BEST OF TIMES
JACK PRESIDED OVER OUR MOST SUCCESSFUL ERA
1986
FEBRUARY 7: Charlton is appointed Irish manager by the FAI executive on a 10-8 vote from Bob Paisley. When Gay Byrne makes the announcement on ‘The Late, Late Show’ that night, it is greeted by silence.
MARCH 26: Ireland lose 1-0 to Wales in front of 16,500 fans at Lansdowne Road. A banner ‘No Union Jack’ hints at the work ahead for Charlton. By the time he leaves, he has done more for Anglo-Irish relations than any politician.
MAY 27: Ireland beat Czechoslovakia 1-0 in Reykjavik to win their first ever tournament.
1987:
FEBRUARY 18: Mark Lawrenson scores the only goal as Ireland beat Scotland in Hampden Park.
NOVEMBER 11: On Armistice Day, Gary Mackay scores his only international goal as Scotland stun Bulgaria 1-0, a result which sends Ireland to the finals of Euro ’88.
1988
JUNE 12-JUNE 18: Ireland win a game (England) they should have lost, draw a game (USSR) they should have won and lose a game (Netherlands) they should have drawn. Joxer goes to Stuttgart and Irish football is never the same again.
1989
APRIL 26: Ireland defeat Spain 1-0 at a throbbing Lansdowne Road for only their fourth win in 21 games against Spain. The World Cup beckons.
SEPTEMBER 6: In a friendly against West Germany, Charlton takes off Liam Brady after 35 minutes, a decision which prompts the midfield maestro’s retirement.
NOVEMBER 15: A John Aldridge double over Malta secures Ireland’s qualification for the World Cup finals for the first time.
1990
JUNE 11-JUNE 30: Five games yields two Irish goals, both from defensive errors, and a penalty shootout. Ireland get to Rome, meet the Pope where Charlton nods off, and then give Italy a heck of a fright in the quarter-finals. At home, the country goes bonkers.
OCT 19: Ireland roast Turkey 5-0, the biggest winning margin in a qualifier under Charlton.
1991
MARCH 27: The wizards of Wembley toy with England for long spells, a reminder of how far they’ve come under Charlton. This was the fourth meeting since 1988 and they remained unbeaten.
NOVEMBER 13: Improbably, Ireland cough up a 3-1 lead in Poland with 14 minutes to go. The rare defensive lapses would cost Ireland a place in the Euro finals.
1992:
OCTOBER 14: Against Euro champions Denmark, below-strength Ireland stand tall in the wind to chisel out a crucial point.
NOVEMBER 18: On the front foot, Ireland pummel Spain but can’t put them away as they stay on track for another World Cup.
1993:
NOVEMBER 17: On a febrile night in Belfast, Alan McLoughlin’s equaliser is sufficient to nail down World Cup qualification, on goals scored from Denmark.
1994:
MAY 29: Ireland stun the mighty Germans 2-0 in Hannover. It follows a 1-0 away win over Holland a month earlier. What odds against that double now?
JUNE 18: The Giants Stadium is awash of green as Ireland stun three-time world champions Italy thanks to Ray Houghton’s early goal.
1995:
FEBRUARY 15: Ireland are leading England 1-0 at Lansdowne Road when the match is abandoned because of rioting by English fans. Charlton is appalled by the actions of his fellow countrymen.
JUNE 3: Against the part-timers of Liechtenstein, Ireland do everything but score.
JUNE 11: A 3-1 home defeat to Austria comes after Charlton takes his eye off the ball as his players go on the rip in Limerick before being forced into Harry Ramsden’s for a huge prematch feed.
SEPT 6: After another 3-1 loss to Austria, Charlton admits privately that his time is almost up, that new coaches have found out the way to combat Ireland’s approach.
DEC 21: After a 2-0 play-off loss to Holland in Anfield, Charlton is asked to Dublin by FAI officials who tell him it’s time to move on. He resigns after 94 games as manager.