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Great article


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Man, that night was so tense.

 

I remember watching the game in an Irish pub in Catford. When McLoughlin scored the place went nuts, but the last couple of minutes of the Spain game was torture. On the way hom, pissed, I danced around a lampost and jumped up in the air ... and knocked myself out on a residents parking sign. I was brought to an hour or more later in Lewisham A&E.

 

Went to the World Cup in 1994 with a buddy of mine - the only time I've been to the finals. Saw Aldo's touchline fight with the Lino and Houghton's goal to beat Italy in New York, but the best was signing autographs for 25 minutes when an American Lady asked us if we were soccer guys from I-ur-Land. My mate had fear in his eyes when I said that indeed we were. I was 'Paul McGrath' and my mate was 'Jason McAteer'. A VERY fine night was had by the two of us.

 

Great days.

 

Was also in the Anny Road end for the Euro 96 playoff against Holland when Kluivert scored a cracker to knock us out - That was much less fun.

Edited by Case
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I was at the Wales game, school took us. BBC Radio Wales had come to our school during the day to record us all singing "I love you Baby", which became the Welsh footy anthem during that campaign. We were ridiculously hyped up for it, although I remember the main focus was on getting away from the teachers so we could get into a pub and get a quick drink before the game, jumped into the City Arms and I had a triple whisky.

 

Bizarrely, I remember reading in the programme before the game that Paul Bodin was our penalty kick specialist.

 

Even in the depths of depression, we still managed to cheer the England result. Especially after the announcer's Chris Tarrant-esque pause between "England 7" and "San Marino 1".

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I was at the Arms Park too.

 

I was in College in Bangor at the time and me and all the lads in the house we shared were getting geared up for the big match. I arrived back at the house after college on the day before the game and there was a note for me pinned to the door (no mobile phone... happy days); my sister, who lived not too far away had left it for me telling me to phone my dad. He'd got two tickets from someone he knew who had links with the Welsh FA and wanted to know if I fancied going. He picked me up on the day of the match and we drove down to Cardiff; we got our tickets from Alun Evans who was the chairman of the FAW at the time; we had great seats where the debentures were. After the game we walked back to the car in silence and I drove back to North Wales while my dad slept; finally got to Bangor in the early hours just wanting to get to bed and sleep; got in to the house only to find that a few gusts had joined the party that night and my bed was taken. tired, cold and sober I spent the night on a chair in one of the other lads rooms!

Edited by ifanew
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Probably old age, but footy and players in general was so much better back then, without all these fvckin histrionics around the game, built up by all forms of the press.

Sky Sports News it is.

24/7 bombardment of s**** stories.

Can teach minor mammals things with that kind of programming.

Edited by Benzo-13
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Good article but hardly in any sense whatsoever a 'forgotten night'.

 

You'd be surprised. Next time you are out with the lads, start a chat by saying "Remember France only needed a draw against Bulgaria in 1993" cause I got blank stares at that. I remember their loss to Israel and Bulgaria, it was shocking and to be honest, I forgot about Wales and was shocked Hagi was still in Seria B with Brescia. I do remember Canizares save however and I will never forget it - some save !

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I was at the Arms Park too.

 

I was in College in Bangor at the time and me and all the lads in the house we shared were getting geared up for the big match. I arrived back at the house after college on the day before the game and there was a note for me pinned to the door (no mobile phone... happy days); my sister, who lived not too far away had left it for me telling me to phone my dad. He'd got two tickets from someone he knew who had links with the Welsh FA and wanted to know if I fancied going. He picked me up on the day of the match and we drove down to Cardiff; we got our tickets from Alun Evans who was the chairman of the FAW at the time; we had great seats where the debentures were. After the game we walked back to the car in silence and I drove back to North Wales while my dad slept; finally got to Bangor in the early hours just wanting to get to bed and sleep; got in to the house only to find that a few gusts had joined the party that night and my bed was taken. tired, cold and sober I spent the night on a chair in one of the other lads rooms!

 

bryn.jpg

 

;)

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bryn.jpg

 

;)

 

 

I take it you enjoyed the read then; if I ever have any plans to release a book of interesting sories I'll let you know.

 

I'm sure it'll be more popular than Alex James' autobiography anyway and it'll only have one chapter about cheese!

 

:P

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  • 3 years later...

Another great article, on a different subject

http://www.football365.com/news/profile-of-an-icon-paul-mcgrath

 

Baresi described his performance against Italy in 94 as the greatest one he'd ever seen from a centre back . He'll always be Ireland's greatest player for me.

 

Kenny Dalglish tried to sign him for Liverpool in '89. Ferguson sold him for less than Kenny offered. I sometimes wonder what would have happened to the 90s Liverpool if he'd ended up at Anfield. His son was also a youth player with the club.

Edited by Snookie
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