Official Northern Ireland National Team Thread

[King-Osgood-1690]

Thread for discussion of anything to do with the mighty Norn Iron!

[King-Osgood-1690]

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland put Team GB opposition in writing


Despite assurance from the world game's governing body, the SFA have steadfastly refused to accept the premise of a Home Nations team – which for the purposes of the Olympics would be at under-23 level – fearing it would lead to Scotland being stripped of its status as an independent football country.

The letter, sent to the British Olympic Association, Fifa and the Football Association, was signed by the respective presidents of the SFA, FAW and IFA, George Peat, Peter Rees and Raymond Kennedy.

The letter consists of three main points, the first two backing SFA chief executive Gordon Smith's recent assertion that football should not be an Olympic sport at all and that, as an under-23 event, it is discriminatory.
The third point claims clubs would lose players at a vital part of the season, while the missive finishes with a call to end further discussions about the matter.

An insider said such is the strength of feeling within the SFA, those under-23 Scottish players who take part in any Great Britain side could jeopardise their future with the Scotland national side.

"There has been a line made in the stand and the SFA want no more of this nonsense," the source said.

"We have been meeting with the other associations behind the scenes in the last couple of months to try and sort it out.

"Fifa wrote to us and asked for our considered position on Team GB.

"We got together with the other home nations and three of us are in agreement. It is believed that the English FA are positioning themselves to be Team GB.

"But we are taking it as read that there will be a threat to our independence.

"Serious figures in world football say we should not do this but the BOA are trying to railroad us in to it.

"We are opposed to the whole concept of Olympic football. We think it is nonsense.

"This is the opinions of the associations and the fan groups. So, as far as we are concerned, there will be no more discussions. It is finished with and people can posture all they want.

"Anybody, including the BOA and politicians, who takes an opposite view is going against the wishes of Scottish football.
The source added: "There is no legal way to stop the BOA if they say there is going to be a Team GB.

"There is no way to stop Scottish players taking part in it but they would be going against the express wishes of the SFA and it wouldn't do their international career any good.

"It would be for future managers to decide but, as an organisation, we are completely opposed to this. We don't want players to take part and that is a view we will be expressing to players."

Tam Ferry, spokesman for the No Team GB - Fans against the formation of a Great Britain Football Team for the 2012 Olympics campaign against the formation of a Great Britain football team and Tartan Army member, said he was delighted with the stance Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have taken.

"It is the strongest possible letter that could have been written by the the SFA," he said.

"They have made it quite clear that Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland don't want anything to do with this.

"If it happens, it won't be Team GB, it will be Team England. The English fans don't want it either but they have been ignored by their own FA.

"I don't think the UK politicians of the BOA realise how dangerous it could be for the four nations.

"Catalonia and other areas looking for status within Fifa are looking at the four home nations and wondering why we are in FIFA and they are not.

"There is nothing to say that there won't be changes if we allow a GB team to go ahead.

"So we are delighted with what has been said today."
The Scottish Government's sports minister, Stewart Maxwell, also welcomed the news.

"The Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland football associations have made it abundantly clear that they oppose a Great Britain football team and will not consent to such a daft and dangerous idea," he said.

"Today's joint letter from the Scottish, Welsh and N Irish football associations exposes the lack of credibility football has as an Olympic event. As an under-23 tournament, it is discriminatory, and unlike other Olympic events is obviously not the pinnacle of its sport.

"Experienced and knowledgeable people in football, such as former Fifa Vice-President David Will, former Scotland manager Craig Brown, and Uefa's General Secretary David Taylor, have all warned of the real threat to Scotland's status as an independent football nation if we participate in a British Olympic team.

"Gordon Brown is jeopardising the existence of the national team for the sake of a discredited under-23 tournament and must now ditch this idiocy.

"The Scottish Government emphatically agrees with the SFA, the Tartan Army and the people of Scotland that there should be No Team GB."

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland put Team GB opposition in writing - Telegraph

[King-Osgood-1690]

David Healy: It’ll be a disaster if Northern Ireland don’t win

I’m not going to make any bones about it, when we go to play against San Marino next Wednesday in our latest World Cup qualifier, only one result will be acceptable for us and that’s a victory.

