Alan Fettis, Iain Jenkins, Steve Morrow, Colin Hill, Gerry Taggart, Jon McCarthy (Phil Mulryne), James Quinn (Gerry McMahon), Neil Lennon, Iain Dowie, Steve Lomas, Kevin Horlock
We scored in 11 minutes and no one could understand why it was disallowed, still they had a perfectly good goal also disallowed. Lomas had a good chance but was caught in two minds, he blasted instead of chipping. The Armenian goalkeeper played a blinder which was frustrating as we won the procession battle. The Armenians were good defensively, like us, and hard objects don’t give result a turgid midfield slog.
Their crowd were pleasant, friendly and jovial, football is an important national symbol, but the numbers were poor and the ground decrepit. Two teams forfilling a fixture isn’t a crowd puller, 55000 saw the Portugal game.
Pat Jennings, Jimmy Nicholl, Sammy Nelson, Chris Nicholl, John O’Neill, David McCreery, Terry Cochrane, Martin O’Neill, Billy Hamilton, Gerry Armstrong, Sammy McIlroy
A glancing header by Gerry Armstrong on 73 gave Northern Ireland a huge victory to lift them above Portugal into 2nd place in Group Six. Minutes earlier, the game had been held up after a Portuguese player was injured by a coin thrown from the crowd which struck him on the back of the head, the referee indicated that he was prepared to abandon the match if there was any repetition.
Portugal came to Belfast, unbeaten and yet to concede. Again the Irish left it to the last 20 minutes to score but the goal contained a slight comedic effect from the visitors. Sammy Nelson’s left wing free-kick into the box looked to be going out for a goal-kick when Terry Cochrane scrambled to keep it in. His cross into the 6-yard box was headed in by Gerry Armstrong. Armstrong was able to head in unchallenged as the Portuguese keeper, Bento, ran into one of his own defenders when attempting to claim the cross. It was Portugal’s 3rd trip to Belfast and they had yet to come away with a win. Armstrong was the first player to breech the Portuguese defence in this group and opened things up for the two home nations.
Terry Cochrane: “It was against Portugal at Windsor Park and we needed to win. I took the ball down the wing and crossed for Gerry Armstrong who banged it in. It was a very proud moment.”
29/04/1964 Belfast Uruguay 3-0 Johnny Crossan (2), Sammy Wilson
Pat Jennings, Jimmy Magill, Alex Elder, Martin Harvey, Terry Neill, Billy McCullough, Johnny Crossan, Sammy Wilson, Jimmy McLaughlin, Bobby Braithwaite, George Best
Pat Jennings and George Best made their Windsor Park debuts for Northern Ireland after making their full debuts against Wales in Wrexham 14 days earlier.
Johnny Crossan scored two goals from the penalty spot as Uruguay became the first South American visitors to Windsor Park.
28/04/2004 Belfast Serbia & Montenegro 1-1 James Quinn
Maik Taylor (Roy Carroll), Chris Baird, Tony Capaldi, Stephen Craigan, Mark Williams, Tommy Doherty (Michael Hughes), Keith Gillespie (Steve Jones), Jeff Whitley (Danny Sonner), David Healy (Gary Hamilton), James Quinn (Andy Smith), Phil Mulryne (Paul McVeigh)
James Quinn’s goal earned Northern Ireland a battling draw against Serbia & Montenegro but they had to come from behind to do it.
Within seven minutes, the visitors took the lead with Dragutionovic’s pass setting up Mallorca striker Veljko Paunovic who calmly slipped the ball under Taylor for his first international goal. However, against the run of play Northern Ireland levelled in the 18th minute with David Healy delivering a superb cross which was converted by James Quinn. Healy had been released into space by a superb long ball out of defence by full-back Chris Baird.
On the stroke of half-time, the lively Healy evaded defender Kolakovic to create a great chance for himself but goalkeeper Kovacevic blocked the effort with his legs.
Northern Ireland boss Sanchez made four changes at half-time including Manchester United’s Roy Carroll taking over from Maik Taylor in goals. Gary Hamilton, Paul McVeigh and Steve Jones were also brought on with Wimbledon defender Mark Williams taking the captain’s armband in the second half. After a quiet opening to the second half, tempers became frayed after a late challenge from Albert Nadj on Paul McVeigh which led to Jeff Whitley squaring up to a couple of Serb players before order was restored. A few more hefty challenges led Welsh referee Ceri Williams to hand out six yellow cards in a 20 minute period with Doherty and goalscorer Quinn among the players cautioned.
