The craic was 90
Irish soccer fans look back on the magic of World Cup in Italy We were staying in Sicily and the atmosphere against England was incredible
IRISH soccer fans could be forgiven for feeling nostalgic as this week marks 30 years since the World Cup of Italia 90.
Around 6,000 supporters who made the trip to support Jack Charlton’s side would witness some of the most iconic moments in our sporting history.
Unfancied to get out of a group which contained Holland, Egypt and England, Ireland did just that to set up a second round match with the hugely talented Romanians.
While our soccer was not for the purists – two goals scored in five matches – they held Hagi and Co at bay to win on penalties before the fairytale run finally came to an end at the hands of hosts Italy in a memorable showdown in Rome.
Jimmy Finnerty, who rang a bell at all home and away games, remembers the World Cup – the first Ireland had qualified for – like it was yesterday.
The 69-year-old, who has brought his chimes to every major tournament Ireland has played at, recalled: “I was nearly arrested by Italian soldiers against England at Italia 90 for ringing the bell.
“I wasn’t allowed to bring the bell into the ground so I sat down in the turnstiles until they let me in with it and I promised I wouldn’t ring it. But as soon as we scored, I stood up and rang it. I only rang it once there cause it caused so much hassle.
“We used to leave it in the coach and whoever ran back to the coach first rang the bell so everyone knew we were there.
“It was absolutely brilliant. We were staying in Cefalu, Sicily, and the atmosphere was incredible against England.
“Even the other games against Egypt and that. I know a lot of people say [Egypt] was a horrible game.
“But would you look at the players, the likes of Aldridge running around trying to make things happen?
“People said to me, ‘God, Aldridge looked bad against Egypt’. It wasn’t that he was bad, he just tried so hard to get things going and get a result. But the atmosphere, particularly when Italy were playing, the place went berserk.
“Driving up and down the roads with their heads out, people standing at the back of motorbikes going up and down the street.
“They set up a big screen in the main square beside the church for all the fans to watch the match and it was just incredible, the atmosphere. All the support from Italians and everyone else.”
Adrian Hillman, 53, from Duleek, Co Meath, headed off with a group of friends and remembers a long, winding journey to Italy.
Speaking on LMFM, he said: “We
planned the trip after we beat Malta away to qualify.
“We left on Wednesday lunchtime, the bus came down from Monaghan to pick us up in Duleek, then headed for Dun Laoghaire for the boat.
“Boat to Holyhead, off the boat, think there was about 600 of us on a train for eight-and-a-half hours to Folkestone.
“From there, we got a boat to France. And from France, an overnight train through the Alps to Naples. We landed there and then got a two-hour bus trip to a little village called Paestum.
“So we left on Wednesday at lunchtime and landed there on Friday evening and we were based there for the first four games.”
Adrian travelled from Paestum to Palmero, Genoa, Sardinia and Rome during that soccer odyssey.
An arduous boat trip still stands out in his mind.
He said: “It was 10 hours exactly. No drink, no food, no nothing. When we got on, we were like prisoners. An apple, an orange, a drink and a sandwich, that was it for 10 hours. Then we had to get the train down. It was horrendous but we were young bucks then.”
Adrian recalled a family event had to be postponed while he was travelling around Italy.
He said: “It was for my god-daughter’s christening, she was 30 last week. The family were expecting me back some time after the fourth game.
“They had to hold the christening for another couple of weeks before we finally made it home.”
And Adrian also remembered how the tournament gave the Irish public a much-needed boost during a tough period, with the World Cup run providing an escape from daily hardships.
He added: “I think the country needed a boost at the time.
“Unemployment was high, most of your mates lived in either Birmingham, London, New York or San Francisco.
“We had nothing to shout about. Some people say you were better off at home rather than being in Italy because the craic was better there.
“It was a wonderful occasion, a wonderful month. You’ll never forget about it.”
SOCCER FAN JIMMY FINNERTY YESTERDAY