DERBY DAYS SOCCER Republic of Ireland v England:The 1988 Stuttgart game was the beginning of a golden era of Republic of Ireland v England games, with the nations meeting four times in four years
IT MAY come as news to some that the Republic of Ireland defeated England in an international soccer match long before that famous game in Stuttgart 20 years ago.
The Irish Timesreport, on September 22nd, 1949 read: The vast majority of the 51,847 people streamed out of Goodison Park, Liverpool, yesterday with a dumbfounded look on their faces. The reason was that the cream of England's footballers had been beaten 2-0 at home by Ireland . . . It was one of the most amazing and thrilling internationals ever witnessed.
Of course, it was the game on June 12th, 1988, that, as Christy Moore, has sang, "will be the highlight of many people's lives".
So there's no denying that it just won't mean as much when several of the players involved on both the Ireland and England teams for that European Championship clash line up opposite each other again at Craven Cottage tomorrow night.
The 'legends' match involves several of the greatest players to don either the England or Ireland jersey. Of course, in a competitive sense, the meeting is of no consequence whatsoever. But then we're not sure that any match - even involving long- retired players - between an Irish and English team can be of no importance. The day after the Stuttgart game, Peter Byrne wrote: It was at once the longest day and the greatest day; a day of deep passion and towering courage.
Ray Houghton, the hero of that night, - who is familiar with Craven Cottage having played for Fulham for three years before joining Liverpool - will pull on an Irish jersey again tomorrow night, as will the team captain that day, Frank Stapleton, as well as the man who replaced him in the second half, Niall Quinn.
The losing side included Neil Webb and England captain Bryan Robson. Neither could resist the chance to pull on the national jersey again. That victory came a few months after a friendly international against Israel at Lansdowne Road. Keeping goal that night for the home side, who won 5-0, was Kelham O'Hanlon. The former Rotherham United goalkeeper, in the squad tomorrow night, has the distinction of never conceding a goal for the Republic of Ireland. That was his first, and only, international cap. And the goalscorers that night - Niall Quinn, John Byrne and a hat-trick by David Kelly - will also be at Fulham.
The 1988 game was the beginning of a golden era of Republic of Ireland versus England games, with the nations meeting four times in four years.
With memories of Stuttgart still fresh, the two met in the World Cup finals in Cagliari, Italy, in June, 1990. They then played twice within 12 months in European qualifiers. All three ended in 1-1 draws ( The Irish Timesheadline after the third game was Ireland score another 1-1 win over England.)
Chris Woods - Peter Shilton's long-time understudy - was in goal at Lansdowne Road for the middle one of those three, when Tony Cascarino cancelled out David Platt's opening goal. Woods and Platt will have the chance to make amends tomorrow.
From tomorrow's squads, five from England (Woods, Walker, Platt, Robson and Sharpe) and four from the Republic (Irwin, Houghton, McLoughlin and Quinn) were involved in at least one of those three games.
However, the closest some - including Ireland's John Sheridan Eddie McGoldrick, Alan Kernaghan and David Kelly, and England's Graeme Le Saux - will have come to a meeting of the two countries was the fiasco on the night of February 15th, 1995, when crowd violence led to the 'friendly' at Lansdowne being abandoned after 27 minutes.
Tomorrow will have nothing of the excitement or the passion that past clashes have generated. Watching the midfield battle between the (relatively) youthful Mark Kinsella and Ray Parlour will be the closest many of us can get to reliving the glory days of major battles between the two nations on the soccer field.
In reality, though, it will only serve as a reminder as to what we've been missing for far too long.
Tomorrow night, Craven Cottage Kick-off - 7.45pm Live on Setanta Ireland ITV 4
Tomorrow's squads ages
Republic of Ireland
Kelham O'Hanlon 46
Curtis Fleming 40 (today)
Dennis Irwin 42
Kenny Cunningham 37
Alan McLoughlin 41
Mark Kinsella 36
Eddie McGoldrick 43
Alan Kernaghan 41
Ray Houghton 46
Liam O'Brien 44
John Sheridan 43
Jason McAteer 37
John Byrne 47
David Kelly 42
Niall Quinn 42
Frank Stapleton 52
England Squad
Dave Beasant 49
Chris Woods 48
Nigel Winterburn 44
Steve Stone 37
Neil Webb 45
Graeme Le Saux 39
Des Walker 42
Steve Hodge 45
David Platt 42
Bryan Robson 51
Ray Parlour 35
Andy Sinton 42
Paul Merson 40
Paul Walsh 46
Lee Sharpe 37
Stan Collymore 37