Sanchez made three further changes 12 minutes before the end with Andy Smith, Danny Sonner and Michael Hughes replacing Quinn, Whitley and Doherty. Five minutes from time, Steve Jones claimed he should have had a penalty after tumbling in the Serb penalty area but his protests went unheeded. Substitute Sonner just failed to connect from close range after a looping cross from the lively Jones. Right at the death, Hamilton’s goalbound snapshot was turned wide by Kovacevic.
Pat Jennings, Jimmy Nicholl, Mal Donaghy, John O’Neill, John McClelland, Ian Stewart, Noel Brotherston (Gerry Mullan), Martin O’Neill, Billy Hamilton, Gerry Armstrong, Sammy McIlroy
Ian Stewart scored with a close range drive on 54. Gerry Mullan of Glentoran came on as a sub to make his international debut.
100 Years of Irish Football by Malcolm Brodie [Blackstaff Press Ltd (Jun 1980)]
26/04/1989 Valletta Malta 2-0 Colin Clarke, Michael O’Neill
Tommy Wright, Gary Fleming, Nigel Worthington (Anton Rogan), Mal Donaghy, John McClelland, Danny Wilson, David McCreery, Lawrie Sanchez (Michael O’Neill), Colin Clarke, Jimmy Quinn, Kevin Wilson
This was Malta’s thirtieth match in succession without a win in World Cup Qualifiers. Malta did however earn a credible 1-1 draw against Hungary in their previous qualifier in Budapest.
Northern Ireland were nearly embarrassed as tends to happen to them against Europe’s minnows as they had the majority of play in the first half. Malta almost took the lead only three minutes into the match when Raymond Vella (Hamrun Spartans) struck the post.
Northern Ireland goalkeeper Tommy Wright (Newcastle United) had to pull off two good saves from Maltese striker Martin Gregory (Floriana). Another save by Wright kept Northern Ireland in the game as he saved a low and hard shot by Carmel Busuttil (Racing Club Genk).
In the second half Northern Ireland played with a strong wind at their back. They made good use of this by hitting long balls to the forward pair of Jimmy Quinn (Bradford City) and Colin Clarke (Southampton), which had the Maltese defence all over the place.
An error by defender Joe Galea (Rabat Ajax) presented Clarke with a chance on 55 minutes which he duly took to put Northern Ireland in front.
Northern Ireland’s second came from substitute Michael O’Neill on 73 minutes (Newcastle United) who had replaced Lawrie Sanchez (Wimbledon) when he shot past goalkeeper David Cluett (Floriana).
Harry Gregg, Willie Cunningham, Alf McMichael, Danny Blanchflower, Wilbur Cush, Tommy Casey, Billy Bingham, Billy Simpson, Eddie McMorran, Jimmy McIlroy, Bertie Peacock
Huge statues peering down from the Olympic Stadium in Rome greeted the Northern Ireland players as they entered the arena. Jackie Blanchflower and Peter McParland were missing for Northern Ireland as they were due to face eachother in the FA Cup with their respective teams, Manchester United and Aston Villa.
Northern Ireland’s manager Peter Doherty instead selected Wilbur Cush at centre-half. Wilbur played a great game and prevented Italy’s centre-forward Eddie Firmani from getting any shot on goal.
Harry Gregg also had a great game even though Italy eventually won the match 1-0 with the Italian crowd applauding him as he left the pitch after the game had finished. Cervato who took the free-kick for Italy which he subsequently scored with moved the ball a few feet and had taken it before the referee noticed.
On the back of Gregg’s performance Italian club Genoa enquired to his availability. Unfortunately for Genoa, Gregg’s manager as his current club of Doncaster Rovers was none other than Peter Doherty himself who refused to sell!
Who came up with the strategic idea of putting a wall in front of a free-kick?
“We tried to do things that nobody else had ever thought of. We had to because they were better sides. We put up the first wall at a free-kick. They seemed to be frightened by the tactic. It did have its teething problems though. The referee had never seen it either, so when the Italians picked up the ball and moved it five yards away from the wall and shot it into the net, he gave a goal!”
Source: Danny Blanchflower: A Biography: A Biography of a Visionary by Dave Bowler (ISBN: 9780575065048)
Cork born (he moved to Newry when 10 years old) Leslie Nicholl led out the Northern Ireland team for this match. Leslie would become infamous in Northern Ireland circles along with his friend Micky McColgan a year later, when they travelled to the 1958 World Cup in Sweden via motor scooter and pitched a tent on the lawn of the Northern Ireland’s team hotel. Leslie was the driver of the scooter and was Secretary of Newry Town FC while Micky was a Junior Official with the Irish FA (Coleraine).
