NI fans proposals for All-Ireland team

[Lionel Ritchie]

As the possibility of an All-Ireland football team was dscussed at a powerless talking shop in Killarney a thread started up about it on our northern cousins board. http://www.ourweecountry.co.uk/forum...?p=35362#35362

Made for an interesting read. Below is a quote from it for those of you who'd rather not cross to "the dark side". There's enough in there for me to be very interested. All hypothetical I know but sure...

I'm for an All Ireland team if.......

1 in every 3 internationals played at Windsor or a new stadium on a proper rota so we don't just get ****ty friendlies.

Play under the St Pats cross with the tricolour and NI flag or Union (for Peter and co) flown beside and below it.

A new anthem (might be presuded with Irelands Call.)

Used the original IFA badge, which we still use but with nothing across the centre. Celtic cross 4 shamrocks etc

Home shirt green and white, away orange, only joking, St Pats blue. The flags of both countries on shirts.

Seems sensible enough doesn't it, wonder if our friends in the south and the TD's agree?

A good **** take but my answer would still be NO.

OK I'm first and foremost a GAA man. I support the Irish soccer team though intensily dislike those gobdaws who think Glasgow Celtic are an Irish team and turn up to support Ireland in Celtic gear. Supported NI in 82 & 86, wonderful team. But was very put off by the events of Windsor Park 93.

If there was ever an All-Ireland team, I would support:

a) HQ (IFA) in Belfast. Disband FAI. Granted both organisations leave a lot to be desired, but IFA were the original body.

b) Keep NI crest (much nicer badge than ours and an ancient celtic cross I think is acceptable to all)

c) games shared between Belfast and Dublin (bit like the way Spain and Holland play in different cities)

d) new anthem (no God Save Queen or amhran na bhfiann)

e) new flag (possibly green background with same celtic cross to mimic jersey)

Don't know how many of my countryman would support all that, but I'd have no problem. Would essentially be the original Ireland team before the split minus flags and anthems).

[Plastic Paddy]

Nice try,LR....seems now unless you're a member you can't even read the paranoid planters' ramblings.....eg.'B*ggars Belief'thread).......so much for FOS(Freedom Of Speech)!Given their previous intolerance on these MB's.....their enthusiasm is as about as likely as RMK opening a prawn sambo factory in his back garden.........!

We all have a political view on the osc....would be willing to compromise with them re.an A-I.team.....but the reality is,from DG et al......They don't want to....Sh*t as they are!As BE says.....thus let them rot....& encourage their players to play for us!

So "compromise" isn't your middle name then, eh Davros?

PP

[lopez]

Amazingly, Marty (aka the Army Groupie) IMO is talking sense here, although no surprise from Dog Breath's reaction. Also I think he's taking a chance coming out with this statement - if it's his honest opinion - and could lead him to charges of Lundyism for what is to many the acceptance of the destruction of the Northern Ireland team (in reality it is the reunification of two national teams divided for 83 years). I haven't looked into ourweeminds since it went private and you needed to log on, so thanks for posting Lionel.

Personally I'd accept all his proposals although I'd prefer the sash followed/preceded by the Soldier's song or some decent new anthem rather than Ireland's call. I'd also prefer just the two flags: no need for our matches to look like the front of the UN HQ. Also Connacht Man's suggestion that the IFA remain as the right body is also acceptable although it must be fully democratic. Belfast as home of the association means no difference here either. It's got my approval.

[sylvo]

Think army groupie is on a bit of a wind up there. Poor fella's, this obbsession with us can't be good for them.

[Breen]

I like the idea in the theory but I can't see it happening in practise.

[ElSieteSecretos]

I took long time before I could type a response, because the fact of the matter was I could not belive my eyes when I read such a crazy post.

Since their country is so small and worthless how can they make such fantastic claims, for example : -

HQ (IFA) in Belfast. Disband FAI. Granted both organisations leave a lot to be desired, but IFA were the original body.

1 in every 3 internationals played at Windsor or a new stadium on a proper rota

games shared between Belfast and Dublin

new anthem

new flag

Maybe they are having a joke ? Or they are a little crazy. Let me be most clear, the Northern Ireland futball teams are one of the worstest teams in the world, they are pathetic, and the only record the own is for the most games without scoring a goal.

THe FAI in Dublin has undergone some Major reforms and is now implementing the Genesis Report and has a CEO (Mr Fran Rooney ). They want to disband this organisation for the likes of the IFA in northern Ireland ?HAHAHAHA


They only have 1 or 2 good (certainly NOT world class) so if there is ever a 1 "all Irelands" futball team then simply they have this option :-

Request (beg) from the FAI and the Republic of Ireland to join our team.

There can be NO change to : -

our magnificant anthem,

flag,

or sharing of any games, apart from maybe a friendly every 2 years.

[Éanna]

I'd be all in favour of an all-ireland league, and team, but not on terms like that.

[lopez]

Think army groupie is on a bit of a wind up there. Poor fella's, this obbsession with us can't be good for them.

