NAME:
Dino-the-Cat

MEMORIES OF FIRST N. IRELAND MATCH :
Unfortunately I have got a bad memory. It must have been some time in the mid-sixties as I remember watching the George Best international against Scotland in 1967 from the terraces in front of the South Stand at Windsor, and this was not my first match.

FAVOURITE MOMENTS AT WINDSOR :
Obviously the above mentioned Scottish match was memorable as it was the greatest ever performance by a player in a green shirt. Georgie ran the Scot ragged and it was the ultimate one man show, although it was Dave Clements who scored the goal to win the game.
Two matches in the Qualifying campaign for the 1982 World Cup also stand out. The first was the 3v0 spanking of Sweden and then the 1v0 defeat of Israel which secured qualification, with former Bangor player Gerry Armstrong getting the all important goal.
There was also another match in September 2005 which I attended, but I don’t remember much about it – wonder who we were playing ? Anybody know the result ?

MEMORIES OF FIRST AWAY TRIP :
I was going to say that my first away trip was the Welsh match in 2004, then I remembered that it was not my first visit to a foreign land to watch NI. Way back in 1978 I was in a busload from Bangor who travelled to Dublin for the first ever match between NI and the Republic of Ireland.

I almost fogot this match

FAVOURITE / WORST AWAY TRIP :
Wales 2004 was the match which got quite a few fans hooked on away travel, especially me. Everything about the trip was class, from the bus journey from Birmingham Airport, to the build up to the match, the electric atmosphere in the Millennium stadium, to the sheer ecstasy and agony of the game itself.
England 2005 was also memorable, not least for the barge cruise to Old Trafford, where the Green & White Navy was born.
Poland 2005 was fun, although the Robocops were scary.

MOST EMBARRASSING MOMENT SUPPORTING N.I. :
Two things spring to mind.
The first was “that” match against the republic of Ireland in November 1993. I was in a “mixed” group of fellow workers and guests who made an evening of having a bite to eat, watching the start of the England match where San Marino scored in the first minute, before going to Windsor for the game. Seated in the bottom corner of the North Stand there was plenty of squirming and embarrassed looks when things got hot and heavy – some of our guests left in disgust ! That match was the last I attended for a few years.
The next embarrassing episode was when a certain chairman of the Bangor N.I.S.C. gave me a sailor’s hat in a moment of vulnerability when I had had a few lemonades, and I proceeded to wear it for the barge cruise and then for the match. I am so embarrassed when I look at the photos and thankful that I did not end up in Canal Street, Manchester that evening !

FAVOURITE N.I. GOAL(S) :
The Healey goal against England and Gerry Armstrong’s against Spain are the two most obvious ones.
There have also been quite a few in recent years. Looking further back, Jimmy Nicholl’s against Sweden and Gerry Armstrong’s against Israel were memorable, as was Keith Gillespie’s against Austria in Vienna in 1994.

A Bangor legend scoring that goal against Spain

FAVOURITE N.I. PLAYER(S) OF ALL TIME :
George Best and Pat Jennings were as different as chalk and cheese off the park, but in a N.I. jersey they were both legends. For such a small country, we were fortunate to have two world class players in the same team.
Gerry Armstrong is also one of my favourites, for he was a legend playing for Bangor and Spurs and he scored so many important goals for N.I.

FAVOURITE N.I. PLAYER(S) OF CURRENT SQUAD :
David Healey is an obvious choice and Steve Davis has risen in fans estimations over the current campaign. I believe that Maik Taylor is very important to the team as he is so steady between the posts.

FAVOURITE N.I. MANAGER :
Billy Bingham is a front runner as he has been the most successful ever. However, Lawrie Sanchez has achieved a lot in his short time in the post, especially as he does not have the strength in depth that Bingham had. As for Lawrie McMenemy . . .

DREAM N.I. TEAM (INCLUDING 3 SUBS) :
This is a difficult one for someone with a poor memory like me. So here goes
Pat Jennings
Jimmy Nicholl / Terry Neill / Alan McDonald / Mal Donaghy
(I would have considered pat Rice and Sammy Nelson but they were Arsenal players !)
Norman Whiteside / Martin O’Neill / Danny Blanchflower
Gerry Armstrong / David Healey / George Best
Subs : Billy Hamilton / Sammy McIlroy / Chris Nicholl

BEST AND WORST N.I. KITS :
I must admit, I liked the late sixties style of plain Umbro Green shirt with round neck, white shorts and green socks. George Best in that kit is iconic ! The Adidas kits of the 1982 Word cup were also class. The most recent and new Umbro kits are also quite good. I also prefer the away kit to be white shirts with green shorts.
The worse ever kits were the windmill mosaics of the earl nineties and the Olympic stupid asymmetrical green and navy ones of the same decade. Also the Green and Navy squared kits were too much like hockey shirts.

FAVOURITE REPLICA SHIRT OR OTHER N.I. MERCHANDISE :
Have never had a replica shirt as they do not seem to make them in Jumbo size ! I like the current Bangor NISC merchandise as it gives the club a bit of identity.

THOUGHTS ON THE MAZE :
A political move, conjured up by politicians and their Civil Service masters. National Stadiums should be near the centre of a city with it’s associated transport and other facilities, not in the middle of nowhere.

YOUR IDEAL N.I. HOME STADIUM :
About 20-25k with decent toilet and catering facilities. Should be within walking distance of a city centre and close to decent roads and train services. In order of preference should be located at :
- The Odyssey /Titantic quarter
- Ormeau Park
- Revamped Windsor Park

IF N.I. DO NOT QUALIFY FOR MAJOR TOURNAMENTS, WHAT OTHER INTERNATIONAL TEAM WOULD YOU SUPPORT:
As I qualify to play for both N.I. (by birth) and Italy (by ancestry), I unashamedly become a Tiffoso of the Azzurri during tournaments where N.I. has not qualified.
I hate to admit it, but I wouldn’t mind seeing England do well – it’s a pity about the press who sicken everyone by going on and on and on and on and on . . .
I also have a soft spot for the Dutch. As for the French and Germans . . . .

DO YOU FOLLOW FOOTBALL AT JUNIOR, IRISH LEAGUE OR CROSS-CHANNEL LEVEL ? :
Unashamedly support my home town team, Bangor. I believe that everyone should support either their home town team or the team of the place they were born. Cannot understand why people support teams from other places especially teams who play in cities across the water, composed of mostly foreign players and managers.

INTEREST IN OTHER SPORTS :
Ladies football, ladies netball, ladies beach volleyball, ladies (mud) wrestling etc. Cricket is for girls and baseball should be banned ! Must admit, I am beginning to take a bit of interest in international Rugby.

HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THE BANGOR N.I.S.C. DEVELOP ? :
I think the Club is developing along the right lines. Would like to see more organised Club trips where a larger group travel together rather than in small groups.

HOPES AND FEARS FOR THE FUTURE OF FOOTBALL IN GENERAL AND N.I. IN PARTICULAR :
I hope that the IFA’s Football for All campaign continues to be a success and the fan base expands in all sections of the community and in all parts of the province. I also hope that the shoots of professionalism which have appeared in the IFA spread to all parts of their organisation and the backwoods men are replace by people who know what they’re doing – no more Brian McLean fiascos.
I fear that money, and Sky, have strangled the game, especially in England. There are less opportunities for local players to play in the top levels of the English league and as a result we will struggle to get a squad of players with top level experience.