QuoteGalway United V Glasgow Celtic, June 1986. Packie Bonner vs Dennis Bonner We lost 2-0 but I was hooked.
I Don't know if this has been done before. If it has then
I'm sure we all remember the first time we saw our clubs in action and feeling it gave us so, I've started this thread to give everyone the chance to relate to the rest of us what it was about your club or the match that hooked you and kept you coming back
I'll Start with my first Bohs game.
The FAI cup saga between Bohemians and Shamrock Rovers in 1994 has probably been the single biggest "Event" in recent LOI history, In media terms anyway. The first 2 games had ended in draws and so it was back to Dalymount for a 2nd replay,the sports pages of the papers and the radio were full of talk of this epic encounter and I'd been supporting "The Bohs" for about a year, as one of my Da's drinking buddies was Dave Henderson (Bohs Keeper and Legend) but had yet to venture to a game. I'd been to Anfield for the first time that year and had seen Hendo and Derek Swan in action for the enemy against both Celtic and Man City a couple of years previously aswell as uncountable Ireland Internationals at Dalymount and Lansdowne, however nothing could have prepared me for the life changing day that was to come.
A friend from school (and now regular Bohs co-attendee)knew I kept an eye out for Bohs results & suggested that we head down to Dalymount to see what all this hype was about. So we boarded the 38 bus and off we went. on arriving in phibsboro and seeing the floodlights illuminated the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end in much the same way as they had when I reached the Shankley gates a few months earlier.on entering the shed I was gobsmacked the place was packed (I seem the recall the official attendance as 13,000 it felt like 10 times that many.)I dont remember too much about the game itself just that we won 1-0 I think it was Tony Cousins that scored but it could easily have been Derek Swan, it made no difference to me as the only player on the pitch I recognised was Hendo...it was all new to me. What I do remember and will take with me to the Grave was the chants and the banter and TBH the raw hatred towards the Rovers. thats what hooked me I spent as much time laughing at the fantastic chants of the Bohs faithfull as I did watching the match (I was a very Impressionable 13 year old at the time)
a favorite was Molly Malone chanting not cockles and muscles but the Boez the Boez. By the second half I had picked up most of the words even if I didn't get the meaning (not been too familiar with rovers and Miltown or the various lineage of the Players) I vividly remember turning to my mate and saying, what have we been missing !! hardly able to believe that this had been going on every friday only a few miles down the road from home.
And so it was that BGR Fell in Love for the first time not with the girl next door(that was a few months away, and incidently we got back together after a 10 year break in 2005) but with 11 men from Phibsboro.
we went back the following week to see Boh's v Limerick City (iirc) to be quite dissapointed, where a week previously there had been 7 or 8,000 packed into the shed now stood 2/300 diehards I didn't care I sang my heart out for the lads because you know what? This is where I belonged, in the wind and the rain not walking alone but singing my heart out with my brethren for my home town Club ..........I've never been back to Anfield after that and probably never will
Last edited by Block G Raptor; 06/06/2008 at 9:33 AM.
Galway United V Glasgow Celtic, June 1986. Packie Bonner vs Dennis Bonner We lost 2-0 but I was hooked.
We beat Drogheda 2-0 in the Cup in Mullologher in 1995, Stefan Butner scored both goals.
Imagine my delight to see him score in last season's competiton too - an OG for Bray against St Mochtas.
I was hoping that ye might elaborate on what hooked you and kept you coming back or on what inspired you to go in the first place, hopefully a barstooler or 3 might stumble across this thread and decide to take a trip to their local clubOriginally Posted by Rocky77
Last edited by Block G Raptor; 06/06/2008 at 10:08 AM.
Well, I remember hearing about the 1990 cup final cos my dad and my older brother went to it and it was a proud time for the town.
I remember watching the epic 1999 final and nearly having a nervours breakdown every match. I can still remember Jayo controlling, turning and scoring to make it 2-1 in the final game.
The first match I went to was in the 2000/2001 season when was I 12.
I know I went to a few that season but the first I can remember is a 2-2 (possibly 3-3) draw in the Carlisle against Bohs. Tarzan scored a last-minute equaliser in the goal that I was standing behind. It was amazing. It was a great feeling. I can't even describe what it was.
Then I didn't go back for a few years...
Extratime.ie
Yo te quiero, mi querida. Sin tus besos, yo soy nada.
Abri o portão de ouro, da maquina do tempo.
Mi mamá me hizo guapo, listo y antimadridista.
Cork City vs St. Pats in 95 i think it was...it was city's first game back in the cross.
