QuoteIt was also one of George Bests wishes.
Former Irish boss and TV pundit Johnny Giles believes that an All-Ireland team would be a fitting tribute to the late George Best.
Giles was part of the All-Ireland side that lost 4-3 to the mighty Brazil in a friendly at Lansdowne Road Dublin in 1973.
Two goal Paulo Ceasar, Jairzinho and Valdomiro netted for Brazil with Mick Martin, Terry Conroy and Derek Dougan replying for the home side.
The game, which raised money for charitable foundations on both sides of the border, saw the Irish selection, which included ex Celtic boss Martin O'Neill and Spurs goal stopper Pat Jennings, ostensibly called Shamrock Rovers X1.
However with players from the Republic and Northern Ireland included in the starting eleven it was very much the first side representative of the whole island.
After the game both sides received a standing ovation but 32 years after the applause has died an All-Ireland team still remains just an aspiration.
For various reasons soccer has managed to remain divided on this island since the early 1920’s and those that have tried to bridge that divide, most notably George Best and Derek Dougan, have seen their calls fall on deaf ears.
Dougan, a former Wolves striker who helped organise the event, had been captain of Northern Ireland for four years up to the historic meeting with the Samba Boys but was never selected to play for Northern Ireland again after that match. In recent times Dougan has again voiced his belief that an all Ireland team would benefit football all over the Island and improve the chances of qualifying for major championships. Dougan however faced a lot of abuse from n.i fans over the remarks and even had his image defaced on a mural on the Woodstock Road in Belfast, depicting n.i players who hailed from the east of the city.
In his lifetime Best expressed his wish to see an All- Ireland team.
Last March the United legend was quoted as saying.
"At any given time both the Republic and Northern Ireland have had some great world-class players.
I just believe in trying something. If it doesn't work, at least you've tried.I just hope it happens in my lifetime".
Sadly for Best, who passed away two weeks ago, his
dream of seeing an 32 county Irish team has yet to become a reality.
However former Leeds United midfield maestro Giles believes that with both North and South failing to qualify for next summers World Cup that it makes sense to pool our resources.
"The Irish rugby side is a thirty two county team and it makes sense that we should combine
as down through the years there has been some fantastic players representing both Northern
Ireland and the Republic of Ireland", said Giles.
" It would be a fitting tribute not only to George Best but to football on this island if there was an All Ireland side as it would enhance our chances of qualifying for the World Cup and European Championships", he added.
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It was also one of George Bests wishes.
I would be in favour of an all-Ireland team, but my fear would be that the manager would be pressurised into picking Northen Irish players for political reasons rather than ability reasons and we would probably end up fielding a weaker eleven. Just like what has traditionally effected the rugby team throughout the 20th century.
i think if the 32 county team did go ahead then there couldnt be any favouritism, just like rugby. That would have to be one of the agreements before it did go ahead.
Im in favour of it too, but i think we will have to wait until Genesis is fully implemented and then some northern clubs join the super league. After that is sucessful i imagine there would be more widespread backing for a all ireland soccer team.
merge the teams you have to merge the leagues and the associations.
never going to happen. whats in it for the IFA?
the IFA would have to go. A big pay off would sort them out.
I don't see why they would have to go when it's them (the IFA) who have the history and the longevity. Don't forget that it's the FAI who are the renegade splitters here!Originally Posted by thejollyrodger
PP
Semper in faecibus sole profundum variat
But the FAI are cashing in on the whole Ireland inc brand name. Its far more marketable than anything the IFA can dream up. The new Ireland crest is superior than the IFA one (IMHO). Foreigners can identify with it better, its almost like a popular brand name.
Plus the FAI has got its house in order (more or less) and after a relaunch of the EL and a new national football academy, it will be far better than the northern version.
what, here is 5 grand each, please go away? we know you are a home nation and have power far beyond your size, but would you mind clearing off?
you have no comprehension of how cosy things are for the IFA and irish league clubs. pay off my arse.
and we havent even touched on politics.... sorry linfield, you have to play shamrock rovers and have to stand for amhrain na fiann in windsor. get real.
the IFA will fold because the FAI have a sexier badge?I have read some serious ****e on here, but thats a winner. seriously,what the hell are you talking about?
Im on about marketability. Ireland Inc vs what the IFA can come up with. Go outside Ireland and you will know what im on about.
They get to join a better national side and a better league.
at the moment the national side and league are better. wasnt always the case. might not be the case going forward either.
seriously, you reckon the IFA, founded in 1880, will voluntarily cease to exist because of 'ireland inc' fc? what exactly is that? and by irish, you mean the southern irish set up absorbing the 6 county set up. exactly how do you market a national side and to what end?
the reality is that the IFA represents the 'british' side of NI soccer, and they are ferociously 'loyal' when it suits them. up until very recently, and to an extent still, windsor on international days is a hostile place for a nationalist. no football at all is played on sunday in the north? why is that?
and you in your wisdom reckon they will do away with their association, national sides and league, with all the blazer related treats and jobs that come with being a home nation, out of some vague notion of making the irish national side better?
most of the IL sides would sink without a trace in the EL, so why would they get rid of a league that sees the belfast sides rarely have to leave belfast?
your naivety is quite touching. but it is naivety of the highest order.
