Northern Ireland Football In Faroe Islands
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.
"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.
"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?
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.
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
"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.
"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?
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.
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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