European Champions

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08/12/2006, 5:01 PM
Lux Interior

European Champions

taken from tonight's 'Belfast Telegraph'

By By Eddie McIlwaine

Irish League football club Glentoran is soon to figure in a big screen movie.

The script for the romantic comedy has been written and Ian Kennedy of Straight Forward Productions is now putting a cast together in a film about the team he has followed since he was a little boy.

The storyline will centre around the 1913-14 season when Glentoran, against all the odds, went into Europe and returned with the Vienna Cup after winning a major competition against top teams, including Hertha Berlin.

"The Glens qualified for Europe after winning the Irish Cup," says Kennedy, who is still a dedicated Oval supporter.

"They beat everyone in sight on the continent to return with this trophy.

"Everybody thinks the first team from the British Isles to win in Europe was Glasgow Celtic. Wrong - it was Glentoran, the **** and Hens, from east Belfast."

And the Vienna Cup still sits today in the trophy cabinet at the Oval where the club's chief executive, Stafford Reynolds, has been researching events of that incredible season just before World War I broke out.

The script for the movie, which will be called The Game Above All - the Glentoran motto - has been written by Damon Quinn, Michael McDowell and Tim McGarry, the team responsible for the hit Give My Head Peace television series.

"It's an amazing story of how these part-time footballers, most of whom worked in the shipyard, went away from home for the first time and returned with a mighty important cup," explains Kennedy.

"The writers have produced a wonderful script and have woven a fictional tale of love and intrigue and romance around the team and their exploits.

"Remember, these young players, like David Lyner, one of the stars, were visiting Europe for the first time in their lives and at a time when a world war was looming. What they achieved was a fairytale. When we heard the facts about the Glens in that memorable season we could hardly take it all in," admits scriptwriter Quinn.

"So we set about adding to the story with Glentoran's approval and we believe we have come up with a romantic comedy every football fan and every film fan will love."

The Straight Forward production is being backed by the Northern Ireland Film and Television Commission and shooting will begin on location in the spring.

Sorry, Bohs, we were first .......

"5000 fans crammed into two steamboats, that set sail from Belfast to see the plucky Glens take on the cream of Europe ..... "
08/12/2006, 5:35 PM
el punter

Sounds great, looking forward to seeing it.
08/12/2006, 7:09 PM
Fortuna1886

Christ on a scooter, next thing you know some clown with diddies will be running up a flag in honour of it....
08/12/2006, 7:48 PM
-lamb-

its all good if it puts irish league football back into peoples' minds.
looking forward to seeing it.
08/12/2006, 10:30 PM
Fortuna1886

Seriously? Have you ever seen Give my head peace.....:rolleyes:
08/12/2006, 10:48 PM
Lux Interior

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fortuna1886

Christ on a scooter, next thing you know some clown with diddies will be running up a flag in honour of it....

Or, thompo, we could have a big bedsheet glorifying a failed hoolie group:)
08/12/2006, 10:59 PM
Fortuna1886

Nowt to be with me, I merely paint with light and record such banners.....
08/12/2006, 11:10 PM
Lux Interior

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fortuna1886

Nowt to be with me, I merely paint with light and record such banners.....

I ain't saying nuffin' - Ive heard TOO much this week:eek:
08/12/2006, 11:14 PM
Stanley Chan

Failed hoolie group.......more like one that never showed!!
08/12/2006, 11:27 PM
Lux Interior

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stanley Chan

Failed hoolie group.......more like one that never showed!!

I hear they're auditioning for the movie in Vicky Park.

Spielberg has been appraoched with ILM in line to recreate the famous match against Hertha Berlin and the sight of those massive steamboats chugging up the Lough with the VC in tow.

Special split screen technology will show the urchins from der shankull boltholes head-to-toe in their lumpy beds inventing UEFA, just to 'discredit' our achievement. Expect Tom the Shipyard Sweep to be the frst to utter the warcry "FTB".