Roverstillidie makes total and utter sense. Nothing more to add than I agree with his points above. IFA will NOT succumb to such ideas.
God
I really dont think people get the idea that alot of people on both sides of the border are happy with the present arrangements. I enjoy going to watch my country play in Belfast altough we could be doing with a better stadium just as i am sure people across the border enjoy watching their country play in Dublin what seems to be the problem.
I'm happy with the current setup. It's bad enough that the English BBC commentators often mistakingly refer to Republic players as British but if we joined with the North they'd be claiming us as their own (particularly if we qualify for a major championship and they fail to like in 1994).
Also I think we should have the right to sing 'amhrain na fiann' at all our international games though I can understand this probably wouldn't be acceptable if we merged.
Nah leave it as it is and distance ourselves from the English as much as possible.
cant see it happening. tink of it from a norn iron point of view. They would be doing well to get even two or three players in the side.
Winners are workers,
Losers make excuses.
Should we stop picking all English based players as well then? This hatred of the English is just mind bogglingly stupid.
As far as an All Island team goes I'd like to see it some day. I think it will happen eventually. Practically every other sport has a combined team. A combined team and league would be beneficial for both sides.
You havent a faintess clue Roverstillidie
The fact that the IFA are still producing reports trying to stamp out the taig singing etc highlights the backwardness of it all. Any developement that have been made have been down south. Joining back up with the IFA would be a backward step
What is ireland inc' ? Well Ireland has an identifable imagine overseas. If you are a foreginer you associate certain things with ireland, hope, excitment, all non tangible things. Be in rugby or soccer. People can identify with the 26 counties. No one idenitfies with the 6 counties. Things have moved on and the IFA hasnt. My point is this, people want to see the republic of ireland and not northern ireland. So they can join in with us and not any other way.
We will continue to remaind relevent in the future because were progressive as opposed to the north which isnt. We also financially richer than they are and can put more resources into soccer (eg new stadia and the football academy).
The rest of your post rambles on about some other points about N.I football being so weak. Yes it is weak, any merger would have to be the north merging into the south because of size. The blazers up north would have to get a big pay off or try to apply for the jobs in the FAI. The anthem would have to be scrapped but the tricolour would still fly.
No hatred I just find it mind boggingly stupid as you say that the English education system doesn't seem to be able to inform a staggering amount of it's students that they haven't ruled the Republic of Ireland for nearly 100 years. Maybe they'll cop it within the next 100 though probably not.
Don't see your point regarding English based players. I'm English based but am definitely Irish. Have no problems with English born players playing for Ireland once they don't think they are representing a British nation.
Sorry Jollyrodger, you've lost me completely. I honestly haven't a clue what you're getting at here. The IFA will vote to simply disappear because its officials take a pay off? Northern supporters will happily go along with this? "The tricolour would still fly..." And that's end of discussion is it? I have no wish for a big political discussion on the tricolour but there might be a few problems in convincing one or two people in Northern Ireland, what do you reckon?You havent a faintess clue Roverstillidie
The fact that the IFA are still producing reports trying to stamp out the taig singing etc highlights the backwardness of it all. Any developement that have been made have been down south. Joining back up with the IFA would be a backward step
What is ireland inc' ? Well Ireland has an identifable imagine overseas. If you are a foreginer you associate certain things with ireland, hope, excitment, all non tangible things. Be in rugby or soccer. People can identify with the 26 counties. No one idenitfies with the 6 counties. Things have moved on and the IFA hasnt. My point is this, people want to see the republic of ireland and not northern ireland. So they can join in with us and not any other way.
We will continue to remaind relevent in the future because were progressive as opposed to the north which isnt. We also financially richer than they are and can put more resources into soccer (eg new stadia and the football academy).
The rest of your post rambles on about some other points about N.I football being so weak. Yes it is weak, any merger would have to be the north merging into the south because of size. The blazers up north would have to get a big pay off or try to apply for the jobs in the FAI. The anthem would have to be scrapped but the tricolour would still fly.
comments from the jollyroger just make me happy that i have my own country to support. surely the reason the IFA are making reports is a good thing praised by both uefa and fifa yet a few people continue to pretend that football for all isnt making a difference. This idea that you have about football up north only there as a form of racial and religous hatred sums up your small minded attitude. I like many on both sides of the border go to watch my local team and international team not for any political reasons but I watch Loughgall because I always have, and feel a closeness to them. I go and watch NI because its my country and its great to see players born and bread within 100 miles of where I come from representing me. No racial or religous hatred in any of my motives there but dont let that stop you jollyroger from having your wee small minded rant.
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