to read the main three English ones to see what they were saying. Also, pubs in Ireland closed back then for holy hour but every place was jammed and cops turned a blind eye. Going to work that Monday was a great feeling, the positive vibe around the place was amazing. Also know of an old man hard core GAA, anti english, anti soccer and his one and only game of soccer he ever watched was that game!
I was lucky enough to be in the Neckarstadion Stuttgart behind the goal.
I remember the trip from where we were staying in Heidelburg to Stuttgart and the seas of green flags waving from cars as we travelled along the motorway.
After the goal all I can remember is praying that we would hold out for the win. On the way back to the hotel I recall people on the side of roads waving irish flags and applauding all the irish fans as they passed in cars and buses
I dont recall having to pay for a beer for a week after with everyone coming up shaking hands and giving you beer and the difference at the match against Russia where the police were all in normal uniform shaking peoples hands welcoming the Irish to the game.
One of my greatest ever sporting memorys along with Athlone vs Milan and us winning the league for the first time. It is the though one that still brings tears to my eyes when I think about it
what did he make of that results then?! :D I remember later in life hearing robson say he didnt realise how much it meant to ireland, country and team, to beat England.Quote:
Also know of an old man hard core GAA, anti english, anti soccer and his one and only game of soccer he ever watched was that game!
just a few things to note from teh BBC clip:
Houghtons image in my mind is always the same ( a bit like quinns ) getting into positions, good ones at that, and then fecking up. I never thought much of him as a player from my memory of him from 92 onwards.
Secondly, it looks like gspain, billybunter and the rest started off the mexican wave at ireland matches.
Thirdly, the atmosphere does not sound that good in fairness, so people saying old matches had great atmospheres sounds somewhat misleading. People can have blurred images imprinted in their minds from history....just a thought, though this could be down to tension, nerves etc.
More then likely. There's no doubt that the atmospehere was better back in the day for home games but generally the atmosphere is still great for away games and brilliant at major championships.....Quote:
Originally Posted by paul_oshea
There's no comparison between the old atnosphere at Lansdowne when the terraces were open for the likes of the WC 90 and Euro 92 qualifiers and the atmosphere for recent campaigns (including 02) in Lansdowne or Croker.
Funilly enough the atmosphere in the home Euro 88 qualifiers was fairly subdued because the games were pretty crap (2 nil alls and a scrappy win against Luxembourg) bar the Bulgaria match. I remember there being loads of space on the terraces compared to the following campaign, even at the Bulgaria game the stadium was half empty as people had given uip on qualification at that stage.
Ya fair enough, but even for that match people said atmosphere etc was unreal, judging by the 10 mins on BBC the majority of the time the crowd was quiet.Quote:
Originally Posted by Drumcondra 69er
Behind the goal but in with the neutrals - Irish section was to our left (being part of the "diaspora" at the time we boiught our tickets in Germany).
Agree with Gary that this was the best day bar none. I was with my brother and two mates - we make a point of keeping in touch each June 12th and this is the email I sent to them yesterday:
June 12th 1988, Stuttgart, West Germany.
A lot of water under the bridge since then. Chelsea had just been relegated, West Germany was still West Germany and another country that no longer exists were about to go all the way to the final of Euro 88. Taoiseach Charlie Haughey watched it in the big gaff he then owned. At the game itself were Brian Lenihan (with original kidneys) and Bertie Ahern (happily married). FAI Security man was Joe Delaney (the Da) – no problems with the tickets then. Then it was emigration nowadays it is (or was) the Celtic Tiger. Then it was Gibraltar and Michael Stone with guns and grenades – nowadays it’s the Peace Process and Michael Stone with a grenade (but this time it was “performance art”).
Looking at some old press clippings – two things at random. The mayor of Stuttgart was Manfred Rommel (son of you know who). Back home many watched the game in shuttered pubs – Kick-off was 2:30 on a Sunday – slap bang in the middle of holy hour (but of course the Gardai “generally turned a blind eye”).
And our day? Don’t remember the coach trip there. I do remember the car park and going into the stadium and being in the neutral section with the Irish section to our left. I remember the heat. I think I remember the goal and the celebrations (we must have had a great view of it). I remember counting down (and shouting out) the minutes on the big clock. I remember chance after chance in front of us in the second half. I remember the added time and the last corner - by then even the Germans were rattling the fence screaming for the final whistle. I have no recollection of the final whistle or what we did then. I do recall us being on the coach again – the English in silence, us in silence (we were drained) and the Scots singing. I recall we ended up that night in a quiet pub (I guess it must have been in Darmstad) letting the enormity of what we had witnessed slowly sink in……
800 years of hurt. Rayser put the ball in the English net. Stuttgart 88 was our equivalent of the GPO 1916. It was 20 years ago today. And we were there.