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Post by Father Jack on Nov 12, 2017 14:44:44 GMT
Just wondering with tonight's game, is supporting Northern Ireland just a protestant thing over there, or does it cut across the sectarian divide at all?
Anybody know?
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Post by Deleted on Nov 12, 2017 14:58:05 GMT
I'm not sure to be honest.
I would guess probably mainly protestants supporting the team, Neil Lennon famously quit playing for Northern Ireland after he got death threats from loyalists after saying he'd like to play for a United Ireland team. And I'm pretty sure there have been occasions where Catholics born in NI have opted to play for the Republic instead, but I couldn't name you the players, but I'm 99.9% certain it has happened.
I quite liked George Best's take on it, he wouldn't talk about whether he was a protestant or catholic, because he said bluntly "it doesn't matter what I am".
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Post by Carl LaFong on Nov 12, 2017 14:58:53 GMT
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Post by Father Jack on Nov 12, 2017 15:07:36 GMT
Interesting read, thanks for link... seems it is more cross divide than I suspected then. |
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Post by nogbad on Nov 12, 2017 15:17:45 GMT
I don't know either, but my feeling is that, given the progress (stalling as it may be at the moment) made in NI in the last two decades or so, support for the football team is less strongly divided than it used to be. The days when Belfast folk I knew habitually referred to George O'Boyle as George O'Boyne (chortle) seem to have passed, which is good. And I have no idea which foot Michael O'Neill kicks with, which is also good. That sort of thing would have been much discussed in the past.
I think having a national stadium not at the home of a club so staunchly (good word that) associated with one side of the divide would be helpful, but IIRC they couldn't afford to build a new stadium, so are lumbered with Windsor Park.
Future Celtic signing James McClean is a Catholic from NI who chooses to play for the Republic, which I personally find unhelpful. But it's his choice, and he can deal with the consequences well enough ie by kicking people. Which he's pretty good at.
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Post by Carl LaFong on Nov 12, 2017 15:40:37 GMT
I'm not sure to be honest. I would guess probably mainly protestants supporting the team, Neil Lennon famously quit playing for Northern Ireland after he got death threats from loyalists after saying he'd like to play for a United Ireland team. And I'm pretty sure there have been occasions where Catholics born in NI have opted to play for the Republic instead, but I couldn't name you the players, but I'm 99.9% certain it has happened.
I quite liked George Best's take on it, he wouldn't talk about whether he was a protestant or catholic, because he said bluntly "it doesn't matter what I am". Shane Duffy James McClean Eunan O'Kane I think that's all. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 12, 2017 15:44:42 GMT
I'm not sure to be honest. I would guess probably mainly protestants supporting the team, Neil Lennon famously quit playing for Northern Ireland after he got death threats from loyalists after saying he'd like to play for a United Ireland team. And I'm pretty sure there have been occasions where Catholics born in NI have opted to play for the Republic instead, but I couldn't name you the players, but I'm 99.9% certain it has happened.
I quite liked George Best's take on it, he wouldn't talk about whether he was a protestant or catholic, because he said bluntly "it doesn't matter what I am". Shane Duffy James McClean Eunan O'Kane I think that's all. Okay, much shorter list than I thought. Might be a handy little trivia a question too one day, probably remember McClean because that was the name of one of my neighbour's family. Just gotta remember the James bit! |
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Post by Carl LaFong on Nov 12, 2017 15:53:51 GMT
I forgot Darron Gibson: "In 2007, Gibson, who was born and raised in Derry, Northern Ireland, was at the centre of a dispute between the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) and the Irish Football Association (IFA), after he opted to play for the Republic of Ireland instead of Northern Ireland. The issue was referred to FIFA and was discussed in the Northern Ireland Assembly. The issue was settled in 2010 when it was declared, as Irish citizens, Northern Ireland-born people are entitled to play for either the Republic or Northern Ireland. Gibson represented Ireland at UEFA Euro 2012." en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darron_GibsonAlso, prior to 1950 players born in either part of Ireland were allowed to play for both teams if they wanted - at least 39 people played for both Northern Ireland and Southern Ireland (know as The Irish Free State until 1937 and then Eire until 1949.) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Dual_Ireland_international_footballers |
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Post by Carl LaFong on Nov 12, 2017 16:03:13 GMT
Here's another one:
Marc Wilson
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Post by MrFurious on Nov 12, 2017 18:22:16 GMT
I think having a national stadium not at the home of a club so staunchly (good word that) associated with one side of the divide would be helpful, but IIRC they couldn't afford to build a new stadium, so are lumbered with Windsor Park. Yeah a lot more Catholics would support them if they moved from there, still remember the horrible place on 17/11/93 up there, but that night ended beautifully and the they were horrible different times anyway. I just heard today that Rangers are waiting to nick wee MON if NI don't go to the WC, that'll be 3 NI managers managing 3 of the top teams in Scotland Also, they can have Darron Gibson back |
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Post by Carl LaFong on Nov 12, 2017 18:28:46 GMT
Wonder if Rangers would consider the other MON!
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Post by Deleted on Nov 12, 2017 18:32:18 GMT
Wonder if Rangers would consider the other MON! The state Rangers are in, they should be considering the pope if it gets results. |
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