Trailblazers, mate.
09/12/2006, 12:15 AM
Raheny Red

Any links to this??
09/12/2006, 12:22 AM
Lux Interior

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raheny Red

Any links to this??

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/ne...cle2056516.ece
14/12/2006, 7:14 PM
Thunderblaster

It is amazing to learn that info on Glentoran. Are there any sites on that historic achievement by Glentoran? Belfast must have seen some of its greatest celebrations ever.
14/12/2006, 9:04 PM
DmanDmythDledge

Good question for a pub quiz.:)
14/12/2006, 11:18 PM
BleusAvantTout

More spin on this story than at Radio Caroline!!! :eek: :( :rolleyes:
15/12/2006, 11:15 AM
wws

saw a flag at the crusaders game and was wondering wot the fook the story was with it

i thought it was the glens austrian supporters club

or some Ultravox fan
15/12/2006, 1:40 PM
Not Brazil

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thunderblaster

Belfast must have seen some of its greatest celebrations ever.

Not quite.

Details of this "mysterious" competition, are somewhat "hazy" apparantly.

From a link on the Official Glentoran site:

Taken fron the 'Oval Review' of season 1972/73

THIS, the first European tournament Glentoran competed in, has always held a certain fascination for me. The little knoledge I had about it was third-hand information I had gleaned from the memories of the 'old hands' on the unreserved terraces. However, during the close-season I decided to try and obtain a few facts about this 'mysterious' :eek: trophy, and what better way than to talk to someone who was there.

Davy Lyner, the only surviving member of that team was only too willing to help.

"It was a great team," he says, "Perhaps one of the finest to wear the Red, Green and Black of Glentoran."

The team that toured the Continent, and eventually lifted the cup was:-

Murphy, McCann, Annesly, Ferrett, Scraggs, Emerson, Lyner, Lindsay, Napier, Boyd, Lindsay.

This incidentally was the team which also won the Irish Cup for the first time in Glentoran history, beating the old enemy, Linfield 3-1 at Grosvenor Park.

The basis on which the Vienna Cup was organised is rather hazy:eek: , but it appears that various national cup-winners, amongst them Burnley and Glasgow Celtic, were invited to Austria were soccer was really booming.

After several tough games the Glens went on to meet an Austrian Select XI and Lyner recalls that before a huge crowd which included the mayor of Vienna, Glentoran won a thrilling game by two goals to one.

Upon receiving the cup, Glentoran officials and players along with their English and Scottish counterparts on the continent in 1914, beat a hasty retreat for home as the war cloouds moved in. Winner's medals were promised to the players by the Austrian officials, but with the outbreak of war a few weeks later, their promise was never kept.:eek:

Lyner, whose signing on fee for Glentoran was 10/- came up from the Seconds, with the immortal half-backs Ferrett, Scraggs and Emerson. He was transferred to Manchester Utd., with whom he spent one season, before moving on to Kilmarnock. It was during this time with these two clubs that he won most of his many full 'caps' for Ireland mostly in the outside-left position.

Note: Davy retained an avid interest in the fortunes of Glentoran until he passed away a some years later.

Did anybody in Belfast even notice at the time?
15/12/2006, 3:07 PM
Pauro 76

there's something I never knew! belated congratulations! :)
16/12/2006, 12:34 AM
BleusAvantTout

Quote:

Originally Posted by PAURO 7

there's something I never knew! belated congratulations! :)

Why? It was a mickey mouse cup!!!;) :(
16/12/2006, 3:41 PM
Lux Interior

Quote:

Originally Posted by BleusAvantTout

Why? It was a mickey mouse cup!!!;) :(

We get a movie - you get a tacky, backstreet billboard:D

4eva in r shaddo
16/12/2006, 3:43 PM
Lux Interior

Quote:

Originally Posted by wws

saw a flag at the crusaders game and was wondering wot the fook the story was with it

i thought it was the glens austrian supporters club

or some Ultravox fan

That'd be my flag - the black segment recognises striker Fred Roberts 96 goals/season.
16/12/2006, 5:51 PM
wws

any boxing day predictions?

i hear there's a wee football match up there on!
16/12/2006, 6:40 PM
Raheny Red

Quote:

Originally Posted by wws

any boxing day predictions?

i hear there's a wee football match up there on!