All of you will have heard the old cliché about there being no easy games in international football, and generally that is true, but the bottom line is if we don’t beat San Marino it will be a disaster for us. I can’t put it in stronger terms than that.

A few years ago the Republic of Ireland really struggled to beat San Marino and needed an injury time goal to get the victory, but I would like to think that it won’t be as edgy as that for us.

Of course we can’t afford to take San Marino for granted and we won’t but if we are to have any realistic ambitions of challenging for a place in the 2010 World Cup finals, we have to put this sort of opposition away.

We must be positive from the outset and take the initiative and from there our extra quality should see us collect maximum points.

In many ways we should treat it just like we did in October when we hosted San Marino and comfortably defeated them 4-0.

That night I didn’t see anything to worry about from San Marino, and I’m not going to write that I did just to ease any pressure on us. We should be able to live with that.

We did it in our last away game against so called minnows when we went to Liechtenstein in the European Championship qualifiers and won 4-1.

I scored a hat-trick on that occasion and I’d love the opportunity to do the same again, but if someone else steps up to smash home a few goals, I’ll be more than happy.

That night in Liechtenstein our fans turned the ground into a mini Windsor and provided outstanding support for us. I imagine it will be a similar scenario in San Marino and hopefully the same result.

This match will be our first in 2009 and it is the ideal opportunity for us to set the tone for the rest of the year.

It will also be the first match since Nigel Worthington and I had our say on my future at Sunderland.

It’s well documented that we had differing opinions on that and at the time I was pretty forceful in my views.

I don’t regret it but it’s a few months on, we’ve both said our piece and as far as I’m concerned it’s been put to bed.

We had a brief chat recently and what is important now is getting a result for Northern Ireland.

I’m looking forward to joining up with the squad and doing my very best for my country and I won’t have any problems with Nigel whatsoever. We’re all in this together, the manager, players, the fans, everybody.

We need to be, that’s how we made the impossible possible by beating the likes of England and Spain and that’s what is required for us to have any chance of making it to South Africa next year.

Should we beat San Marino, as I expect us to, we’ll move up to seven points from five qualifiers and while we would prefer to have a few more, it would put us in the picture in the group with the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia.

And it will keep the dream alive. Only a win will do. As I said earlier, anything else would be a disaster.

Keith will be back BEING good friends with Keith Gillespie (above), I know he was extremely disappointed to have been left out of the Northern Ireland squad for our game with San Marino.

Already there has been speculation about Keith’s international future and whether or not he may have played his last match for his country.

I hope that does not prove to be the case and to be honest I doubt it will be.

When Keith turns out for Northern Ireland it means the world to him and his family and he’ll be keen to add to his 86 caps.

He would love to become our most capped outfield player, a record currently held by Mal Donaghy who won 91 caps, so don’t expect him to give up on international football.

To me Keith has been one of our best players for many years.

And certainly a fit and firing Keith Gillespie makes us a far better team.

While Keith is out, another of my pals, Damien Johnson, is back in the squad.

It’ll be fantastic to see Jonty in a Northern Ireland shirt again after all his injury problems.

He has a terrific work-rate, is good on the ball and will add bite to the side.

He’s also got crucial experience from playing in the Premiership with Blackburn and Birmingham and will be a big asset for us in the match with San Marino.

David Healy: It’ll be a disaster if Northern Ireland don’t win - David Healy, Columnists - Belfasttelegraph.co.uk

[King-Osgood-1690]

DOOR STILL OPEN FOR GILLESPIE

Northern Ireland manager Nigel Worthington has told Keith Gillespie he could still have a future on the international stage.

Gillespie, who has won 86 caps, is currently without a club after having his contract at Sheffield United terminated by mutual consent.

That lack of game time has led to the 33-year-old winger's omission from the squad for the World Cup qualifier against San Marino on February 11.

However, Worthington has promised to review Gillespie's situation after this fixture once he finds a club.

