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Caught In Time
Featured
in the back of the Sports section of the Sunday Times,
the Caught in Time
series features a picture of a famous team, offers a
profile of each player, and answers the question 'Where
are they now?'.
All
Ireland XI v Brazil, 1973
by Paul
Rowan
It was the
team that dared not speak its name. Thirty years ago, the
first and only AlI-Ireland football team of modern times
gathered at Lansdowne Road to take on world champions
Brazil, who boasted the likes of Jairzinho, Rivelino,
Clodoaldo and Dirceu in their ranks. The Irish played in
the green-and-white hoops of the famous Dublin club
Shamrock Rovers and called themselves The Shamrock Rovers
All Ireland XI. In reality, they provided a vivid
demonstration of the effectiveness of an all-Ireland team
- an aspiration that many in Ireland hanker after to this
day, though it provokes bitter opposition in other
quarters.
Brazil were on a European tour, but the chances of them
corning to Dublin seemed remote. However, a Dubliner,
Louis Kilcoyne, was a Fifa-recognised agent and knew the
Brazilian Joao Havelange, who was about to become Fifa
president. Kilcoyne contacted his brother-inlaw, John
Giles, the Leeds United player and Republic of Ireland
captain. Giles in turn sounded out his Northern Ireland
counterpart, Derek Dougan, who leapt at the idea. But
Dougan quickly found that the old enmities between the
two associations, the IF A in Belfast and the F AI in
Dublin, began to assert themselves.
"I put the idea of north and south corning together
to play Brazil at a meeting in London with the two senior
officials of the IFA - Harry Cavan, the president, and
Billy Drennan, the secretary ;' Dougan remembers.
"My hands were wet with the sweat of nervous
tension.
Here, I thought, we were talking about history in the
making, talking about building bridges. Then came the
moment I will remember for the rest of my life. Mr Cavan
received the neWs as if a bomb had hit him. I was
confronted by a stony silence.
"Cavan informed me tersely that he would put the
matter to the IFA. Drennan was enthusiastic, but I never
heard from either again. I had been captain of Northern
Ireland for the previous four years, but after that
meeting I never played again. Cavan told the manager not
to pick me.
That didn't stop me, and we gave the world champions one
hell of a game."
The team comprised five players from Northern Ireland and
six from the Republic. They boasted some of the top names
from the English First Division. In front of 35,000
spectators at Lansdowne Road, Brazil won 4-3, with goals
from Paulo Cesar (2), Jairzinho and Valderniro. Mick
Martin, Dougan and Terry Conroy , replied for the Ireland
XI and both sides received a standing ovation.
No sport reflects the sectarian divide in Ireland more
than football. It is one of a handful of sports on the
island in which the political divide is replicated, and
the cold war between the two associations has hardly
thawed despite the steps towards reconciliation. The
split goes back to the 1920s, when games between northern
and southern sides were often marred by Sectarian battles
between fans, and the club allegiances were formed on
religious lines. The 1970s were another deeply troubled
time, but the animosity between the associations had
always been there.
"It was the time of the Troubles," recalled
Conroy. "And we wanted to come together and make a
statement that people at this level could get on. We knew
our associations did not want to power-share. They made
positive noises, but kicked the idea into touch."
Subsequent success on both sides of the border has also
kept most supporters sated. Northern Ireland qualified
for the 1982 and 1986 World Cups; the Republic enjoyed
moments of glory at Euro 88, Italia 90, USA 94 and last
year's World Cup. But Northern Ireland are going through
one of the worst runs in their history - they haven't
scored in seven matches and are 107th in the world
rankings - while the Republic have also struggled since
the World Cup.
1 John Giles
An influential figure who was about to become
player-manager of the Republic, combining that with club
duties at Leeds United. Later managed Shamrock Rovers and
West Brom, but fell out of love with direct involvement
in the game and is now a media pundit and avid golfer at
his Birmingham base.
2 Pat
Jennings
The great Tottenham and Arsenal goalkeeper earned a
record 119 caps with Northern Ireland. A man for whom the
phrase "gentle giant" should have been
invented, he has returned to Spurs as a part-time
goalkeeping coach, though on Friday could be found on the
golf course as part of his work for the peace-building
charity, Cooperation Ireland.
3 David Craig
After leaving-Belfast Craig enjoyed a 14-year career at
Newcastle, playing 351 League games before taking up a
coaching post at Carlisle United. He moved back to
Newcastle, where he became a milkman and then ran a
newsagent's in North Shields. He is a care worker in the
northeast.
4 Paddy Mulligan
Represented the Republic 50 times during spells at
Chelsea, Crystal Palace and West Bromwich Albion. He fell
on hard times after a messy divorce and some poor
investment decisions. At one point he was living in a
hostel in Dublin, but with the help of the former
Republic of Ireland players' trust fund he is back on his
feet and works I in the construction industry .
5 Tommy Carroll
Another Dublin full-back to have fallen on hard times,
Carroll earned 17 caps during spells at Birmingham and
Ipswich Town. Fell out with his manager, Bobby Robson, at
Ipswich to such an extent that they had to be separated
by coaching staff as the fists started flying. Ran his
own business on retirement, but recently suffered a
stroke that has confined him to a wheelchair.
6 Allan Hunter
A solid centre-back who won 53 caps ,with Northern
Ireland, mostly during his time at Ipswich Town. Stayed
in the area on retirement and works as a teacher with
special-needs children.
7 Mick Martin
Martin made more than 500 League appearances for
Manchester United, Newcastle and others, and played 52
times for the Republic. After spells coaching at
Newcastle and Celtic, he is a pundit for Metro Radio on
Tyneside.
8 Terry Conroy
The red-haired forward is another Dubliner who became a
Stoke City stalwart in the 1970s. Still works at the
Potteries club, selling corporate boxes.
9 Martin O'Neill
Charismatic figure who, as a Catholic captaining Northern
Ireland during their 1982 World Cup campaign, did much to
foster relations between the two communities. His
knowledge of sectarian hatred will have been heightened
by his three-year tenure as Celtic manager.
10 Derek Dougan
Fine centre-forward who became a Wolves legend, scoring
219 goals in 532 League appearances. A chairman of the
Professionals Footballers' Association, he passionately
espoused an All Ireland team an unusual stance for a
Protestant from east Belfast. Also a prolific author - he
lives in Wolverhampton.
11 Don Givens
Similar in playing style to Dougan, Givens won 56 caps
for the Republic and was for a long time their leading
scorer. Now coaching his country's Under-21 team.
From The
Sunday Times 13 April 2003. Sports
Section p.28
Return to the Caught
In Time Index
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