Are you Jackie Fullerton in disguise? ;)

:D :p

* Bloody hell 30 goals in 8 games and poxy swifts let me down!
17/12/2006, 12:18 AM
Lux Interior

Quote:

Originally Posted by wws

any boxing day predictions?

i hear there's a wee football match up there on!

I think if we avoid defeat, we're very much in the driving seat. We have an awful Boxing Day record against handout fc but this year, the pressure is on them to get the win.

And we usually play better at the legodome.:p
17/12/2006, 3:12 PM
wws

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raheny Red

Are you Jackie Fullerton in disguise? ;)

:D :p

* Bloody hell 30 goals in 8 games and poxy swifts let me down!

Jack is a Legend!

we have to make do with the poor mans Jackie - George Hamilton......

"David Healy - as cool as you like!"

mental results in the irish league on saturday
the limavady one was crazy given their 5-0 tonking the week previous!
17/12/2006, 9:27 PM
BleusAvantTout

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lux Interior

We get a movie - you get a tacky, backstreet billboard

4eva in r shaddo

Keystone Cops in Arabesque colours - they'll be queuing up at the Handcart at Connsie! :eek:

Handcart F.C. - Forever In Our Shadow! :cool: :p
18/12/2006, 12:19 PM
R�iteoir

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lux Interior

We get a movie - you get a tacky, backstreet billboard:D

4eva in r shaddo

tbh Linfield's 46 League Titles, 37 Irish Cups, 8 League Cups and 1 Setanta Cup tend to suggest otherwise
18/12/2006, 2:53 PM
Mr_Parker

Quote:

Originally Posted by R�iteoir

tbh Linfield's 46 League Titles, 37 Irish Cups, 8 League Cups and 1 Setanta Cup tend to suggest otherwise

46 League titles?
18/12/2006, 9:49 PM
BleusAvantTout

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_Parker

46 League titles?

46 it is:-

Irish League Championship - 46 times (inc. 2005/06)
1890/91 1891/92 1892/93 1894/95 1897/98 1901/02
1903/04 1906/07 1907/08 1908/09 1910/11 1913/14
1921/22 1922/23 1929/30 1931/32 1933/34 1934/35
1948/49 1949/50 1953/54 1954/55 1955/56 1958/59
1960/61 1961/62 1965/66 1968/69 1970/71 1974/75
1977/78 1978/79 1979/80 1981/82 1982/83 1983/84
1984/85 1985/86 1986/87 1988/89 1992/93 1993/94
1999/2000 2000/01 2003/04 2005/06 to be continued............................:cool:

Away now and poke your nosey neb where it aint wanted! :p :D
22/12/2006, 9:00 AM
Mr_Parker

Quote:

Originally Posted by BleusAvantTout

46 it is:-

Irish League Championship - 46 times (inc. 2005/06)
1890/91 1891/92 1892/93 1894/95 1897/98 1901/02
1903/04 1906/07 1907/08 1908/09 1910/11 1913/14
1921/22 1922/23 1929/30 1931/32 1933/34 1934/35
1948/49 1949/50 1953/54 1954/55 1955/56 1958/59
1960/61 1961/62 1965/66 1968/69 1970/71 1974/75
1977/78 1978/79 1979/80 1981/82 1982/83 1983/84
1984/85 1985/86 1986/87 1988/89 1992/93 1993/94
1999/2000 2000/01 2003/04 2005/06 to be continued............................:cool:

"1890/91 1891/92 1892/93 1894/95 1897/98 "

Were they not "Belfast & District League" titles? ;)
22/12/2006, 4:47 PM
Lux Interior

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_Parker

"1890/91 1891/92 1892/93 1894/95 1897/98 "

Were they not "Belfast & District League" titles? ;)

:eek:

Surely you're not suggesting there's a bit of revisionism going on here, parker?
22/12/2006, 5:43 PM
Mr_Parker

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lux Interior

:eek:

Surely you're not suggesting there's a bit of revisionism going on here, parker?

