It wasn't Fearghal Sharkey, Norman Whiteside or Colin Clarke that got me into supporting Northern Ireland. It was my Dad. My Dad, Joe Blair is a veteran of over 200 Northern Ireland matches down the years. He dare not count them, but in the past 50 years he'd only miss a home game in an emergency.
"Back on top again" - Van Morrison.
Win, draw or...lose (and let's be truth - every match we play could end in any of those three ways - we are unpredictable). But the Faroe Islands seemed to be a match that Northern Irish fans thought we might win. It was essential for qualifying for the Euros so the team was in top form and had extra training ahead of the match in Torshavn, the nation's capital city.
"Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland, we'll support you evermore" - Northern Ireland fans
As a football fan of Northern Ireland, the results can be unpredictable. One week beating Spain and the next week losing to Iceland. It's a crazy team to support. In fact, we lost 2-0 to Azerbaijan and then drew 1-1 away in Israel. Steven Davis scored. We are proud of this team.
"The Ulster boys making all the noise everywhere we go" - the GAWA
We daren't expect anything. A 0-0 with Romania in June (which I watched in Hong Kong with Roger from Bushmills) set us up nicely, win in the Faroe Islands and we could be top of the group. Oh really? Aye - but this is Norn Iron. We're the best and worst team to follow emotion wise.
Arrival in Torshavn was by bus from the village of Sorvagur where I spent my first three days in the country at Guesthouse Hugo. On arrival in the capital, I was greeted by the bouncing GAWA (the Green and White Army). The Lisburn, Hillsborough and Bangor boys had taken over Caf Natur in downtown Torshavn. Flegs, taps and carryouts snuck-in galore. (Translation - flags, NI shirts and alcoholic beverages bought outside that there bar but consumed inside that there bar). The place was pumped with the usual suspects.
The usual crowd was here in force - all partying in either Cafe Natur or Glitnir bar. It's like a community of followers when you support Northern Ireland. It's all a bit crazy. The fans like Toddy, Glenda, Shaun Schofield, Jonny Blair, Karen Turkington, Sinti, they were all here to party in Toshavn. It was five years ago that La La Lafferty had bagged a goal in a 1-1 draw, at the time that was a shock result.
Espana 82 veteran Jim Rainey was on the decks, pumping out the beats in the vibrant Caf Natur. Round the corner in Glitnir Pub, we had Justin from Ballyclare working his way through YouTube classics of the GAWA down the years, accompanied by sidekick Andrew Milliken AKA Moby - yer man from Aghadowey. Mr. Milliken and I have met up in more countries than we can remember.
The Northern Ireland fans sang "everywhere we go it's the Ulster boys making all the noise"
After that we were all ready for the big match - any team could win. This was an away match and we were used to winning home matches, but not away matches. Back in 1985 we beat Romania 1-0 and drew 0-0 in England in our last two away matches to magically qualify for Mexico 86. Sweet dreams my friends. But I was only 6 and some of yousens reading weren't born.
"She never told me her name" - Tim Wheeler
"Back on top again" - Van Morrison.
Win, draw or...lose (and let's be truth - every match we play could end in any of those three ways - we are unpredictable). But the Faroe Islands seemed to be a match that Northern Irish fans thought we might win. It was essential for qualifying for the Euros so the team was in top form and had extra training ahead of the match in Torshavn, the nation's capital city.
"Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland, we'll support you evermore" - Northern Ireland fans
As a football fan of Northern Ireland, the results can be unpredictable. One week beating Spain and the next week losing to Iceland. It's a crazy team to support. In fact, we lost 2-0 to Azerbaijan and then drew 1-1 away in Israel. Steven Davis scored. We are proud of this team.
"The Ulster boys making all the noise everywhere we go" - the GAWA
We daren't expect anything. A 0-0 with Romania in June (which I watched in Hong Kong with Roger from Bushmills) set us up nicely, win in the Faroe Islands and we could be top of the group. Oh really? Aye - but this is Norn Iron. We're the best and worst team to follow emotion wise.
Arrival in Torshavn was by bus from the village of Sorvagur where I spent my first three days in the country at Guesthouse Hugo. On arrival in the capital, I was greeted by the bouncing GAWA (the Green and White Army). The Lisburn, Hillsborough and Bangor boys had taken over Caf Natur in downtown Torshavn. Flegs, taps and carryouts snuck-in galore. (Translation - flags, NI shirts and alcoholic beverages bought outside that there bar but consumed inside that there bar). The place was pumped with the usual suspects.
The usual crowd was here in force - all partying in either Cafe Natur or Glitnir bar. It's like a community of followers when you support Northern Ireland. It's all a bit crazy. The fans like Toddy, Glenda, Shaun Schofield, Jonny Blair, Karen Turkington, Sinti, they were all here to party in Toshavn. It was five years ago that La La Lafferty had bagged a goal in a 1-1 draw, at the time that was a shock result.
Espana 82 veteran Jim Rainey was on the decks, pumping out the beats in the vibrant Caf Natur. Round the corner in Glitnir Pub, we had Justin from Ballyclare working his way through YouTube classics of the GAWA down the years, accompanied by sidekick Andrew Milliken AKA Moby - yer man from Aghadowey. Mr. Milliken and I have met up in more countries than we can remember.
The Northern Ireland fans sang "everywhere we go it's the Ulster boys making all the noise"
After that we were all ready for the big match - any team could win. This was an away match and we were used to winning home matches, but not away matches. Back in 1985 we beat Romania 1-0 and drew 0-0 in England in our last two away matches to magically qualify for Mexico 86. Sweet dreams my friends. But I was only 6 and some of yousens reading weren't born.
"She never told me her name" - Tim Wheeler
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