Now a free agent, Gillespie is currently weighing up two to three options, including interest from Australia.

Worthington said: "I have taken the decision to leave Keith out because I feel it is in the best interests of everyone.

"He is not training with a group on a daily basis and that is hardly an ideal scenario.

"We will monitor his situation and see where he finishes up; what team, what country and at what level.

"Then we will take things from there. The door is still open for Keith, that's for sure."

Birmingham midfielder Damien Johnson returns to the squad after an 11-month absence through injury.

The 30-year-old had back surgery in the summer, and Worthington said: "He is looking good and is a lot stronger now.

"Damien is a great professional and to have his kind of experience around the group is very valuable.

"He has had his fair share of injuries but his attitude has always been first class."

Worthington has recalled influential trio Aaron Hughes, George McCartney and Steven Davis after they missed the defeat by Hungary in a friendly at Windsor Park in November.

Manchester United defender Jonny Evans has been included despite being sidelined with an ankle injury.

Worthington said: "I spoke to Jonny this morning and he was a little less optimistic than he was last week.

"It is 60-40 against him making it at the moment but we will keep monitoring the situation."

Celtic pair Niall McGinn and Pat McCourt - who won his only cap in 2002 when at Rochdale - have also been called up for this away fixture.

Worthington added: "I am looking forward to working with the players again as we were not up to scratch against Hungary.

"The nice thing since that game, however, is that more players are playing regular football, which is a big help."

(re-opens) Meanwhile, Worthington has praised Dean Shiels after the midfielder secured a move to Doncaster from Hibs.

Shiels had an operation in 2006 to remove his right eye after being blinded in a childhood accident.

He has been named in the squad to face San Marino and Worthington said: "Dean dealt with the situation regarding his eye in superb fashion.

"He has a good attitude, works hard and this is a nice move for him. It also means we can keep a closer eye on him in England."

Sporting Life - Football News | Live Football Scores, Football News, Transfer News, Premier League

[v3sh1]

There's a Northern Irishman who plays for Sydney FC by the name of Terry McFlynn who looks like getting a cap soon. Maybe would have already if he didn't get injured late in the A-League season.

[LwkguyPlayer]

mon the republic

[17_Gers4Life]

hey osgood ma brother ive added this thread to the directory

[King-Osgood-1690]

Originally Posted by 17_Gers4Life

hey osgood ma brother ive added this thread to the directory

[King-Osgood-1690]

Originally Posted by LwkguyPlayer

mon the republic

[King-Osgood-1690]

Would a unified Britain have won more than one World Cup?

Resistance to plans for a unified British football team for the 2012 London Olympics means the idea may well be a one-off, if it ever gets off the ground at all.

The four home nations are wary of setting precedents that could harm their independent status, despite their lack of success as separate entities.

Indeed, all they would have to show in a collective trophy cabinet would be England’s 1966 triumph, which makes me wonder if they might have been better putting national pride aside all along and pooling their resources, as they do in most other sports.

Would a unified team have won more than one paltry World Cup?

As far as recent times are concerned, I think the simple answer has got to be no.

Wales and Scotland have produced some excellent players over the last 40 years, such as Ryan Giggs, Ian Rush and Kenny Dalglish. But added to the core of English players I’m assuming would usually form the bulk of a unified side, I don’t think they would have transformed English also-rans into British world beaters.

Dig a bit further into the past though and some interesting scenarios emerge.

Northern Ireland’s George Best is widely regarded as the greatest footballer never to have played at a World Cup. At Mexico in 1970 he would have been part of a British team based on England’s victorious 1966 squad.

Would Best’s presence have prevented the 3-2 defeat England suffered against Germany in the quarter-finals after they blew a two-goal lead?

If so, would the Manchester United combination of Best and Bobby Charlton have outgunned Italy’s Gigi Riva and Gianni Rivera in the semis? And if they had beaten the Azzurri, would they have been a match for the great Brazil side of Pele, Jairzinho and Carlos Alberto in the final?