Moi.......?
23/12/2006, 8:03 AM
Mr A

Quote:

Were they not "Belfast & District League" titles?

Aren't they all? :)
26/12/2006, 12:17 AM
Stanley Chan

Quote:

Originally Posted by BleusAvantTout

Keystone Cops in Arabesque colours - they'll be queuing up at the Handcart at Connsie! :eek:

Handcart F.C. - Forever In Our Shadow!

Handcart FC which lifted �30,000+ over the 2 weeks leading up to Christmas....think any club on this Island would take that, especially as it doesnt cost us a penny to run - nice profit margin there :D

Really leaves your 'table' at the back of the South Stand with a few old Esso badges truely 'in its shadow'!!
26/12/2006, 9:05 AM
BleusAvantTout

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stanley Chan

Handcart FC which lifted �30,000+ over the 2 weeks leading up to Christmas....think any club on this Island would take that, especially as it doesnt cost us a penny to run - nice profit margin there
Really leaves your 'table' at the back of the South Stand with a few old Esso badges truely 'in its shadow'!!

We have two stores and our Exhibition Centre has done very nicely, thank you! :p :cool:

What is Esso? Is its colours pleasing on the eye?

And, ODG, if you've shifted �30k worth of gear that's a fair, few people wearing rags at Christmas! Have youse never heard of the Salvation Army or St. Vincent de Paul? ;)
26/12/2006, 10:10 AM
Lux Interior

Quote:

Originally Posted by BleusAvantTout

We have two stores and our Exhibition Centre has done very nicely, thank you! :p :cool:

What is Esso? Is its colours pleasing on the eye?

And, ODG, if you've shifted �30k worth of gear that's a fair, few people wearing rags at Christmas! Have youse never heard of the Salvation Army or St. Vincent de Paul?

Your fold down table has shifted a max 1000 excrutiating CDs over 2 years - that'a an awful lot of beer coasters in various boltholes up and down the shankull:)
26/12/2006, 10:49 AM
BleusAvantTout

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lux Interior

Your fold down table has shifted a max 1000 excrutiating CDs over 2 years - that'a an awful lot of beer coasters in various boltholes up and down the shankull:)

Did you see Ken Dodd over the Christmas period or was he too involved in pantos? :p
26/12/2006, 11:14 PM
Lux Interior

Quote:

Originally Posted by BleusAvantTout

Did you see Ken Dodd over the Christmas period or was he too involved in pantos? :p

No, but I creased up with laughter at the 'diddy' tunes belted out before today's match with no class fc.

The sort of CD that languishes in bargain bins in every M-way service station.

It was your effort, right?
26/12/2006, 11:52 PM
BleusAvantTout

Seeing you are into culpability at the present time - have you been in Court? - then I would, after consulting counsel, have to accept some responsibility!

It's better than singing about murals, Glasgow gang war, and executions or is it a case of damed if we do and damned if we don't??

Next time we beat you I'll ask for the 60's classic, "Tears" by you know who ;) to be played!!! :p
27/12/2006, 12:19 AM
Lux Interior

Quote:

Originally Posted by BleusAvantTout

Seeing you are into culpability at the present time - have you been in Court? - then I would, after consulting counsel, have to accept some responsibility!

It's better than singing about murals, Glasgow gang war, and executions or is it a case of damed if we do and damned if we don't??

Next time we beat you I'll ask for the 60's classic, "Tears" by you know who ;) to be played!!! :p

It's just a shame songs about murals, Glasgow gang war and executions are the dominant theme, pops.

Next time, turn the speakers off in te NS and you can wallow in your own self-indulgence in peace.

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