26/09/1973 Sheffield Bulgaria 0-0
Iam McFaul, Pat Rice, Dave Craig, Allan Hunter, Liam O’Kane, Dave Clements, Bryan Hamilton, Tommy Jackson (Roy Coyle), Sammy Morgan, Martin O’Neill (Tommy Cassidy), Trevor Anderson
Peter Doherty was invited by Terry Neill to speak to the Northern Ireland team before the 1973 World Cup qualifier against Bulgaria at Hillsborough, Sheffield, a match switched from Belfast because of ‘The Troubles’. Roy Coyle remembers, “He came into the room, mesmerising us with his views, his expertise, his motivation. You wouldn’t have heard a pin drop. Inspired, we held Bulgaria to a scoreless draw.” Peter Doherty had a habit of making players believe they had greater ability than they really possessed.
Hillsborough was the sixth different venue used by Northern Ireland during their sabbatical from Windsor Park. Iam McFaul earned his sixth and final cap deputising for the injured Pat Jennings. Bulgaria gained a point which was enough to enable them to top the qualifying group for the 1974 World Cup finals.
Author: Magheramesk
Today In Northern Ireland's Footballing History 
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