Of course, we all have an opinion - that's the lifeblood of discussion.Originally Posted by kingdomkerry
You will understand tho, that as a Northern Ireland fan, I have absolutely no desire to support a team consisting of two players from Northern Ireland, when I can watch a team entirely consisting of players representing Northern Ireland.
The Englishmen came over in the year 2005
But little did they know that we'd planned a wee surprise
Sir David scored the winner, and Windsor Park went wild
And this is what we sang...
the whole program was full of holes and biased from an NI point of view...
They didnt highlight enough the sectarian abuse cathoics indure at windsor park, my mate who is from Tyrone(and catholic) went to windsor a good few times before to an NI game and said it was one of the scariest things ever, he said the sectarianist abuse was ridiclous..Players like Chris Baird, Aarron Hughes, Neil Lennon, Damien Johnson..even the beloved David Healy was gettin abuse(during his drought period)....'Up to our necks in Fenian blood sung throughout'...why would you expect these palyers to declare for ye....
Your fans giving abuse to people coming out of a catholic church after mass aswell(this happened to a friend of mine in belfast)..disgraceful..
Then comparing the situation with quatar poaching players from brazil...laughable to say the least...NI have no argument..get over it and move on, because Gibson wont be the last player we poach..
Even when they were filming outside the FAI headquaters in abbotstown, thye showed the ****ttiest part of the building in the background.
And as for the all ireland 11, the only players i would take would be chris baird and johnny evans..no one else..healy wouldnt start a head of Doyle!
'How can I hate women, my Mums one!!!' Chris Finch
When was the last time your "mate" attended a Northern Ireland match?
Are you telling us that all the players you mention received "sectarianist abuse"?
The Englishmen came over in the year 2005
But little did they know that we'd planned a wee surprise
Sir David scored the winner, and Windsor Park went wild
And this is what we sang...
I've a few Northern Ireland mates who are chuffed that their team has been reclaimed from the bigots. Watching their games on TV they regularly focused the cameras on the crowd and all I could see was a bunch of regular lads in their shirts enjoying the games. I'm sure there's still an unpalatable section in their support but then again I'm becoming increasingly bemused at some of the current ROI fans. Nobody's perfect.
What a load of tosh that the FAI are picking players on their religion. You could agree if the players' names were along the lines of Paddy McGinnty, that they thought, he's Catholic, let's give him a buzz. But Darren Gibson? Sorry am I missing something but can someone point out how the FAI would have deduced that he was Catholic from that.
Anyway, what do you want? Unionist players opting aswell?
I would have thought that should be normality if the two teams on Ireland were sectarianism/politics free. After all, don't see many northern Gaelic football players/supporters opting for Kerry, even though they are clearly a far better side. Maybe when you remove all the unionist paraphernalia from NI games then you'll probably find no one opting for a side that does not represent their geographical entity.
But not necessarily one that are exclusively either born or have some an ancestral connection with NI.
This is the cooooooooooooolest footy forum I've ever seen!
He attended games during the Sammy McILroy era and start of Sanchez era..that was around 02 , 03 ,04, 05 i think..he feared for his safety if his religious persuasian became evident!!
Yes Iam telling you that, they recieved sectarian abuse at one stage or another..maybe it was at a time when the bigotry was worse!! Why can you dismiss these claims? Im sure your pure as the driven snow...
We all have our bad ones..but to say that the biggotry has been completely eradicated is quite laughable to be honest..
'How can I hate women, my Mums one!!!' Chris Finch
Oh my God!, a sensible post on this subject.
Indeed Chiefo -and it needed acknowledging by someone on "our side". These days, and for some years now, NI's support has been an absolute credit to everyone involved. Claims otherwise make up just a portion of some of the self-satisfied guff I'm reading on this thread from some in our ranks.
Frankly I think there's a proportionally bigger gob****e element in our support these days.
" I wish to God that someone would be able to block out the voices in my head for five minutes, the voices that scream, over and over again: "Why do they come to me to die?"
Having attended all Northern Ireland games at Windsor Park during the period mentioned, I can categorically state that "Up To Our Necks In Fenian Blood" has NEVER been chanted "throughout" a match (or, indeed, at all) during that period.
All of those games have been covered by television and radio - if you can produce any evidence whatsoever to the contrary, please post it.
If you cannot, I castigate your "mate" as a liar.
I have attended games during that period with Northern Ireland fans who choose to say their prayers in Catholic Churches, and none of them have ever feared for their safety.
During that period I have never heard a word of "sectarianist abuse" directed at any of the players that you mention. Neil Lennon's last home game for Northern Ireland was in 2001 - you should check out his view on the atmosphere at Northern Ireland matches nowadays.
Messrs Baird, Johnson, Hughes and Healy are all Northern Ireland heros.
I would be particularly surprised if you can back up any claims of "sectarianist abuse" directed at Messrs Healy and Hughes - they both hail from the Unionist community in Northern Ireland.