Danny Blanchflower captain of Northern Ireland at the time remembers; “He [Leslie] booked himself into an apartment room and made himself a tall cardboard hat, covering it with green and white crepe paper and a triangular Union Jack. He also decorated a long stick and walked into the [Northern Ireland’s] team’s posh hotel. Peter Doherty, the Irish manager, thought Leslie was St. Patrick himself and insisted that Leslie lead out the team – which he did…”
Aidan Davison, Darren Patterson, Nigel Worthington (James Quinn), Colin Hill, Barry Hunter, Steve Morrow, Jon McCarthy, Steve Lomas, Gerry McMahon, Michael O’Neill (George O’Boyle), Keith Rowland
23/04/1986 Belfast Morocco 2-1 Colin Clarke, Jimmy Quinn
Pat Jennings (Jim Platt), Paul Ramsey, Mal Donaghy, John O’Neill, Alan McDonald, Ian Stewart (Dave Campbell), Norman Whiteside (Billy Hamilton), Bernard McNally, Colin Clarke, Sammy McIlroy, Steve Penney (Jimmy Quinn)
This match was Northern Ireland’s last before they departed for high altitude training in America prior to the Mexico World Cup in 1986.
Morocco were chosen as opponents because Northern Ireland would face fellow African nation Algeria in their World Cup group, alongside Spain and Brazil.
Colin Clarke opened the scoring in the 13th minute for Northern Ireland. John O’Neill however, brought down a Moroccan opponent early in the second half Muhammed Timouni scored from the resulting penalty. Substitute Jimmy Quinn scored the winner for Northern Ireland with an 86th minute header.
22/04/1998 Belfast Switzerland 1-0 Darren Patterson
Alan Fettis, Iain Jenkins, Aaron Hughes, Darren Patterson, Steve Morrow, Steve Lomas, Neil Lennon, Keith Gillespie, Michael Hughes, Iain Dowie, James Quinn (George O’Boyle)
Darren Patterson: “I am very pleased indeed to score. It was such a good cross and it was just in front of me, so I just had to put my head to it. Keeping a clean sheet means an awful lot more to me being a centre half.”
22/04/1959 Belfast Wales 4-1 Jimmy McIlroy, Peter McParland (2), Bertie Peacock
Harry Gregg, Dick Keith, Alf McMichael, Danny Blcnchflower, Willie Cunningham, Bertie Peacock, Billy Bingham, Jimmy McIlroy, Wilbur Cush, Jimmy Hill, Peter McParland
Northern Ireland coming off the back of a successful World Cup tournament in 1958 defeated Wales with ease to take a share of the 1958-59 British Home Championship alongside England with 4 points each. Both Northern Ireland and England had shared the previous tournament prior to the World Cup. The success had added value as only a month earlier the well respected Irish trainer ‘Uncle’ Gerry Morgan had passed away the previous month.
Northern Ireland had a team in its prime which had grown together since the early 50’s under the leadership of captain Danny Blanchflower and tutelage of manager Peter Doherty. This match however, was the peak before the inevitable fall as Northern Ireland went on to lose their next 11 consecutive matches, stretching over two and a half years from April 1959 to October 1961.
Leading up to this match Northern Ireland in the championship had drawn 3-3 with England at Windsor Park, and drew 2-2 with Scotland at Hampden Park. There was disappointment however when the Irish Football association took the unusual step of playing a friendly match against Spain in Madrid which Ireland lost 6-2. Although the title was shared, the Northern Ireland team was the most entertaining and stood “head and shoulders” above the other home nations in that respect.
During this match, “Ireland’s mastery in midfield was almost embarrassing. Their wing-halves and inside-forwards created for themselves enough space to indulge in the most fanciful schemes”, according to the Glasgow Herald.
Jimmy Hill (Hull City) who was making his international debut had a good game as did the other Irish players although the standouts were Jimmy McIlroy (Burnley), Bertie Peacock (Glasgow Celtic) and Peter McParland (Aston Villa). Wales meanwhile were described as being “almost bewitched” and lacked quality especially from their forward line that “were well below even present-ay international standard.” Only debutant goalkeeper Rouse (Crystal Palace) came out with any credit and he let in 4 goals!
