Northern Ireland

Newryrep wrote: Fitz wrote: Newryrep wrote: Fitz wrote: athlonecelt wrote:  New owner Paddy McCourt has the biggest tri colour on the gable end.  Massive Trap fan Pity he didn't put as much effort into deciding which country he'd declare for   Carefull now Fitz the Celtic PC brigade  will be out in force - what ever did happen McCourtsFenian Army - now he was a funny poster although unintentionally so I'm a Celtic supporter myself - just can't see why McCourt, or indeed any other non-orangman, would line out for those dogs TBH   that would be Saint Martin as well then ?

Newryrep wrote: Fitz wrote:   I think that era was a bit different, TBF, and was a bit more inclusive - to some extent anyway. Nowadays, though, it's hard to fathom why any nationalists would play for them, even those from a neutral, non-political background. When push comes to shove though, I personally disagree with any nationalists having ever lined out for them, but that's just my opinion.   Run that by me again , the NI side and Windsor park was more inclusive years ago - priceless   NI fans have made great strides trying to get rid of sectarianism in recent years and should be applauded for it - not that it would make any difference to my allegience but   why would any nationalist line out for them - they may be from a nationalist background, they may go to mass 7 days a week, they may have played GAA but a nationalist they are not.

Edited by Fitz - 27 Nov 2011 at 12:33pm

As for the Anthem: there was a guy on ssn sayin the queen is head of state so why shouldn't it be gstq.

darmack wrote: As for the Anthem: there was a guy on ssn sayin the queen is head of state so why shouldn't it be gstq. Well the queen is head of state for Scotland and Wales and they both have their own national anthems, so why not N.I?

They were historically nations, the North has no history of being a country and never had an anthem or identity.

Newryrep wrote: Fitz wrote: Think you've taken me up wrongly there - what I was trying to say was, that in the era of MON etc., catholics who played for the North were welcomed a little bit more than they were from the 90's onwards............catholic players from that era, to the best of my knowledge at least, were never subjected to the kind of treatment that was dished out to Neil Lennon. That's what I have been lead to believe from interviews I've read etc. - correct me if I'm wrong.   I'm not exactly sure what point you're trying to make about nationalists, TBH - my opinion is that I can't understand why anyone who's Irish/catholic/nationalist etc., etc - (ie - not a raging unionist/loyalist) would want to play for them, and also, if I'm to be completely frank, I don't think any of the aforementioned should play for them either. In a roundabout way, what I'm saying is that I don't really understand how or why people like NL or MON played for them   I suggest you read what Neil Lennon has to say about NI fans now and since that incident, and before you mention the death threat any idiot with 20p could of made that. No codeword was used AFAIK and the LVF denied it was them - not that they were a virtue of honesty TBH.   Sectarian attitudes were far more prevelent on the terraces then later on.   What i pulled you up on was the use of nationalist in reference to playing for NI. You then compounded it by linking it with catholic. Catholic and nationalist are not interchangeable and I wish people would stop using them.   Plenty of catholics played for, continue to play for  NI and appear happy to do so - nobody is forced to play international football. it is their choice and I am not one to deny them that choice, however they can in no way be described as nationalists - from a nationalist background yes, a catholic -yes but a nationalist - I dont think so..

Neil Lennon was booed by a small minority v Norway.  He was cheered loudly at his next game and banners were made in support of him.   He was subsequently made captain for the Cyprus game and received a death threat from someone with a 20p coin.

Given all the fuss the IFA and NI fans are making about players defecting you can hardly claim they don't want Catholics/nationalists playing for NI. 

I was at the NI v Slovakia in 09 and Niall McGinn got a huge cheer when he came on and clearly made a difference and got huge support from those around me in the South Stand.  I didn't hear one word against him.  My friends from Cork & Limerick were at the Faroes game in August and Paddy McCourt was the darling of the Kop. 

The big difference between the time of Martin O'Neill and Pat Jennings is that NI are not that good these days.  They don't also have annual big games v England and Scotland.  They don't look like qualifying for World Cups.

Furthermore whatever about players coming south we had very few fans coming south in those days.  I recall a couple of Cliftonville fans who always travelled in the 80's and a few of us discussing a Coleraine tricolour at Euro88.   It is really only in the last 10 years that we have seen a large number of fans from north of the border following the team.  There has been a few SCs created and I see regular buses and you can clearly tell by the accents now that a significant portion of our away support comes from north of the border.

As for GSTQ I agree it is tough for a "nationalist" to stand for it as their anthem.  I don't think Windsor is in an intimidating location anymore.  It was in the 1980's and early 90's but the area has changed significantly and the area is much improved.

A green shirt and a badge containing a Celtic Cross is hardly very cross community either btw.  It doesn't seem to cause a problem though.

gspain wrote: Neil Lennon was booed by a small minority v Norway.  He was cheered loudly at his next game and banners were made in support of him.   He was subsequently made captain for the Cyprus game and received a death threat from someone with a 20p coin. Given all the fuss the IFA and NI fans are making about players defecting you can hardly claim they don't want Catholics/nationalists playing for NI.  I was at the NI v Slovakia in 09 and Niall McGinn got a huge cheer when he came on and clearly made a difference and got huge support from those around me in the South Stand.  I didn't hear one word against him.  My friends from Cork & Limerick were at the Faroes game in August and Paddy McCourt was the darling of the Kop.  The big difference between the time of Martin O'Neill and Pat Jennings is that NI are not that good these days.  They don't also have annual big games v England and Scotland.  They don't look like qualifying for World Cups. Furthermore whatever about players coming south we had very few fans coming south in those days.  I recall a couple of Cliftonville fans who always travelled in the 80's and a few of us discussing a Coleraine tricolour at Euro88.   It is really only in the last 10 years that we have seen a large number of fans from north of the border following the team.  There has been a few SCs created and I see regular buses and you can clearly tell by the accents now that a significant portion of our away support comes from north of the border. As for GSTQ I agree it is tough for a "nationalist" to stand for it as their anthem.  I don't think Windsor is in an intimidating location anymore.  It was in the 1980's and early 90's but the area has changed significantly and the area is much improved. A green shirt and a badge containing a Celtic Cross is hardly very cross community either btw.  It doesn't seem to cause a problem though.

horsebox wrote: Some great reading on OWC. Anyone who declares for ROI is a bigot end of. No surrender.

whats wrong with that?

No surrender!

AntrimMan wrote:       I work literally beside Windsor Park and would have to disagree with you here.

Looks much better to me.  Some new apartments there that seem to be rented to Lithuanians or Poles.  Was at a game there on July 13th this year and very little bunting for the 12th compared to all year round stuff of the late 80's.  I believe many of the houses there are rented out to students including many RCs.

I still park up on Windsor Ave and walk down but I noticed most people park just over the footbridge now. 

I normally approach from the Lisburn Road side but at a Setanta game came in from the Boucher Road side and that seems to be just industrial and shopping now. 

The ground is pretty rundown now and badly in need of renovation but the area seems much improved.