That’s a lot of ifs for one man but, then again, Best in his prime was exceptional.

A unified side would also have been quite something in the 1950s. In that decade it would have been possible to field England’s Tom Finney, Nat Lofthouse, Billy Wright and Stanley Matthews with the likes of Wales and Juventus forward John Charles and Tottenham Hotspurs’ Northern Ireland wing back Danny Blanchflower.

The 1958 World Cup in Sweden could have been their moment for glory. Matthews had stopped playing international football by that time, but a young Charlton was ready to step in.

1958 is the only World Cup all four home nations qualified for. While England and Scotland got no further than the group stage, Northern Ireland and Wales both reached the quarters, with Wales edged out 1-0 by eventual winners Brazil thanks to a second-half Pele goal.

Personally I don’t think it’s outrageous to suggest that Britain’s combined forces could have made the teenage Pele wait for his first world title. What do you think?

PHOTO: A photograph shows the order of service for George Best’s funeral at the Stormont parliamentary building, Belfast, Dec 3, 2005

http://blogs.reuters.com/soccer/2009...one-world-cup/

[mustangt1255]

U mean the stolen part of Ireland?

[King-Osgood-1690]

Originally Posted by mustangt1255

U mean the stolen part of Ireland?

What would you know about anything?

Warped American attitude ay?

On yer bike, see the light!

[trenty21]

Routine win against San Marino. Bring on Poland. Although Lafferty, McCartney and Davis miss the next game. Evans should be back thou

[MartinsLegend]

wayy great win da day boys

3-0 come on winners in 2012 =]

[Durden92]

Originally Posted by LwkguyPlayer

mon the republic

[King-Osgood-1690]

Northern Ireland Gain Easy Victory!

NORTHERN Ireland romped to a 3-0 victory in San Marino to get their World Cup campaign back on track.
The away team got off to the best possible start against the joint lowest ranked team in world football.

Defender Gareth McCauley got his first international goal after only six minutes, turning in a corner from Grant McCann to the delight of the 1,300 travelling fans.

Provider McCann then turned goalscorer, with a sweet right foot curling finish from outside the penalty box after the half hour mark.

Substitute Chris Brunt scored the third and final goal from a set-piece midway through the second half - his first strike for his country also.

Hapless San Marino had Manuel Marani sent off for a second bookable offence six minutes later, but Northern Ireland had already settled with their goal tally at that point.

On the negative side, Kyle Lafferty, Steve Davis and George McCartney will now all miss the next qualifier against Poland at Windsor Park, after picking up unnecessary bookings.

Northern Ireland now sit second in Group Three on goal difference, having collected seven points.

Northern Ireland: Taylor, McAuley, Hughes, Craigan, McCartney, Johnson, McCann, Davis, Lafferty, Paterson, Healy.

Substitutes: Mannus, McGivern, McCourt (for Hughes 81), McGinn, Shiels, Feeney (for Paterson 76), Brunt (for Lafferty 55).

FOOTBALL: NI claim easy victory - Belfast Today

[King-Osgood-1690]

Paterson happy with Northern Ireland win

Frustrated Martin Paterson last night admitted his personal achievement must always come second to the team.

The in-form Burnley hotshot is still waiting for is first Northern Ireland goal after a difficult night in Serravalle.

Northern Ireland won the match 3-0 and in truth the victory was at a canter against the Group Three whipping boys.

But Paterson and Northern Ireland’s record goalscorer David Healy experienced little joy up front on a freezing night in the Principality.

Healy at the final whistle, out of sheer annoyance with how the match had gone for him personally, threw his boots into the crowd.

Paterson however is not about to give away a pair of boots that have seen him score 17 goals for the Clarets this season in all competitions.

“I haven’t scored as many goals as David so I’m definitely keeping mine,” said Paterson (pictured right) last night.

“I was trying so hard to get that first international goal that I crave but it wasn’t easy.

“It was really difficult out there because even though they may not be the greatest team in the world, they sat back with a five man defence and crowded you giving you very little space.

“Of course it’s my job to make room for myself however it wasn’t an easy night to play football.

