AFAIK, the rivalry has always existed between the Glens and Blues. However, it is fair to say the rivarly between Celtic and Linfield was probably greater at the time, but (just going on what my Granda has told me) there was always a rivalry between the three of us.
"The game's about glory. It's about doing things in a style, with a flourish. It's about going out and beating the other lot, not waiting for them to die of boredom."
Danny Blanchflower, 1926-1993
Can't believe I'm going to say this, but I don't believe Linfield actually need their closest rivals to be "nationalist". The Celtic/Linfield thing was more out of chance than anything, Celtic being from the mainly catholic Falls Rd and the Blues coming from the mainly Protestant Shankill Rd. As the policital climate changed, so did the views of most of their respective supports. But, in the early days I would suggest just as many Prods would have supported Celtic as Catholics would have Linfield.
"The game's about glory. It's about doing things in a style, with a flourish. It's about going out and beating the other lot, not waiting for them to die of boredom."
Danny Blanchflower, 1926-1993
Lossie, you'll probably be aware that the Glens had a decent support from the Short Strand area until civil unrest really took hold and the support became predominantly 'Protestant'. Indeed, Joe O'Donnell has lent his verbal support to the current 'Rest In East' campaign and the GCT are actively targeting the Short Strand area as a potential supporter base. Mickey Fearon, who wrote for the offical programme up until a couple of years ago, was from the Strand.
As for handout fc, I begrudge those arrogant f**kers winning a training session, although Portadown come close in the contempt stakes.
When handout fc win all 5 trophies competed for by exclsuively Irish clubs, then we'll talk 'clean sweeps'.
The only Irish club to win a European trophy.
Five months on and it still hurts so bad!! That's good......real good!!!!Originally Posted by Lux Interior
Last edited by BleusAvantTout; 28/10/2006 at 7:28 PM.
When I went to the Oval in the late 70's/early 80's, I sometimes used to hook up with a guy (fellow student) who was a real Glens diehard. He had a very Catholic name (first and surname both), was from Lurgan and had very red hair.
Come to think of it, I never actually bothered ascertaining that he was Catholic, I just assumed he was; I know he appreciated my not calling his first name out too loudly until we got amongst the regular fans where we normally sat!
Anyway, he was a decent sort and it's probably safe enough now (!), so if you are out there, Sean, hope it's going well for you!
It would actually "hurt" if a 'clean sweep' was achieved, rhymin'simon.Five months on and it still hurts so bad!! That's good......real good!!!!
PS: when was it downgraded from a "Grand Slam"?
The only Irish club to win a European trophy.
Right I've had enough of you!!Wait 'til I tell Ken Dodd!!!
Last edited by BleusAvantTout; 29/10/2006 at 10:19 PM.
You really do have difficulty understanding the term domestic clean sweep, don't you? The pain must be so bad.
Yep, I knew that Lux. Quite a few of the men my Granda used to go to games with came from the Short Strand, my Granda is originally from St. Patrick's Walk at the lower end of the Newtownards Rd. Didn't realise that about Mickey though.
"The game's about glory. It's about doing things in a style, with a flourish. It's about going out and beating the other lot, not waiting for them to die of boredom."
Danny Blanchflower, 1926-1993
Lux Inferior is displaying signs of being a 40 watter!!!You really do have difficulty understanding the term domestic clean sweep, don't you? The pain must be so bad.
Dunno whether this would've had any bearing on Glentoran being more of a mixed-background team, but didn't they play in either Celtic's ground or Distillery's (Grosvenor Road?) for a few years after the war cos of the Oval being bombed by the Germans?
As regards them drawing support from the Short Strand, that's where my da and granda lived until they moved over to Donegall Road in the 40s. But even before they moved, from what my da's told me, Celtic were the only team on the agenda for him and his mates - not cos of sectarian affiliations or anything, but simply cos they were winning all around them and so were the biggest show in town. I'd guess that people from the Strand going to Glentoran would've started more after the demise of Celtic.
Last edited by Dr.Nightdub; 30/10/2006 at 5:36 PM.
Revenge for 2002
Your right Nightdub the Glens ground shared with Distillery after the Oval was bombed during the war, but I wouldn't say that's one of the reasons we had a mixed support. From the way I understand it from what I was told by family members over the years, many areas of East Belfast were traditionally mixed well before the troubles started, so therefore we had a mixed support, local team and all that.
As I said before, when my Granda first started going to the Oval in the late thirties, he went with as many Catholics as Protestants, my dad was the same. He was brought up in the Creagh estate (where Geordie Best came from) and in his little street of ten houses it was completely half and half, and they all went to the Oval together, right up until the start of the troubles.
"The game's about glory. It's about doing things in a style, with a flourish. It's about going out and beating the other lot, not waiting for them to die of boredom."
Danny Blanchflower, 1926-1993
I know Mickey well and it would be hard to find a more knowledgable and passionate Glenman. His kids used to go as well and I know he was very proud when his young son played at the Oval a few years back.
BTW 2 prominent football personalities in the Republic are both Glenmen too although I don't think either make games anymore. George Hamilton RTE commentator was a fan as a kid and went regularly. Charlie Stuart was the Irish Press Football correspondent for many years and supported the Glens growing up in Belfast. I met him on an RoI away trip a few years back through a mutual friend and he spoke very fondly about the team of the late 60's.
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