It was 0-0 and was boring enough but I was standing near the shed and the noise and chants from the place was very loud and funny and that was my real memory of the game. It was the shed really that got me to come back and it was after a couple of games that I got into the football. I've been going when I can since about 97.
Life isn't all beer and football...some of us haven't touched a football in months
Sorry to disappoint. There was no chorus of angels, no celestial light. I'm from Longford, I support Longford Town. My sense of reason and practicality dictated that.
Fair enough, If only all Irish "Fans" were are practical as you we'd have full houses and huge stadiums up and down the country
Around 1985 I would say, I remember some black guy scoring 3 or 4 goals against waterford in the first division.
The deepest layer of human thinking and feeling somehow knows that God must exist - Pope Benedict XVI
Kildare County 1-2 Monaghan United, I was 12, had nothing better to do every second saturday night.
Cmon County!
mine was the Fai cup 1983 final sligo won - although i don't remember very much , my first proper game that i remember was shamrock rovers v Man united - i think it was 1985 miltown - united had a great side that day - although rovers won the game, it was also the first time Liam O Brien got noticed - he was brillant - i also remember Pat Jennings playing some part in the game i think it might of been a testimonal if anyone could clarify it would be appreciated again i'm not 100% - first big game was ireland v Brazil
I never really went too sligo rovers matches until a few years ago but my first match was Sligo Rovers vs Kilkenny City, in the first division, we won 2-0.
Coleman for Ireland
It was a testimonial for Shay Brennan...Rovers won 2-0 both scored by Mick Byrne, who ran rings
around a useless Kevin Moran
When Limerick played West Ham for Liam Brady's testimonial, didn't go back til years after that though
The first LOI game I went to would have been at richmond park in about 1980. I was 8. In those days kids of that age could go to football without being,kidnapped,molested or treated like a hooligan by some over zealous stewards. I lived in Inchicore and I used to go to all the games it was great fun. Afew years later Pats were involved in an 'epic' cup tie with the mighty Athlone Townand I remember getting off school early one wednesday afternoon so I could go to one of the replays. It finished 2-2 I think but Pats lost the replay. IN 1984 my family moved to crumlin and I started going to Milltown with some school friends. We even went to the away games. I couldnt call myself a supporter of either Pats or Rovers as no doubt certain forum members are already looking down their nose at my judasism! When I was about 18 or so I started refereeing as well as playing and coaching my clubs under 13s so I stopped going to LOI football altogether. About 10 years ago I started going again but just to random games. Then about 4/5 years ago I started working for a sportswear firm which ment I was going to at least a game a week (sometimes 3 or 4) and then last year I went work for UCD so obviously started supporting them. Even though I dont work there anymore I'll continue to support them as I know all the lads.
Bayern Munich in the Allianz Arena 2006 against Real Madrid.
Pre-season friendly in 1994 - Dundalk FC vs. Sheffield Wednesday. The one ticket got you into that, the friendly against Manchester United (my main reason for getting the ticket) and the first three home games of the 1994/5 season. It was a good plan for getting support.
my first rovers match was away to monaghan when i was 1 back in 1994
and being going ever since.
The first ever football match I attended was Blackburn v Everton in the charity shield in 95 in the old Wembly and although “we” were robbed due to a poxy Vinny Samways goal for Everton, but it was an enjoyable experience but it was nothing compared to my first LOI game.
Waterford Utd. V Kilkenny City at the RSC around Christmas during Kilkenny’s title/promotion winning season of 96/97. It was end to end stuff in the local derby and thanks to 2 goals Pascal Keane & 1 from Aidan “The Pocket Rocket” Cooney, we won 3-2. I’ll never forget the banter/abuse with the Waterford lads over their chants “Com’n you Blouse!!” and the buzz around the place even though it was an absolutely freezing cold night & couldn’t even feel my toes. It was from that night I was hooked to following my local team because of the craic we had and the result on that night felt better than Blackburn winning the title in 95!
Needless to say I stopped following Blackburn as I didn’t see the point in “supporting” a team when I don’t ever go to their games or have any connection with.
"We didn't underestimate them. They were just a lot better than we thought."
nice one emil. How are Kilkenny getting on in Junior footie? any hope for a quick return?
First game was Drums V Pats around 1965. Can't remember who won. Best game ever was a Drums defeat to Shels. Losing 5-1 at half time. Fought back to 5-5 all, only for Delargy to score a winner for Shels in last few minutes. Shortly after I remember Leeds coming to Tolka, Kevin Blount saving a peno from Johnny Giles.
Always look on the bright side of life
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