“But this isn’t about me. The most important thing was the fact we won the match 3-0 and are now second in the group and we are still in the hunt for qualification.

“Victory was vital and that’s what we achieved. And I’m delighted for the boys who have scored – it’s a team game and I was so happy for them.

“I’ll just have to hope I have better luck in the next game at Windsor Park.”

That next match is against Poland and with big Kyle Lafferty, who started out on the left suspended, Paterson providing he stays fit and healthy is once again likely to start alongside David Healy.

Paterson was replaced by Warren Feeney with 15 minutes to go and the Dundee United man will his main competition come the end of March.

Paterson adds: “It wasn’t my best game but I’m hoping Nigel Worthington will keep faith with me.

“I thoroughly enjoy the whole Northern Ireland set-up and desperately want to be involved for the Poland match.”

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sp...-14183599.html

[King-Osgood-1690]

Sports fans' lives are at risk in unsafe Northern Ireland venues, claim MLAs

Lives of sports fans are being put a risk by ongoing government delays to improve safety standards at grounds in Northern Ireland, MLAs claimed today.

A tragedy is looming if bureaucracy and red tape continue to get in the way of vital maintenance work at dilapidated venues, according to members of Stormont's sports committee.

They reacted angrily to the revelation that while £25 million is needed to bring all grounds in the region up to standard, this year £1 million earmarked for such improvements was returned to the Finance department because of a failure to allocate it properly.

The incident was raised during a briefing from Sport NI and Culture, Arts and Leisure Department officials that also highlighted a list of safety concerns at 15 facilities that have applied for funding this year.

Potential hazards identified by Sport NI inspectors included:

A wall inside Crusaders FC Seaview ground in north Belfast that has been served with a 'dangerous structures notice'
Crush barriers at Ravenhill rugby ground in east Belfast that do not comply with recognised safety guidance.
Fire protection measures inside the main grandstand at the GAA's Casement Park in west Belfast that 'fall well short' of recognised standards.
The report does not include Windsor Park, where major safety concerns have already cast doubt on the viability of holding international football games at the south Belfast venue.

SDLP committee member Pat Ramsey (Foyle) said unnecessary official procedures and processes were slowing up work that needed to be done as a matter of urgency.

"I do fear that we are eventually going to have lives lost," he said.

"I am saying that not as an overstatement or scaremongering but as a fact."

He added: "Where does this process end, does it end the day somebody dies?"

Sport NI, which manages the funding applications on behalf of DCAL, has been allocated around £7 million for improvements this year. It has made a bid for an additional £10 to undertake more projects.

However, Paul Scott from the organisation conceded it would take between £20 to £25 million to address all the current outstanding safety issues.

"We know that the state of our venues, from our various inspections, that considerable investment is needed to bring them up to standard," he told members.

DUP members Nelson McCausland (North Belfast) and Jim Shannon (Strangford) both asked whether money allocated for the ill-fated Maze stadium could be redirected to safety improvements at other grounds.

Their party colleague Lord Browne (East Belfast) said he was shocked by the state of the facilities local sports fans were having to experience.

"By any standard the current condition of our sports grounds leaves a lot to be desired," he said.

"It is only a matter of time before a serious incident happens."

Commenting on the £1 million under-spend this year, Sinn Fein's Francie Brolly (East Derry) said that Assembly fast-track processes reserved for emergency situations should be triggered to avoid a repeat in the future.

Committee vice chair David McNarry (Ulster Unionist, Strangford) said he did not feel wholly confident recommending certain venues to supporters.

"You need to give us the peace of mind to tell our constituents that they are safe when they go to their sports grounds," he said.

DCAL officials are currently drawing up legislation that will require sports grounds in Northern Ireland above a certain capacity to gain a safety certificate to allow them to operate. This system is expected to be introduced later this year.

They are also working with the NIO to develop complimentary public order laws that would give police and stewards more power to tackle crowd trouble such as sectarian chanting and pitch invasions.

A spokesman for Crusaders FC said they had initially applied for funding over two years ago.