That's why I suggested 'if it's his honest opinion.' Remember him complaining about too much symbols at NI matches. No flags, no foreign club shirts (Rangers and er that's it) no nothing. He thought I was tooting Diego Maradona's hay fever remedy for suggesting that Nationalists brought their own flags (the tricolour) to NI matches if he wanted them to follow the side. Now he want's three flags when 2 will be enough.

I'd be all in favour of an all-ireland league, and team, but not on terms like that.

An all-Ireland league would be more feasible and get better support for it. It would undoubtedly improve football in Ireland higher than Scotland (which IMO is the case re much of the EL). Talk about violence is redundant with the Bohs/Rovers game ending with a riot and a pig's head on the pitch.

I'll always support an all-Ireland team but I am realistic to see that this is not going to happen. However, IF Marty is being serious, then his suggestions are more than going half way on the unionist side.

[Paddy Ramone]

There can be NO change to : -

our magnificant anthem,

flag,

or sharing of any games, apart from maybe a friendly every 2 years.

I thought Marty sounded reasonable, which is quite surprising. There would have to be come compromises over flags and anthems. If there was a political united Ireland there would be compromise anyway. I don't see why football should be any different.

[Bowsy]

There would be benefits to this. Very little to the International squad as only Lennon and Maik Taylor(would he even qualify being Anglo-German or whatever he is?) would be good enough to make squad IMO. A united league could only be good for Irish domestic soccer though. Bit of a pie in the sky subject though to be honest as i can't see it ever happening. Also wouldn't fancy travelling to Windsor Park for matches.

[Lionel Ritchie]

I took long time before I could type a response, because the fact of the matter was I could not belive my eyes when I read such a crazy post.

Since their country is so small and worthless how can they make such fantastic claims, for example : -

[/i]

Maybe they are having a joke ? Or they are a little crazy. Let me be most clear, the Northern Ireland futball teams are one of the worstest teams in the world, they are pathetic, and the only record the own is for the most games without scoring a goal.

THe FAI in Dublin has undergone some Major reforms and is now implementing the Genesis Report and has a CEO (Mr Fran Rooney ). They want to disband this organisation for the likes of the IFA in northern Ireland ?HAHAHAHA


They only have 1 or 2 good (certainly NOT world class) so if there is ever a 1 "all Irelands" futball team then simply they have this option :-

Request (beg) from the FAI and the Republic of Ireland to join our team.

There can be NO change to : -

our magnificant anthem,

flag,

or sharing of any games, apart from maybe a friendly every 2 years.

That's quite broadminded and generous of you. Strikes me Marty hadn't intended raising a kite on this so much as he was expecting us all to have exactly the reaction you're coming out with now. Expecting a northern unionist to cheer a team under the tricolour is unfair. I's unfair that it happens in rugby and it's unfair in this instance too. I'd have no problem with a neutral flag and anthem (actually while i quite like the tune of SS -the lyrics suck -and it's long past time we stopped defining ourselves in terms of hostility towards all things anglo). I also happen to agree with whoever said their crest is much nicer than ours. IFA/FAI? Vaze vase váse IMO? How about AIF? or FAA-I?
I'd like to see LOTS of Ireland matches played outside Dublin. Not just in Belfast, But in Derry, Limerick, Cork, Galway, Waterford, Midlands etc... all of which will be perfectly feasible when the Gaelic glass-spreaders-on-other-codes-pitches Association cop themselves on and borrow a calculator.

The only thing in there I'd have a problem with is the concept of a minimum representation from either jurisdiction. That's plain silly, devisive and utterly unworkable anyway.

[ElSieteSecretos]

Lionel Ritchie you are right, they took the nicest crest, so that should remains the new crest, should we ever have a 1 futball team.

As for everything else you said, I cannot agree. They have only 1 or 2 good players, everybody else in their team is pathetic. So why must we bend our backs too accomadate these peoples?

The only other place Irish futball should be played is in "Croke Park" so I can get a tickets more easier. Who wants to visit that ugly town Belfast in that racist stadium "Winsor parks"??

There is nothing wrong with our beautiful flag, but it was hijacked in Northern Ireland by extremests.

If want to join our country national football team without blackmail or strings attacted then there is no problem. Other wise they can remain support Northern Ireland (and watch them loose hahaahaha)

[lopez]

The only other place Irish futball should be played is in "Croke Park" so I can get a tickets more easier. Who wants to visit that ugly town Belfast in that racist stadium "Winsor parks"??

Sí, si, sí gilipollas. Todos queremos a jugar al parque de Croke!

As for Saxe-gotha-coburg Park being racist, it's improved. It's also got a far better atmosphere than Lansdowne Road, having witnessed last year there Irlanda del norte contra la patria. But then what can you do when you haven't scored for ages!

[Stuart]

Maybe they are having a joke ? Or they are a little crazy. Let me be most clear, the Northern Ireland futball teams are one of the worstest teams in the world, they are pathetic, and the only record the own is for the most games without scoring a goal.

