Irish Cup Semis

**Speranza** · 13/03/2006, 3:44 PM

Originally Posted by David

The fact is that it was not safe for visiting teams to visit the Brandywell (and it seems it still isn't) which is why presumably the IFA made this decision

It was not safe for Cliftonville fans to travel to Windsor. Irrespective of who it was or indeed who Cliftonville fans thought perputrated the attack a grenade attack is much more serious than hoods burning what they knew was an empty bus.

The IFA have punished two teams in the last 40 years because they felt their ground was not safe. These two teams have support which would be of nationalist persuasion. Conincidence? I think not.

You have still not referred to the numerous occasions when City fans were attacked in Windsor!

**-lamb-** · 13/03/2006, 7:06 PM

are derry city relevant to the irish cup semi's? nope
are derry city relevant to the current irish league? nope
do most irish league fans want to go watch derry city while they play in the brandywell? nope
do most irish league fans want derry city back in the irish league if they moved somewhere not quite so under "restorative justice"? maybe/probably
am i glad derry city left? yep. my team got their rightful place back in the senior division.

now, please can (insert interested parties) take this derry city history discussion to an appropriate thread?

**Speranza** · 13/03/2006, 8:16 PM

So Lamb in a post that attempts to show Derry City have no relevance to this thread you go and comment on........Derry City.

Originally Posted by Lamb

do most irish league fans want to go watch derry city while they play in the brandywell? nope
do most irish league fans want derry city back in the irish league if they moved somewhere not quite so under "restorative justice"? maybe/probably
am i glad derry city left? yep. my team got their rightful place back in the senior division

One attack outside the Brandywell and you scorn us despite a huge riot on the playing surface in the Oval. We really shoudldn't get so riled as we will never be back in your two-bit ambitionless league populated by teams who are glorified amateurs i.e Larne.

Now feel free and discuss your fixed cup semis. I'm busy with City hammering your IL champions.

**-lamb-** · 13/03/2006, 9:23 PM

meoooooooow

i have no bones to pick with derry city, i have scorned nobody but they have no relevance in this thread whatsoever. you make comments about a riot when you obviously haven't a clue what my opinions on it are.
as usual a derry city fan goes all insular and defensive. big surprise eh? you really shouldn't get so riled but time and time and time and time again yous do. jethro tull comes to mind - living in the past.
i have no comment on your other snidey, bitter opinions (and yes, thats exactly what they are).
i made a post about irish cup semis and it gets hijacked into a derry city argument........wtf? start your own thread and have a cry if thats what you want.

**David** · 14/03/2006, 6:57 AM

Originally Posted by Speranza

It was not safe for Cliftonville fans to travel to Windsor. Irrespective of who it was or indeed who Cliftonville fans thought perputrated the attack a grenade attack is much more serious than hoods burning what they knew was an empty bus.

The IFA have punished two teams in the last 40 years because they felt their ground was not safe. These two teams have support which would be of nationalist persuasion. Conincidence? I think not.

You have still not referred to the numerous occasions when City fans were attacked in Windsor!

One wee problem with your theory here Einstein. When Cliftonville were "punished" and we were not allowed to go to their ground in the early 70's, they did not have a nationalist support, that is only something that developed in the late 70's.

**David** · 14/03/2006, 7:02 AM

Originally Posted by Speranza

your two-bit ambitionless league populated by teams who are glorified amateurs i.e Larne.

Now feel free and discuss your fixed cup semis. I'm busy with City hammering your IL champions.

A league that you were hardly overly successful in when you played there. A few teams in the EL not exactly full time pros.

**Mr_Parker** · 23/03/2006, 8:21 AM

Originally Posted by David

The fact is that it was not safe for visiting teams to visit the Brandywell (and it seems it still isn't) which is why presumably the IFA made this decision. The grenade attack was an isolated incident by a paramilitary group which was cheered by a large section of the Cliftonville support who thought it was an IRA bomb. Nobody was injured if I remember correctly.

A Linfield turnstile operator was treated for shock from what I recall. As for some of the crowd cheering, totaly irelevant to wether it is/was a safe ground. Also important to remember that the IFA refused to condemn the attack.

**Mr_Parker** · 23/03/2006, 8:27 AM

Originally Posted by Speranza

The IFA have punished two teams in the last 40 years because they felt their ground was not safe. These two teams have support which would be of nationalist persuasion. Conincidence? I think not.

Originally Posted by David

One wee problem with your theory here Einstein. When Cliftonville were "punished" and we were not allowed to go to their ground in the early 70's, they did not have a nationalist support, that is only something that developed in the late 70's.

Cliftonville were never punished for that incident. The game that day did not even involve Cliftonville supporters, it was an Irish Cup game between Ballymena and Linfield.They did however suffer because of incidents that happened well away from the ground by not only losing home advantage against Linfield for circa 30 years but also from many semi finals and finals etc that up until that point had been held at Solitude.

**David** · 23/03/2006, 11:02 AM

Originally Posted by Mr_Parker

Cliftonville were never punished for that incident. The game that day did not even involve Cliftonville supporters, it was an Irish Cup game between Ballymena and Linfield.They did however suffer because of incidents that happened well away from the ground by not only losing home advantage against Linfield for circa 30 years but also from many semi finals and finals etc that up until that point had been held at Solitude.

I was aware of all that which is why I had the inverted commas around the word punished.

**David** · 23/03/2006, 11:03 AM

Originally Posted by Mr_Parker

A Linfield turnstile operator was treated for shock from what I recall. As for some of the crowd cheering, totaly irelevant to wether it is/was a safe ground. Also important to remember that the IFA refused to condemn the attack.

Why is that important?