He acknowledged the wall identified by inspectors needed replaced - and would be with a new stand - but said the structure posed no immediate threat to the public.

"In the short term it is safe but it does need replaced," he said.

Sports fans' lives are at risk in unsafe Northern Ireland venues, claim MLAs - Local & National, News - Belfasttelegraph.co.uk

[LwkguyPlayer]

Originally Posted by LwkguyPlayer

mon the republic

........

[LwkguyPlayer]

Originally Posted by King-Osgood-NZ

Would a unified Britain have won more than one World Cup?

Resistance to plans for a unified British football team for the 2012 London Olympics means the idea may well be a one-off, if it ever gets off the ground at all.

The four home nations are wary of setting precedents that could harm their independent status, despite their lack of success as separate entities.

Indeed, all they would have to show in a collective trophy cabinet would be England’s 1966 triumph, which makes me wonder if they might have been better putting national pride aside all along and pooling their resources, as they do in most other sports.

Would a unified team have won more than one paltry World Cup?

As far as recent times are concerned, I think the simple answer has got to be no.

Wales and Scotland have produced some excellent players over the last 40 years, such as Ryan Giggs, Ian Rush and Kenny Dalglish. But added to the core of English players I’m assuming would usually form the bulk of a unified side, I don’t think they would have transformed English also-rans into British world beaters.

Dig a bit further into the past though and some interesting scenarios emerge.

Northern Ireland’s George Best is widely regarded as the greatest footballer never to have played at a World Cup. At Mexico in 1970 he would have been part of a British team based on England’s victorious 1966 squad.

Would Best’s presence have prevented the 3-2 defeat England suffered against Germany in the quarter-finals after they blew a two-goal lead?

If so, would the Manchester United combination of Best and Bobby Charlton have outgunned Italy’s Gigi Riva and Gianni Rivera in the semis? And if they had beaten the Azzurri, would they have been a match for the great Brazil side of Pele, Jairzinho and Carlos Alberto in the final?

That’s a lot of ifs for one man but, then again, Best in his prime was exceptional.

A unified side would also have been quite something in the 1950s. In that decade it would have been possible to field England’s Tom Finney, Nat Lofthouse, Billy Wright and Stanley Matthews with the likes of Wales and Juventus forward John Charles and Tottenham Hotspurs’ Northern Ireland wing back Danny Blanchflower.

The 1958 World Cup in Sweden could have been their moment for glory. Matthews had stopped playing international football by that time, but a young Charlton was ready to step in.

1958 is the only World Cup all four home nations qualified for. While England and Scotland got no further than the group stage, Northern Ireland and Wales both reached the quarters, with Wales edged out 1-0 by eventual winners Brazil thanks to a second-half Pele goal.

Personally I don’t think it’s outrageous to suggest that Britain’s combined forces could have made the teenage Pele wait for his first world title. What do you think?

PHOTO: A photograph shows the order of service for George Best’s funeral at the Stormont parliamentary building, Belfast, Dec 3, 2005

Reuters Soccer Blog » Blog Archive » Would a unified Britain have won more than one World Cup? | Blogs |

legend....

[King-Osgood-1690]

Polish groups apologise for football hooligans

GERRY MORIARTY, Northern Editor

GROUPS REPRESENTING the 27,000 Polish people living in the North have apologised for the violence caused mainly by visiting “Polish football hooligans” ahead of the recent Northern Ireland versus Poland game in Belfast.

Under the umbrella of the Polish Community Forum of Northern Ireland, the groups issued a statement yesterday deploring the “intolerable behaviour” of the so-called Polish fans, and urging that the good relations established with local people should not be damaged.

The orchestrated trouble generated by a number of the visiting Poles in turn triggered attacks and intimidation of several Polish families in Northern Ireland, mainly on those living in the loyalist Village area of south Belfast. According to Maciek Bator of the Polish Association of Northern Ireland, which is part of the forum, over 40 of his compatriots were forced to leave the Village area because of the reprisal intimidation.

