Setanta - Holland vs ireland 1981

**Noelys Guitar** · 17/08/2005, 9:58 PM

5,000 Irish fans at game definetely. All behind the goal Stapleton scored into. Great game and atmosphere. Got my mug in the Herald when I was off sick from the Post Office but they put down the wrong names! We almost won that game too. I think it was Gerry Ryan who almost socred right at the death. And then as we came out of the ground word came the Norway had beaten England. What more could you want!

**geysir** · 17/08/2005, 10:34 PM

Originally Posted by Noelys Guitar

5,000 Irish fans at game definetely. All behind the goal Stapleton scored into. Great game and atmosphere. Got my mug in the Herald when I was off sick from the Post Office but they put down the wrong names! We almost won that game too. I think it was Gerry Ryan who almost socred right at the death. And then as we came out of the ground word came the Norway had beaten England. What more could you want!

Seeing as you ask, Gerry Ryan to score.

**soccerc** · 17/08/2005, 11:58 PM

Originally Posted by gspain

The first real big exodus outsid eof these islands by Irish fans was to Paris in 1976. 2,000 was the estimate I remember. Again decent numbers to Paris in 1980.

Sorry Gary

But I think the really first big exodus was Wembley on 6 Feb 1980 (est 20000 - no such thing as Ryanair). Every B&I (yah wha Gay? for you younger wans) sailing was full as were all the old Sealink ferries for days before.

I will not mention the piglet released onto the pitch a la the french cockerel except to say I was not cuplable for smuggling the live pork into England

Still meet up with my contemporaries on that trip and boy do we have some strange stories e.g. Regent Palace Hotel????

Can anyone recall

**gspain** · 18/08/2005, 7:57 AM

Originally Posted by thejollyrodger

13 fans ? Back in the days eh .... there was what 30,000 in paris for the last game

Yes - all spaniards. Paris was full of spanish ex pats. Highbury was the original venue planned for the playoff but the Spaniards got a bit worried about playing in front of Irish fans again and offered to let the F.A.I. keep all the gate money if they'd agree to play in Paris.

**PaulB** · 19/08/2005, 1:22 PM

This Saturday 8.45 Setanta showing Ireland vs Holland 1980, WC Qualifier.

**Stuttgart88** · 19/08/2005, 1:45 PM

Originally Posted by PaulB

This Saturday 8.45 Setanta showing Ireland vs Holland 1980, WC Qualifier.

Was that the one where Lawrenson scored with a funny looking diving header?

**Condex** · 19/08/2005, 2:08 PM

Originally Posted by drummerboy

I saw this and was really impressed by O'Leary and Lawrenson, two footballing centre-halves.

Yip was at that game, my first away match Lawrenson was brilliant....

**PaulB** · 19/08/2005, 2:10 PM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

Was that the one where Lawrenson scored with a funny looking diving header?

I believe so, 2-1 i think it was

**geysir** · 19/08/2005, 5:56 PM

How many fans travelled to the first competitve game under Charlton at Belgium 1984 or 85? I remember watching it in a pub in Bray (after the 5th attempt I found one that would show it). After Brady slotted home the equalising penalty the camera finally went to the Irish fans, looked to be only a few hundred. Say it aint so.

**Superhoops** · 19/08/2005, 8:37 PM

Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

Was that the one where Lawrenson scored with a funny looking diving header?

Originally Posted by Condex

Yip was at that game, my first away match Lawrenson was brilliant....

Condex,
The game where Lawrenson scored with the diving header was played at home, not away, in September 1980.

Holland scored first about 10 minutes after half-time, Gerry Daly scored with about 10 minutes to go (Tony Grealish passed to him with the Dutch looking to play offside). Five minutes later, Daly was fouled outside the box, Brady took the free and Lawrenson scored with a diving header.

The Irish team that day was: Peyton, Langan, David O'Leary, Pierce O'Leary, Hughton, Daly, Lawrenson, Grealish, Brady, Stapleton, Givens.

The away game was played in Rotterdam in September 1981 when we got a 2-2 draw. Holland went goal up early on and Michael Robinson scored with a volley just before half time. Holland scored again from a penalty, given away by David Langan. Ireland equalised again five minutes later after Lawrenson (who had just moved to Liverpool from Brighton) crossed for Stapleton to head in.

The team that day; McDonagh, Langan, D.O'Leary, Lawrenson, Devine, Martin, Grealish, Brady, Heighway, Stapleton, Robinson. Subs: Gerry Ryan for Heighway, Whelan for Martin.

**jbyrne** · 19/08/2005, 10:03 PM

Originally Posted by geysir

How many fans travelled to the first competitve game under Charlton at Belgium 1984 or 85? I remember watching it in a pub in Bray (after the 5th attempt I found one that would show it). After Brady slotted home the equalising penalty the camera finally went to the Irish fans, looked to be only a few hundred. Say it aint so.

think this game was sept 86 and belgium had just reached the semi finals of the wc in mexico. also seem to remember only a few hundred Irish at the match