Eligibility Rules, Okay

[ArdeeBhoy]

Shay Given? He was born in Lifford...

Aye, met his auld fella, who assured me young Shay was born in the homestead and guffawed at the bigots suggesting otherwise....

[DannyInvincible]

Some more on Gerry's visit to St. Columb's (including video): http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/nort...d/15668049.stm

Northern Ireland legend Gerry Armstrong pays a visit to a school in Derry as part of his role as an ambassador for the IFA.

Armstrong has been tasked with persuading young players from a nationalist background to declare for Northern Ireland.

The former Tottenham Hotspur, Watford and Real Mallorca player outlined to pupils of St Columb's College how he played hurling for Antrim before playing for Northern Ireland.

Another former Northern Ireland player, John Crossan, says he still has work to do.

[BonnieShels]

I think you'll find that the "hard core" OWCers will be secretly quite happy for you to reach the Finals - it'll give them at least three teams to cheer on next summer.

I think that people completely missed your point here. Gave a me a wry smile.

[gastric]

I think that people completely missed your point here. Gave a me a wry smile.

No, I don't think a lot us did, just expected such bitterness from a delusional individual.

[Charlie Darwin]

Ha, that drew a bit of an unexpected guffaw out of me. There's actually a community hospital in Lifford, although I believe its focus is mainly on geriatrics. Not aware of any hospital in Strabane, mind. I think the rumour always was that Shay was born in Altnagelvin hospital in Derry city. It was actually Shay's younger brother, Paul, who was born in Altnagelvin though; an especially sly move by the Given clan given that the general hospital in Letterkenny was equidistant from Lifford and Paul would later turn out to be an inferior goalkeeper. Quelle surprise!

Ah that sounds familiar. Not sure why I thought it was Strabane - probably just have such a dim view of the health service down here that I think every town in de North is packed with beautiful NHS hospitals.

And worse; Mrs. Given a Castlederg native herself! The utter shame...

Turncoat!

[BonnieShels]

Gerry on being asked had he ever thought about playing for Ireland: "I've been asked the question loads of times... and the answer is absolutely not. I've asked the same question to a lot of other team-mates; the likes of Pat Jennings and people like that (People like what? Fellow "Taigs"?)... that has never been something that I would have considered, but you know, it's something that has been considered obviously, we've lost players from the north, there's a boy, Paul George, who plays for Celtic who has now thrown his hat (His bowler?) in with the republic and I would wish them good luck and I hope they have a good career, but as I say, I'm just trying to make sure that they are aware that there are pitfalls (What pitfalls? He may not get selected for his country?). Sometimes family and friends think it's a good idea and they are higher-ranked than us in world football and they have had more success, and they might even qualify for the European Championships in the next 7 or 8 days. But it's just the ?feeling/fear? of an identity, an identity that I felt that I was always very proud to play for Northern Ireland and very proud to come from Belfast and represent Belfast, Ulster and Northern Ireland; so those are the things that I taught the players. You know we've interviewed some of the boys and the boys that we have interviewed; and it's nothing to do with me, have all said that they want to play for Northern Ireland. They want to give back what Northern Ireland has given to them because we've coached them over the last 5 or 6 years and the reason they're actually performing at this level is because of the coaching they've received."

[BonnieShels]

No, I don't think a lot us did, just expected such bitterness from a delusional individual.

I think NB is one of the less bitter ones.

[BonnieShels]

What sort of amazing bloody coaching do the IFA give these players? We need to know about this!

[DannyInvincible]

Gerry on being asked had he ever thought about playing for Ireland: "I've been asked the question loads of times... and the answer is absolutely not. I've asked the same question to a lot of other team-mates; the likes of Pat Jennings and people like that (People like what? Fellow "Taigs"?)... that has never been something that I would have considered, but you know, it's something that has been considered obviously, we've lost players from the north, there's a boy, Paul George, who plays for Celtic who has now thrown his hat (His bowler?) in with the republic and I would wish them good luck and I hope they have a good career, but as I say, I'm just trying to make sure that they are aware that there are pitfalls (What pitfalls? He may not get selected for his country?). Sometimes family and friends think it's a good idea and they are higher-ranked than us in world football and they have had more success, and they might even qualify for the European Championships in the next 7 or 8 days. But it's just the ?feeling/fear? of an identity, an identity that I felt that I was always very proud to play for Northern Ireland and very proud to come from Belfast and represent Belfast, Ulster and Northern Ireland; so those are the things that I taught the players. You know we've interviewed some of the boys and the boys that we have interviewed; and it's nothing to do with me, have all said that they want to play for Northern Ireland. They want to give back what Northern Ireland has given to them because we've coached them over the last 5 or 6 years and the reason they're actually performing at this level is because of the coaching they've received."