I neither deny that sectarianism was a major problem at our games, or claim that it has been "completely eradicated".
I do claim, without fear of contradiction, that things have improved dramatically since 2001.
And, you are absolutely correct, we all have "our bad ones" - including the Republic Of Ireland.
Last edited by Not Brazil; 31/01/2008 at 11:05 AM.
The Englishmen came over in the year 2005
But little did they know that we'd planned a wee surprise
Sir David scored the winner, and Windsor Park went wild
And this is what we sang...
As I have stated many times, I have no objection to players from Northern Ireland opting to play for the Republic Of Ireland - as is permissible under the FIFA statutes.
I have no doubt that if all the "unionist paraphernalia" was removed (whatever that is, bearing in mind that Northern Ireland is an integral part of the United Kingdom, and exists because of the Union) that some younger players will continue to elect to play for the Republic Of Ireland - good luck to them.
I support those players, of whatever background, who pull on the Northern Ireland jersey and do it proud.
PS. There's only one Maik Taylor.
The Englishmen came over in the year 2005
But little did they know that we'd planned a wee surprise
Sir David scored the winner, and Windsor Park went wild
And this is what we sang...
Your wrong there fella Hughes played gaelic football with cookstown and his cousin went to school with my 'mate'(as you like to exclaim it). He is very much from a nationalist background. As with David Healy you are wrong also about that, he has no affiliations to any loyalist persuasions..his dad is a catholic...he emphasised this when after the game in which you beat spain at windsor the crowd threw union jacks and NI flags with the red hand on them..and he refused to be drapped in either..get your facts right, dont presume anything..
I understand things are changing gradually with NI fans, but you cannot ignore the elements that still exist..
'How can I hate women, my Mums one!!!' Chris Finch
Absolute lies, my friend.
Laughable, in fact.
I know Healy's father personally, and Hughes school don't play GAA.
If you wish to continue with your lies, I'll show you the pictures of Healy adorning the flag of his beloved Northern Ireland after games.
Do yourself a favour, and stop making things up.
It only shows you up to be a desperate bigot.
Last edited by Not Brazil; 31/01/2008 at 11:26 AM.
The Englishmen came over in the year 2005
But little did they know that we'd planned a wee surprise
Sir David scored the winner, and Windsor Park went wild
And this is what we sang...
Right, because having differing facts on whether a lad played GAA logically means you discriminate by religion.
Clown.
Your Chairperson,
Gavin
Membership Advisory Board
"Ex Bardus , Vicis"
I think it was our learned friend, citizenerased, who claimed that Aaron Hughes is "very much from a nationalist background".
I couldn't give to flying ones where any player says his prayers - but I do know that Arron Hughes is most definately not from "a nationalist background".
As for the stuff about Healy - absolutely priceless jackanory material.
Healy, and all of his family, are proud Northern Ireland patriots.
PS. How can you have differing facts? A fact is a fact.
Last edited by Not Brazil; 31/01/2008 at 11:39 AM.
The Englishmen came over in the year 2005
But little did they know that we'd planned a wee surprise
Sir David scored the winner, and Windsor Park went wild
And this is what we sang...
I think NB knowing Clifford Healy personally was more of a clincher, Gavin
When did I dispute that? Being wrong about a fact doesn't make one a bigot.I think NB knowing Clifford Healy personally was more of a clincher, Gavin
You didn't answer my question. Who cares if you're right? Your pathetic bleating of the word "Bigot!" is what I object to and it seems to be a favourite tactic amongst NI posters on here. I was once called a bigot because I pointed out that amongst the general public, Linfield have a lingering bad image down here. I object to that! I treat all religions with equal contempt.I think it was our learned friend, citizenerased, who claimed that Aaron Hughes is "very much from a nationalist background".
I couldn't give to flying ones where any player says his prayers - but I do know that Arron Hughes is most definately not from "a nationalist background".
As for the stuff about Healy - absolutely priceless jackanory material.
Healy, and all of his family, are proud Northern Ireland patriots.
PS. How can you have differing facts? A fact is a fact.
Your Chairperson,
Gavin
Membership Advisory Board
"Ex Bardus , Vicis"
I think that telling lies in order to demonise is a form of bigotry.
Do you dispute that?
The Englishmen came over in the year 2005
But little did they know that we'd planned a wee surprise
Sir David scored the winner, and Windsor Park went wild
And this is what we sang...
Apparantly Andy Townsends dad use to to get his body spray painted green white and orange and would march through his town singing a nation once again every second day.
Very good.
The Englishmen came over in the year 2005
But little did they know that we'd planned a wee surprise
Sir David scored the winner, and Windsor Park went wild
And this is what we sang...
Ahhhh - the dreaded "Red Hand" of the loyalist O'Neill clan, as features on the badge of the Tyrone GAA team - whom, presumably, your "mate" supports.
The Englishmen came over in the year 2005
But little did they know that we'd planned a wee surprise
Sir David scored the winner, and Windsor Park went wild
And this is what we sang...
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