21 Years Ago Today - Where Were You?

**Drumcondra 69er** · 12/06/2009, 2:37 PM

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

you could try claiming it as a religious holiday!

St Raymonds Day. Epulum of Dulcis Victoria! Has a nice ring to it doesn't it?

**Den Perry** · 12/06/2009, 2:57 PM

Watched it at home. I remember my best mates uncle from London brought him to it(Couldn't believe how lucky he was) but couldn't go myself as was only a poor schoolboy and also couldn't watch it in pub. Was at the home matches against Scotland and Belgium...both ni-nil draws if I remember correctly. Also rem a bit of trouble outside after the Scotland game

I remeber players used to write a column in Shoot every week and Bryan Robson was rather begrudging towards our win. Referred an awful lot to "long ball" and missed chances

**Seano** · 12/06/2009, 3:13 PM

I remember the morning of the game , a sunny Sunday morning and myself and a few mates were outside a mates house talking about the game and everyones in great form. One of the lads didn't know much about football and therfore couldn't get in on the conversation. Not wanting to be left out he felt he had to say something, so he says ' I think John Aldrige should play in defence' ....everyone went silent...before he continues ' eh, he's good at clearing the ball ', followed by more silence before we all burst out laughing. He still got slagged about it many years later. If I met him today I'd have to bring it up.

**EastTerracer** · 12/06/2009, 4:27 PM

1988 was the year of my Leving Cert so unfortunately I wasn't there. I tried to persuade my father that deferring the Leaving for a year would not be a big deal but he was having none of it. I spent the Sunday afternoon roaring the team on and then had to cram for my Irish exam the next day - I may even have written an essay about the match despite being asked something completely different.

I did (just about) pass the exam but I haven't missed a tournament since.

One other memory - I bought a scarf outside Lansdowne Road on the day we beat Brazil in 1987. When I couldn't go to Germany my older brother brought it with him to the 3 matches. After that the same scarf traveled to Italia 90, USA 94, Japan & Korea 2002 and every home game in between. It was only a tatty green and white hooped scarf but I still brought it along as a lucky charm until some little fe*ker swiped it on the way to the ground in Sofia last Saturday. I suppose I'll have to buy a new one now.

**Scram** · 12/06/2009, 4:39 PM

With your Ma.

**Drumcondra 69er** · 13/06/2009, 12:17 PM

Originally Posted by EastTerracer

1988 was the year of my Leving Cert so unfortunately I wasn't there. I tried to persuade my father that deferring the Leaving for a year would not be a big deal but he was having none of it. I spent the Sunday afternoon roaring the team on and then had to cram for my Irish exam the next day - I may even have written an essay about the match despite being asked something completely different.

I did (just about) pass the exam but I haven't missed a tournament since.

One other memory - I bought a scarf outside Lansdowne Road on the day we beat Brazil in 1987. When I couldn't go to Germany my older brother brought it with him to the 3 matches. After that the same scarf traveled to Italia 90, USA 94, Japan & Korea 2002 and every home game in between. It was only a tatty green and white hooped scarf but I still brought it along as a lucky charm until some little fe*ker swiped it on the way to the ground in Sofia last Saturday. I suppose I'll have to buy a new one now.

Wouldn't worry about it, it hasn't brought us much luck the last 7 years has it?

Still a sickner losing something you've had that long seriously though.

**Deckydee** · 13/06/2009, 12:30 PM

9 years old and kicking a ball of the old garden shed

**EastTerracer** · 13/06/2009, 2:50 PM

Originally Posted by Drumcondra 69er

Wouldn't worry about it, it hasn't brought us much luck the last 7 years has it?

Still a sickner losing something you've had that long seriously though.

Actually I was pretty philosophical about it last week - if someone had offered to swap my scarf for a point I would have taken it so still came home happy.

**NeilMcD** · 13/06/2009, 2:59 PM

Originally Posted by EastTerracer

Actually I was pretty philosophical about it last week - if someone had offered to swap my scarf for a point I would have taken it so still came home happy.

Wasn't me I swear.

**elroy** · 13/06/2009, 10:04 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okqR2zEIJHY

I love this commentary, the sounds of Eoin Hand in stitches laughing just after we scored is priceless

**Noelys Guitar** · 14/06/2009, 5:25 AM

What happened to Lineker that day? Here we had the most ruthless center forward in Europe and he could not hit a barn door. I can clearly remember Lineker lining up a shot clean through and he skied it out of the ground. Unbelievable considering his record at that time. People should remember that the 88 English team a serious contender for the championship. Jack "killed" them. Another thing I remember from the day was Peter Shilton coming down to the Irish end (after the toss)and applauding the Irish fans. And the fans applauding him back. The way it should always be.