Don't know about yourself but my choice of supporting a football team doesn't have anything to do with how successful they are. As you have said NI is a small country, therefore we don't ever expect to be that sucessful. We aren't one of the "worstest" teams in the world, yes we're going through a bad spell but we will come out of it.
As for our record of most games without a goal being our only record, what about the fact that we're the smallest country to ever qualify for a World Cup - 3 times. Same number of times as the Republic?? And that we produced the youngest player to ever play in a World Cup.

Fair enough the Republic are the better of the two teams nowadays but just remember we did used to be good. Here's hoping those sort of days aren't too far away for us again!

[Stuart]

The only other place Irish futball should be played is in "Croke Park" so I can get a tickets more easier. Who wants to visit that ugly town Belfast in that racist stadium "Winsor parks"??

Have you been to a Northern Ireland match at WP recently. I find it amazing the number of people who constantly complain about "sectarian" NI supporters but haven't even been to an NI game recently. Firstly i think you'll find many NI supporters want out of WP. Its a terrible stadium for internationals and is in a bad area. I'll also be the first to admit that 10+ years ago WP did have its sectarian elements. But the IFA have come along way since then, in particular our Community Relations Office, and going to watch NI is now more like a carnival atmosphere. I can't remember the last time i heard supporters singing songs which may offend others within the stadium. Maybe until you do get along to a NI match you will think about the abuse your going to give us. Somehow i doubt it.

[The Legend]

There should only be an All Ireland team, when there is an All Ireland.
Everytime i hear that stupid rugby anthem it makes me sick!

[4tothefloor]

I agree completely with ElSieteSecretos - Northern Irish football is a joke, both the national side and the Irish league. There is absolutely no way that I would be prepared to say goodbye to the tri-colour and the soldiers song. The Irish rugby team singing 'Irelands Call' instead of the national anthem is a joke. Signs on, on their biggest day in years V Scotland for the triple crown, what did they play? The national anthem, and rightly so. As an Irishman I would regard it my right to stand to the national anthem, in front of the tri-colour, for Ireland games. Not some mickey mouse Phil Coulter ditty, or a UN like flag.

We are the bigger nation, bigger population, better team, better players, have more supporters, have a far higher standing in world football and will have a far better stadium(s). We're complaining about LR as it stands, yet ye are proposing to take games to Windsor park in Belfast. FFS, you must be having a laugh! Aesthetically, its a hole of a place, plus we want to EASE the ticketing situation, not make it worse. To think that the republic would bow to all those NI demands is, quite frankly, embarassing.

Absolutely no way, a complete non-starter. What would we gain, as republic supporters? Neil Lennon, a player we don't need anyway? The romance of having an all ireland team, maybe? Something which would bring its own problems regarding violence etc I reckon. An all Ireland team, if we have an all Ireland island, absolutely yes. But otherwise no, as we have have nothing to gain from it except grief. If it were to happen, it should be them joining us, not the other way around, the thought of which is ridiculous

[Lionel Ritchie]

We are the bigger nation

So you think NI is a nation then 4tothefloor?

Aside from that I find your insistance on forcing our anthem and our flag down the throats of Irish rugby supporters who happen to be unionist mean spirited in the extreme. It actually runs in direct parrallel with the muppet element over on their site who insist that Northern nationalists should be proud to stand under the union Jack and sing GSTQ at Windsor. It's the prevailance of attitudes like that which ensure that an All Ireland team (never even mind an All Ireland nation) is a long, long way off if indeed it's ever happening.

[Slash/ED]

What do we get out of it? I can't think of a single NI player who'd get into our starting XI, all squad players at best.

[4tothefloor]

So you think NI is a nation then 4tothefloor?

In footballing terms, ya knob. Do you have to be so pedantic and PC all the time? In footballing terms, we are seperate nations.

Aside from that I find your insistance on forcing our anthem and our flag down the throats of Irish rugby supporters who happen to be unionist mean spirited in the extreme. It actually runs in direct parrallel with the muppet element over on their site who insist that Northern nationalists should be proud to stand under the union Jack and sing GSTQ at Windsor. It's the prevailance of attitudes like that which ensure that an All Ireland team (never even mind an All Ireland nation) is a long, long way off if indeed it's ever happening.

A minority in both cases. Northern Nationalists by and large support the Republic, and those few that do support the North know the score beforehand. You're comparison is poor anyway, as we don't have a sectarian divide\problem down here, a significent issue in the politics of Northern Irish football, especially with regard to the Loyalist element. I practice what I preach, I don't go to Irish rugby games because Irelands Call is so pathetic. This is also why the Irish rugby team will NEVER play in Croke Park - no GAA person is going to stand for that drivvle replacing our national anthem at Croke Park, should it ever open to other sports. As I said, as an Irish person I would be completely against the abolition of our national flag and national anthem - you're taking away our bloody identity FFS! Just so we can join up with a two bit organisation that has, as of now, nothing to offer us! My arguement is, if they want an AI team, they will be joining up with us, not us with them. I can't believe i'm having to even argue this point, its so ridiculous...

And to finish, I explicitly stated that this should only happen if there is a united Ireland first.....and that is a whole other story\arguement.