The scoring begun in the 7th minute through McParland when he “headed a splendid goal from a cross by [Wilbur] Cush” of Leeds United.
Northern Ireland were soon two goals to the good when only 5 minutes later McParland on the left passed short to Peacock who ran onto the ball just inside the area and scored.
Wales did have their own half chances and on one such occasion a corner by Jones reached Medwin (Tottenham Hotspur) but his shot was wide of the mark.
On 32 minutes Ireland took a three goal lead from McIlroy who reacted quickest to the ball ricocheting off Rouse’s chest after a shot from McParland.
The score remained 3-0 to Northern Ireland until half-time.
Again a lacklustre Welsh side failed to trouble Irish goalkeeper Harry Gregg (Manchester United) throughout the second half. Northern Ireland dominated the match but were only able to add one further goal to their total. The goal came in the 80th minute through McParland who scored his second of the game to make the score 4-0 to Northern Ireland.
Wales did however, manage a consolation goal two minutes from the final whistle when Jones’ cross was met by Tapscott (Cardiff City) who flicked the ball past Gregg.
The match finished Northern Ireland 4 – 1 Wales.
* Trivia –
After that rout of Wales, Northern Ireland lost their next 11 consecutive games, stretching over two and a half years from April 1959 until October 1961.
21/04/1971 Belfast Cyprus 5-0 George Best (3), Derek Dougan, Jimmy Nicholson
Pat Jennings. Dave Craig, Dave Clements, Martin Harvey, Allan Hunter, Sammy Todd (Peter Watson), Bryan Hamilton, Eric McMordie, Derek Dougan, Jimmy Nicholson, George Best
The final scoreline reflected the dominance of Northern Ireland in this European Championship Qualifier. Things got off to the best possible start after 90 seconds as newly appointed captain Derek Dougan scored a headed goal with the assist coming courtesy of a Sammy Todd cross.
A shot from Jimmy Nicholson was turned round the post by the Cypriot goalkeeper Herodotus while a Bryan Hamilton attempt flew just past the post. Hamilton subsequently then had a goal disallowed as he had strayed offside. Hamilton continued to influence the game from midfield with a fine through ball for Derek Dougan but his shot landed on the roof of the net. The woodwork was struck shortly after when Dave Clements had chipped the goalkeeper but the ball clipped the crossbar.
After much pressure from the home side the second goal was finally scored in the 44th minute when George Best picked the ball up just outside the penalty area. Best hit a powerful shot off the post and into the net without any movement from the Cypriot goalkeeper who must have assumed that the ball was going wide.
The third goal came just after the interval when Best scored his second on 47 minutes. David Craig hit a long pass up to Derek Dougan on the left hand side, which subsequently went onto Best who cut round the full-back and slotted the ball into the far corner of the goal.
Northern Ireland having recently been on a poor scoring run until the previous match against the same opposition where they defeated Cyprus 3-0 were pushing for more goals. The woodwork was hit once more as George Best hit a shot against the crossbar and another shot just wide. However, the crowd did not have to wait long for a further goal and witness the first Northern Ireland player to score a hat-trick in eleven years when George Best scored on 56 minutes direct from a corner kick! Eric McMordie tried to reach the in-swinger but missed and the ball subsequently curled all the way into the net with Allan Hunter and the Cypriot goalkeeper ending up there too!
Northern Ireland now had the upper hand and the hunger for more goals. George Best smacked a shot against the crossbar and then he hit another wide. Northern Ireland’s third goal came after 56 minutes and was scored by Best direct from a left-wing corner. Up went Eric McMordie but he missed it and it curled into the net with Allan Hunter and the Cypriot goalkeeper Herodotus ending up in the net as well.
Northern Ireland continued to search for further goals, Derek Dougan went close with a header while a Bryan Hamilton’s goal bound shot was deflected for a corner. George Best already assured of the match ball hit the woodwork again when a shot rebounded off the post.
The fifth goal did arrive however, in the 85th minute of the match. A Jimmy Nicholson shot deflected off Koureas which prevented the Cypriot goalkeeper from reacting in time to save it.
This result had put Northern Ireland to the top of their qualifying group but in the end they would eventually lose out on qualification.
![100 Years of Irish Football by Malcolm Brodie [Blackstaff Press Ltd (Jun 1980)]](https://northernirelandstatistics.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/1982_northernireland_albania.jpg)
Today In Northern Ireland's Footballing History 