**mypost** · 14/06/2009, 8:57 AM

Watching at home with the Da.

Nobody gave us a cat in hell's chance of winning, but the early goal was great, made extra special by the fact a Liverpool player scored it, and Liverpool players scored all our goals at the tournament.

Had to face a barrage in the second half, they had at least 5 clear chances and how they didn't score, I'll never know, we struggled badly in the heat.
(there was no acclimatisation programme

)

Bar the last 10 minutes of our game against Holland, that was a great tournament in the 15 games imo. Holland beat Germany in a wonderful semi-final, Holland and Russia met twice, England were dumped out without a point, Italy beat Spain. And the final saw one of the greatest final goals of all time. Denmark along with England lost all their games, while France the holders, failed to even qualify.

**tetsujin1979** · 14/06/2009, 9:17 AM

Originally Posted by Noelys Guitar

What happened to Lineker that day? Here we had the most ruthless center forward in Europe and he could not hit a barn door. I can clearly remember Lineker lining up a shot clean through and he skied it out of the ground. Unbelievable considering his record at that time.

According to Mick McCarthy's autobiography, Lineker had hepititis at the time, which was the reason they gave for his performance.

**Noelys Guitar** · 14/06/2009, 12:15 PM

Originally Posted by tetsujin1979

According to Mick McCarthy's autobiography, Linekar had hepititis at the time, which was the reason they gave for his performance.

That makes sense. He had 3 clear chances that day and missed them all badly. Thank god!

**Dun Laoire** · 14/06/2009, 9:05 PM

To be honest they should've went on and won the competition

**Drumcondra 69er** · 15/06/2009, 9:55 AM

Originally Posted by Noelys Guitar

What happened to Lineker that day? Here we had the most ruthless center forward in Europe and he could not hit a barn door. I can clearly remember Lineker lining up a shot clean through and he skied it out of the ground. Unbelievable considering his record at that time. People should remember that the 88 English team a serious contender for the championship. Jack "killed" them. Another thing I remember from the day was Peter Shilton coming down to the Irish end (after the toss)and applauding the Irish fans. And the fans applauding him back. The way it should always be.

In fairness, ill or not Lineker still had a number of chances on target, it was just that Bonner was inspired that day, that point blank save in the last minute from Lineker was something else.

**Hibernian** · 18/06/2009, 12:02 PM

correct me if im wrong but think its 15 years today since we beat Italy 1-0 in New York

**Wolfie** · 18/06/2009, 12:32 PM

Originally Posted by Hibernian

correct me if im wrong but think its 15 years today since we beat Italy 1-0 in New York

You are indeed correct, sir!!

http://www.planetworldcup.com/CUPS/1...ita_v_ire.html

**gspain** · 18/06/2009, 2:27 PM

Originally Posted by Hibernian

correct me if im wrong but think its 15 years today since we beat Italy 1-0 in New York

If June 12th is Ray Houghton day then this is Paul McGrath day. Ray scored the goal but Paul was magnificent.

Great day but not a patch on Stuttgart - huge Irish support but way too many corporate types ("do you have to shout so loud?" ) Although the touts were struggling to give away free tickets in the end there were many genuine fans left at home who waited a week before coming directly to Florida for the Mexico game.

Although I enjoy a day out at an American sports event the result appears to matter a lot less than here in Europe. You have your beers, hotdogs, enjoy the experience won or lose. It wrecked my head during the world cup though.

Singing one team in Europe (there was one of those EU referenda in the news) and screaming "Arrivederchi Italia" x 50 at an RAI tv crew who were lapping it up were the highlights from afterwards.

Although we didn't hear until the following day it was a shock to hear about 6 people shot dead while watching the match on tv in a pub in Loughinisland. It was one of many terrorist atrocities committed at the time in Northern Ireland but somehow those associated with football seem to hit home harder.

**SUB of the day** · 18/06/2009, 2:54 PM

Totally agree re comparison with Stuttgart.On the recent trip to Bari, four of us had a chat about our most memorable sporting experience.Stuttgart was the unanimous favourite, even the two rugger heads put it ahead of the "European Cup" win for Munster in Cardiff.My own top 3 were Stuttgart, Dutch game in Dublin, and City away to Galatasaray.