This was set-up to have the potential of the greatest away trip of all time as Norn Iron squinted at a glimmer of hope on the horizon that qualification could be achieved for Euro 2008. It was not just in our hands though; we were dependant on the unlikely scenario of the Latvians beating the Swedes in Scandinavia.
Many had wisely chosen to forgo the torrential rain in Belfast the previous Saturday and fly off to Gran Canaria in advance. Good thinking but it didn't take long for 4,500 thirsty, damp souls to follow and begin what was to be a memorable party.
The football in this instance was a sideshow. We had been given a fantastic venue for our final game and nothing was going to get in the way of that. The stadium, home to Las Palmas, was modern with good facilities and none of the GAWA had much to complain about with a tolerant constabulary standing by. It was a shame a good few managed to get locked out 'til nearly half-time - something many of us were unaware of until we had returned home.
The noise inside the stadium was purely generated by our own with the Spanadians looking on, amused by revelations in the local papers that we were an extremely drunken bunch of very well behaved people. The respect was definitely there. The game itself was pants. It was Xavi's fortuitous strike after 52 minutes that was to lead to our inevitable demise but not too many tears were shed.
We certainly missed Gillespie as both Sproule and Baird were brought in to cover for suspension, with Jonny Evans the other outsider who proudly took his seat in the stands with the rest of us.
In terms of the match itself - well, you can read that in HD10. It was quite shite but the pride the players had in their supporters and we in them will live for a long time. The huge consolation on the night was Croatia's winner against the mighty, mighty Englanders at Wembley, leading to 4,500 happy green and white foot soldiers singing "let's all laugh at England, let's all laugh at England, na na na na.... "
Special thanks must go to the McNally family of Portrush and a member of the Russian mafia for their systematic disintegration of me and my colleague's livers over a sustained period. They will not be forgotten, although most of the week was.
Spanadia: Reina, Pablo, Pernia, Ramos, Albiol, Fabregas (Joaquin 47), Iniesta, Senna, Xavi (Villa 67), Silva, Guiza (Tamudo 57)
Subs: Casillas, Puyol, Albelda, Joaquin, Riera, Tamudo, Villa
Norn Iron: Taylor, Baird, Craigan, Hughes, McAuley, Brunt (Lafferty 59), Clingan, Davis, Feeney (Paterson 72), Healy, Sproule (Robinson 61)
Subs: Mannus, Capaldi, Webb, Steve Robinson, Gary Hamilton, Kyle Lafferty, Martin Paterson
Yellow Cards: Healy (74), Lafferty (76)
Ref: Herbert Fandel (Germany)
Att: 30,000 |
