Quote:
Originally Posted by GirlySports
Is Ireland vs N. Ireland even allowed?
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I lived in Belfast when it last happened in 1993. Off the Lisburn Road in a student area right on the edge of let's just say an area I wouldn't venture into aoout 4 streets from Windsor Park.
I was working at a hospital at the time in West Belfast and finished my shift and cycled home across the roundabout at the bottom of the M1, up Tates Avenue and home.
There was a heavy military presence the whole way home. Probably one of the most visibly heaviest I can recall there blocking the roads. I was allowed through on my bicycle. I could see Windsor Park from the top of Tates Avenue. I recall a FIFA, Northern Ireland, and Turkish flag (referee) flying from the top of the stand but no Irish Tricolour. It was one tense night.
I got home around 8:15pm watched the end of the first half then got a cab to a pub to meet friends for the second half at a "good" pub. Half the city was supporting the North, the other the South.
Anyways, my memories is Big Jack wanting to slap Billy Bingham for being an antagonising prick, Ireland qualifiying and an absolutely fantastic piece in the Irish Independent called "in the belly of the beast" where the journalist has swapped his press box pass with a fella and sat in the main stands with the Northern Ireland supporters (No ROI supporters allowed at the game as they could't guarantee safety) to experience the atmosphere. Remember this is the team whose own captain had to withdraw before a game as they police couldn't guarantee his safety having received bullets in the post by his own supporters.
His piece talked about the level of hate and bigotry and how by the end he feared for his safety and that someone would talk to him.
Thankfully things have got a LOT better. I'd like to think that if they were drawn together maybe they could guarantee safety although James McLean would definitely be a worry. It's weird. Things weren't always like that. Remember Martin O'Neill played for them with no issues but shortly thereafter it became a very sectarian atmosphere.
Definitely a different night.