Over the years I attended football with my Dad watching Northern Ireland play in many matches down the years. Nobody could possibly count the matches we went to, but there were lots and the matches were fantastic. Sometimes we would play Germany, other times it was Belgium or Liechtenstein or Austria.
"We're on the top again", as Van Morrison said.
When I travelled to the Faroes islands to watch the Northern Ireland match my father wasn't there but we had fun and we knew we could win. We weren't so bothered about the result, it was the idea that we were there in support. We loved the country and watching the soccer matches was a marvellous way to show our support for this country. Times were so exciting!
"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
It was a 0-0 draw with Romania that kept the momentum going and we wanted more. We wanted to win the group that time and heading to the Faroe Islands for this classic match was a cert for any hardcore Northern Ireland fan. In fact, people were booking flights a few months before. It was crazy and it was important.
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.
Supporting Northern Ireland you become part of a community group of followers. Five years on, with a different manager (Michael O'Neill) and a matured team, we were quietly confident as we sipped our drinks in Cafe Natur and Glitnir Bar pre-match. All the NI regulars were here - Glenda and Andy, Toddy (minus the snake), Nial Coulter, Stuart Glencross, Davy McKinley, Aaron McCallister, Sinti, Paul Duffin, Karen Turkington, Michael "Bangorboy" Lewis, Robert Mann. I recognise most of the GAWA to see, lots of them to talk to and some of them I've roomed with on away trips down the years. We've shared this crazy rollercoaster ride together.
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 Mars" - a song by Tim Wheeler from Ash
"We're on the top again", as Van Morrison said.
When I travelled to the Faroes islands to watch the Northern Ireland match my father wasn't there but we had fun and we knew we could win. We weren't so bothered about the result, it was the idea that we were there in support. We loved the country and watching the soccer matches was a marvellous way to show our support for this country. Times were so exciting!
"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
It was a 0-0 draw with Romania that kept the momentum going and we wanted more. We wanted to win the group that time and heading to the Faroe Islands for this classic match was a cert for any hardcore Northern Ireland fan. In fact, people were booking flights a few months before. It was crazy and it was important.
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.
Supporting Northern Ireland you become part of a community group of followers. Five years on, with a different manager (Michael O'Neill) and a matured team, we were quietly confident as we sipped our drinks in Cafe Natur and Glitnir Bar pre-match. All the NI regulars were here - Glenda and Andy, Toddy (minus the snake), Nial Coulter, Stuart Glencross, Davy McKinley, Aaron McCallister, Sinti, Paul Duffin, Karen Turkington, Michael "Bangorboy" Lewis, Robert Mann. I recognise most of the GAWA to see, lots of them to talk to and some of them I've roomed with on away trips down the years. We've shared this crazy rollercoaster ride together.
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 Mars" - a song by Tim Wheeler from Ash
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