Sunday, November 15, 2015
My Dad went to Wales, Austria and Liechtenstein away with me in the last 12 years or so and he bought me my first scarf (Mexico 86), Panini Sticker Album (Mexico 86), took me to my first Norn Iron match (A 0-2 defeat to Yugoslavia in September 1990) and got me hooked on supporting my country. Our wee country. This small proud nation of over achievers. 1.6 million of us.
"We're on the top again", as Van Morrison said.
My Dad wasn't with me as I backpacked my way through the magnificent Faroe Islands in September 2015. My eyes were on the prize but the GAWA (Green and White Army) daren't believe it. Of course we can't. If you're a real Northern Ireland fan you will know the score, we support through the rough and smooth and we don't give a toss as we will be there singing till the end.
"We're not Brazil, we're Northern Ireland" - Northern Ireland fans
We'd draw 1-1 with Honduras then beat Spain 1-0 away (and win the group), we will draw 1-1 with Armenia then grab a sensational 1-1 away to European Champions Germany. You know what - we will lose 3-0 at home to Iceland then dick Spain 3-2 with a Healy hat-trick within FIVE days. Yes - this is the rollercoaster ride of supporting Northern Ireland. And we love it.
"We've been to Sweden, Spain and Mexico. Drinking all over the world" - Status Quo made into a GAWA song
After a 0-0 draw against Romania, I booked my flights, deciding to spend 6 days in the magnificent Faroe Islands exploring the country and somewhere in the middle of it all was the small matter of the international football match. Which suddenly, became highly important. Aren't they all?
Some of us arrived in Sorvagur by bus into the Faroe Islands. From a little guesthouse there, it was a bus to the capital city where the rest of the GAWA (the Green and White Army) were meeting and partying ahead of the big match. Everything was marvellous and there was singing and flag displaying in the Cafe Nature in Torshavn. This place was bouncing and the fans looked really lively. It was incredible.
You become a community when you follow Northern Ireland. The Green and White Army. The GAWA. Our Wee Country. We know each other, we look out for each other. Nobody takes anything too seriously you see. Except for one thing - the 90 minute match tonight. This was a big one and we were serious about this one. The rest of it was just a party. In 2010 we scraped a 1-1 draw here thanks to La La Lafferty Fermanagh's Ulster goal machine. It was five years on from the 1-1 draw in the Faroes Islands.
On the music decks was Jim Rainey who was there in 1982 when Northern Ireland shocked the football world. A lad called Justin from Ballyclare spun the decks with Moby Andrew Milliken in the bar round the corner and these Ulster boys were here to party. These are the same fans that have supported the team for years and years.
"It's the Ulster boys making all the noise everywhere we go" - Northern Ireland fans
It was time for the big match and we don't win many away matches - the home wins are important, but it is the away wins that are the clinchers. In the 1980s we beat Romania 1-0 and then even got a 0-0 draw in England, which are really good results and helped our qualification for the World Cup.
"I still love you the girl from Ards" - Tim Wheeler
"We're on the top again", as Van Morrison said.
My Dad wasn't with me as I backpacked my way through the magnificent Faroe Islands in September 2015. My eyes were on the prize but the GAWA (Green and White Army) daren't believe it. Of course we can't. If you're a real Northern Ireland fan you will know the score, we support through the rough and smooth and we don't give a toss as we will be there singing till the end.
"We're not Brazil, we're Northern Ireland" - Northern Ireland fans
We'd draw 1-1 with Honduras then beat Spain 1-0 away (and win the group), we will draw 1-1 with Armenia then grab a sensational 1-1 away to European Champions Germany. You know what - we will lose 3-0 at home to Iceland then dick Spain 3-2 with a Healy hat-trick within FIVE days. Yes - this is the rollercoaster ride of supporting Northern Ireland. And we love it.
"We've been to Sweden, Spain and Mexico. Drinking all over the world" - Status Quo made into a GAWA song
After a 0-0 draw against Romania, I booked my flights, deciding to spend 6 days in the magnificent Faroe Islands exploring the country and somewhere in the middle of it all was the small matter of the international football match. Which suddenly, became highly important. Aren't they all?
Some of us arrived in Sorvagur by bus into the Faroe Islands. From a little guesthouse there, it was a bus to the capital city where the rest of the GAWA (the Green and White Army) were meeting and partying ahead of the big match. Everything was marvellous and there was singing and flag displaying in the Cafe Nature in Torshavn. This place was bouncing and the fans looked really lively. It was incredible.
You become a community when you follow Northern Ireland. The Green and White Army. The GAWA. Our Wee Country. We know each other, we look out for each other. Nobody takes anything too seriously you see. Except for one thing - the 90 minute match tonight. This was a big one and we were serious about this one. The rest of it was just a party. In 2010 we scraped a 1-1 draw here thanks to La La Lafferty Fermanagh's Ulster goal machine. It was five years on from the 1-1 draw in the Faroes Islands.
On the music decks was Jim Rainey who was there in 1982 when Northern Ireland shocked the football world. A lad called Justin from Ballyclare spun the decks with Moby Andrew Milliken in the bar round the corner and these Ulster boys were here to party. These are the same fans that have supported the team for years and years.
"It's the Ulster boys making all the noise everywhere we go" - Northern Ireland fans
It was time for the big match and we don't win many away matches - the home wins are important, but it is the away wins that are the clinchers. In the 1980s we beat Romania 1-0 and then even got a 0-0 draw in England, which are really good results and helped our qualification for the World Cup.
"I still love you the girl from Ards" - Tim Wheeler
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