Gerry goes on about northern-born players from the nationalist community experiencing family and peer pressure in the BBC video as well, but that's a very cynical way of viewing things. "Pressure" is just a pejorative term used in an attempt to disparage or invalidate what is in reality nothing more or less than a national-cultural identity.

I think NB is one of the less bitter ones.

Aye, but what about his delusions?

[BonnieShels]

Can't help residents' of Narnia with their delusions. I can help their bitterness. Show them the light and they will see positivity.

[TrapAPony]

Gerry Armstrong is deluded. There is nothing going to stop players from a nationalist background from playing for their country no matter what he does.

[ifk101]

So Gerry's sales argument comes down to three points;
1. You'll regret it (players regret switching. Nobody regrets staying with the North)
2. Comaraderie, 1980's style
3. Opportunity (you won't get your game with the Republik - ie you're useless, accept it, we're useless, play with us)

[ArdeeBhoy]

Point 3 is his only 'selling' point. No self-respecting nationalist with any ability would really want to bother their ass at this stage?

[nigel-harps1954]

As far as I know, the closest hospital to Lifford is in Strabane. The rumour was that Shay had been born there so was technically Northern Irish. He's since clarified that he was born in the family home, which just goes to show the lengths sectarians like Mr. and Mrs. Given will go to in cahoots with the FAI to poach our wee players.

Uh...yeah. There's no hospital in Strabane..and there is one in Lifford. No idea where you got that out of!

EDIT: Didn't see your other post. Sorry.

probably just have such a dim view of the health service down here that I think every town in de North is packed with beautiful NHS hospitals.


Turncoat!

You'd be surprised to hear it's probably worse up the west end of the north. Apart from Altnagelvin I can't think of a decent hospital apart from Enniskillen on the west side of N.Ire

[geysir]

Gerry Armstrong is deluded. There is nothing going to stop players from a nationalist background from playing for their country no matter what he does.

John Crossan concurs with you, quote from him in the BBC video "Gerry is a cult hero around here, ….. maybe,….. maybe he can persuade a wee bit but it's still going to be very difficult for him"

Gerry appeared reluctant in the BBC video to use the nationalist identity as a reason why kids looks south, instead he concedes that a 'kid maybe has an affiliation' ….. perhaps arising out of being brainwashed by family and friends?

[Predator]

Jobby Crossan might be a wee bit out of touch these days. I wouldn't consider Armstrong a cult hero. I suppose he's being diplomatic.

[DannyInvincible]

Jobby Crossan might be a wee bit out of touch these days. I wouldn't consider Armstrong a cult hero. I suppose he's being diplomatic.

Speaking of Jobby, and going slightly off-topic, the interesting story of his 1959 life-ban from football featured on the Guardian site the other week: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog...P=EMCFTBEML853

[DannyInvincible]

So Gerry's sales argument comes down to three points;
1. You'll regret it (players regret switching. Nobody regrets staying with the North)
2. Comaraderie, 1980's style
3. Opportunity (you won't get your game with the Republik - ie you're useless, accept it, we're useless, play with us)

Are these the motivations NI fans want players representing IFA teams to possess?

[geysir]

Jobby Crossan might be a wee bit out of touch these days. I wouldn't consider Armstrong a cult hero. I suppose he's being diplomatic.

Then I will alter his quote to read "Gerry is a cult hero around here - maybe,….. maybe he can persuade a wee bit but it's still going to be very difficult for him".

[Predator]

Then I will alter his quote to read "Gerry is a cult hero around here - maybe,….. maybe he can persuade a wee bit but it's still going to be very difficult for him".

It's all about the nuances. Maybe I underestimated Jobby, he's always got his (good) eye on the ball.