This was effectively confirmed by the Housing Executive which yesterday said that “11 households” had sought rehousing “citing trouble in the Village area as the reason”. But since that trouble efforts involving Polish community leaders, the PSNI, Belfast City Council, local politicians and loyalist community representatives have taken place to calm tensions and to create the conditions where Poles could continue to live peacefully in the Village and other areas of the North, said Mr Bator.

The forum, whose groups also come from towns such as Newry, Derry and Portadown where large numbers of Poles are living, continued that outreach yesterday with the letter of apology for the violence on March 26th when Poland played Northern Ireland at Windsor Park in Belfast.

“As has been repeatedly indicated, as Polish immigrants living in Northern Ireland we disassociate ourselves in every respect from the group of so-called supporters who came to Belfast not for the football match but deliberately to bring about rioting,” the forum said in its statement.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...244810819.html

[King-Osgood-1690]

NORTHERN IRELAND WOMEN BEGIN CAMPAIGN PREPARATIONS



THE Northern Ireland women’s squad took on Scotland on Tuesday night in an international friendly at Forthbank Stadium, Stirling.

This was the first time that the squad had been together since their final UEFA Women's Euro 2009 qualifying game against Belarus back in July; with this week's friendly marking the start of team's preparations for the 2009-11 European Qualifying Competition for the 6th FIFA Women’s World Cup.

For the game, which was played on a cold and windy night, Northern Ireland was boosted by the return of Rachel Furness after a two year absence through injury; while on the night four players made their senior international debuts.

Captained by Ashley Hutton, the squad which included a number of younger players; started well in the first half and took the lead when Furness sent an unstoppable shot sailing past the Scotland keeper and into the net.

In the second half Scotland began to put a lot of pressure on the visitors and Pauline Hamill grabbed the equaliser with a fine first-time finish from a driven cross.

In spite of the pressure from the home side, the Northern Ireland girls continued to defend well – with outstanding defending from Ashley Hutton, Julie Nelson, Kelly Bailie and goalkeeper Emma Higgins.

The visitors were then unlucky to be hit by two goals in the last 10 minutes from Hamill and Joelle Murray.



Scotland 3 – 1 Northern Ireland

National Women’s Coach Alfie Wylie said: “It was a highly entertaining; but challenging game against a very experienced Scotland side and I was very pleased with the performance of the squad.

“The difference between the two teams was the superior fitness level of the Scotland girls; but it was beneficial for our girls to see the importance of fitness levels ahead of the start of the 2009-11 European Qualifying Competition for the 6th FIFA Women’s World Cup which commences in October.”

Before the game the Scottish FA's Chief Executive Gordon Smith made a special presentation to Scotland defender Ifeoma Dieke, who won her 50th International cap on Tuesday night.

On Friday night (May 15) the Northern Ireland women's squad will take on the USA U23 women's squad in an international friendly at Taylor's Avenue, Carrickfergus, kick-off 7pm. Admission is free, so come along and cheer on the Northern Ireland girls.



Northern Ireland Fixtures - 2009-11 European Qualifying Competition for the 6th FIFA Women’s World Cup

Saturday 24 October 2009

Croatia v Northern Ireland
Wednesday 28 October 2009

Northern Ireland v Iceland

Saturday 27 March 2010

France v Northern Ireland

Wednesday 31 March 2010

Northern Ireland v France

Saturday 5 June 2010

Estonia v Northern Ireland

Saturday 19 June 2010

Iceland v Northern Ireland

Wednesday 23 June 2010

Northern Ireland v Serbia

Saturday 24 July 2010

Northern Ireland v Estonia

Saturday 21 August 2010

Serbia v Northern Ireland

Wednesday 25 August 2010

Northern Ireland v Croatia

Irish Football Association, Northern Ireland - News - NORTHERN IRELAND WOMEN BEGIN CAMPAIGN PREPARATIONS

[trenty21]

Great free-kick by Grant McCann makes it 1-0 to N. Ireland

[Scottish N Proud]

Isreal

[trenty21]

Originally Posted by Scottish N Proud

Isreal

Norway