FAI announce Celtic friendly

**Ash** · 10/12/2004, 1:56 PM

Sorry if this was posted earlier ...

from fai.ie

FAI announce Celtic friendly

The Football Association of Ireland today announced that a game against
Glasgow Celtic has been arranged as part of Ireland�s preparations for the
World Cup Qualifiers in the summer of 2005.

A Brian Kerr Republic of Ireland XI will play the current Scottish Champions in
Glasgow on Sunday 29th May 2005 as part of the Jackie McNamara
Testimonial celebrations.

Ireland play Israel at Lansdowne Road on 4th June and the Faroe Islands in
Torshavn five days later on 8th June and Manager, Brian Kerr, sees the Celtic
game as an important part of the preparations for these two assignments.

Kerr said: �I am delighted to be involved in the Jackie�s Testimonial
celebrations as he has been a great servant to the game in an era when
loyalty to one club is unusual. As well as strengthening the good relationship
with Celtic, the game itself will be very useful as it will keep our players in
good match playing condition as the English season will have ended some
three weeks earlier.�

The match is in addition to the friendly against Portugal scheduled for
Lansdowne Road on 9th February 2005 in advance of the away game against
Israel in Tel Aviv on Easter Saturday.

**Pat O' Banton** · 10/12/2004, 2:01 PM

... and before anyone starts the old arguements read all of this http://foot.ie/showthread.php?t=6844 first and only post pro or anti if you have anything new to add.

**thejollyrodger** · 10/12/2004, 2:20 PM

who will mc geady play for ?

**KR's Post** · 10/12/2004, 2:40 PM

Originally Posted by thejollyrodger

who will mc geady play for ?

HAlf for ireland, half for celtic maybe......

**eirebhoy** · 10/12/2004, 3:37 PM

Originally Posted by thejollyrodger

who will mc geady play for ?

Well since its preperation for a qualifier he'll be playing for us if Kerr wants him in the squad.

**holidaysong** · 10/12/2004, 3:49 PM

It should be one hell of an atmosphere!

**holidaysong** · 10/12/2004, 4:02 PM

I would expect more celtic jerseys seeing as it is in glasgow..
If it was in dublin i would have expected more Ireland jerseys..

**eirebhoy** · 10/12/2004, 4:12 PM

Originally Posted by Conor74

'Hell' is right. The skangers won't know who to cheer for.

What's the betting there'll be more Celtic shirts than Irish shirts there?

Well since Celtic are at home I'd say more Celtic jersey's would be the bookies favourite.

Although, you never know.

Kerr obviously doesn't feel its a waste of time and I certainly don't. The majority of the team won't have played for Ireland in such an atmosphere before and this can only help. Kerr's first game in charge was against Scotland, I don't think people were saying that match was a waste of time.

**MariborKev** · 10/12/2004, 4:21 PM

Originally Posted by eirebhoy

Kerr obviously doesn't feel its a waste of time and I certainly don't. The majority of the team won't have played for Ireland in such an atmosphere before and this can only help.

Yeah, because there was no atmosphere in the Arena or the Stade de France in recent months.................

**eirebhoy** · 10/12/2004, 4:54 PM

Originally Posted by Maribor

Yeah, because there was no atmosphere in the Arena or the Stade de France in recent months.................

Eh, that atmosphere was produced by 30,000 Irish men and women trying to get behing the Irish team.

**eirebhoy** · 10/12/2004, 5:01 PM

Originally Posted by Conor74

As a matter of interest, do other countries like France, Spain, Italy etc. trawl through the weaker leagues in Europe looking for club opposition for a run out?

I don't know. Do Ireland trawl through the weaker European leagues looking for club opposition to play? I suppose the also trawl through the weaker English teams like Sunderland and ask them for a run out?

Its Kerr's final decision BTW I can assure you, if he doesn't want to play Celtic, he doesn't have to.

**eirebhoy** · 10/12/2004, 5:23 PM

Quinn was the first person to give 100% of his testimonial funds to charity, Ireland have played in plenty of tesimonials before that including against Celtic for Packie Bonner.

I don't know if this one is for charity.

**Superhoops** · 10/12/2004, 6:28 PM

Originally Posted by Conor74

'Hell' is right. The skangers won't know who to cheer for.

What's the betting there'll be more Celtic shirts than Irish shirts there?

Joke game. Waste of time.

Agree, havent missed an Ireland home or away game for 9 years. Always a first time for everything though and this will be it.

**eirebhoy** · 10/12/2004, 6:39 PM

Originally Posted by Superhoops

Agree, havent missed an Ireland home or away game for 9 years. Always a first time for everything though and this will be it.

If you are going to boycot a game because its Celtic v Ireland, I really, really, really doubt you haven't missed a game in 9 years.

**A face** · 10/12/2004, 6:44 PM

Lord above ... what are the FAI at now, what are they thinking of.

**eirebhoy** · 10/12/2004, 6:48 PM

Originally Posted by A face

Lord above ... what are the FAI at now, what are they thinking of.

testimonial
pronunciation: tes�ti�mo�ni�al

1. A statement in support of a particular truth, fact, or claim.
2. A written affirmation of another's character or worth; a personal recommendation.
3. Something given in appreciation of a person's service or achievement; a tribute.

What is Kerr at. The bloody ********. Get rid of him. Couldn't even beat the French.

**Slash/ED** · 10/12/2004, 7:07 PM

I hate Celtic, their fans, their club and everything about them as much as the next guy

but in fairness this is no different to the Sunderland game we played before 2002, people are over reacting because of the opposition in question. It'll hardly be good preperation for the world cup qualifyers but that's not the point, it's just a testimonial not a warm up game.

**eirebhoy** · 10/12/2004, 7:27 PM

Originally Posted by Slash/ED

It'll hardly be good preperation for the world cup qualifyers but that's not the point, it's just a testimonial not a warm up game.

I actually think any away game would be better than a home game against the likes of Bulgaria. Our home form is fine, its the away form that needs sorting.

BTW, Its a bit silly to say you hate Celtic's fans (if you were being serious that is). Don't let those skangers with the jerseys on bring us down.

**Slash/ED** · 10/12/2004, 7:44 PM

Originally Posted by eirebhoy

I actually think any away game would be better than a home game against the likes of Bulgaria. Our home form is fine, its the away form that needs sorting.

BTW, Its a bit silly to say you hate Celtic's fans (if you were being serious that is). Don't let those skangers with the jerseys on bring us down.

I wans't being 100% serious about the fans, at least, not all of them...

But I'm not so sure about the game as match pratice, as it's a testimonial will it even be Celtics proper team going all out for the win or will there be old players and reserves and that kind of thing involved, as there is in some testimonials? I suppose if it's treated as an almost competitive game from Celtics point of view it would be a good work out for us in preparing for the WCQs too.

**Donal81** · 10/12/2004, 7:56 PM

If it's for charity, I'm all for it. Testimonials of those who have played at the top - let's just pretend that Celtic is a top team - for years have no point otherwise, the fans are just paying for a deposit on another house. It was one thing when footballers were getting paid poorly and exiting the game at 35 years of age when most people are starting to really progress in their careers. It's quite another now.

Don't support Celtic, don't like being made to feel like I should support them, but if it's for charity, I won't bang on about it.