Northern Ireland v Cyprus (12/06/2020)

WORDS: HEIDI McALPIN

LET’S GET MER

It’s the morning after the night before – the night before being our defeat at the hands of Greece in this case – and I thought I would deflect the disappointment by immersing myself in the colourful online world of Northern Ireland merchandise, old and new, and merchandise linked to tournaments in particular.

much like our home game against Greece in 2015, attempts proved futile and I came away with nothing. If anyone out there has a copy, stick it in a safe and watch its value soar. You can, though, bag yourself a ticket stub from the same game for a mere £94.80 and let on you were there. Of course, no football tournament is complete without the regulatory, and often nightmarish, mascot . Who of a certain vintage could forget Spain’s Naranjito – the wee orange whose big grin lit up lots of tat? How about snapping up a vintage 14cm tall ceramic money box featuring the fruit himself? A steal at £74.99. And why stop there when you can add to your festival of anthropomorphised foodstuffs with a glass ashtray brandishing Pique, the sombrero-clad, moustachioed jalapeño pepper from Mexico ’86 (price: £76.52) . Designed to represent the proud people of this North American nation, many locals were rightfully aggrieved at the stereotypical trope and held the spicy specimen in low esteem. That said, it’ ll be quite the conversation piece in your GAWA-themed home bar. And who are we to talk when all we had was the ciggie-sucking, duncher-wearing Yer Man along for the ride a mere four years before? Speaking of which, what discerning muso would be without not one but two tracks inspired by this iconic gentleman?

In the month when we celebrate the 40th anniversary of Spain ’82 where better to start than that very event? A cavalcade of stickers graces my inaugural search, and if Panini prices ref lected a players’ worth then Jimmy Nicholl would be man of the match with a £25 bounty on his supremely coiffed head. Jimmy is followed by Gerry Armstrong and Billy Hamilton tying at £9.99 each - a fitting tribute to the duo that combined to bring us that famous goal against the home nation. Or you can save yourself a quid and bag magnificent Martin O’Neill in glorious early ’80s technicolour. Mind you, asking ain’t getting and a casual scroll down the listings reveals bargain bucket sticker sets selling for a lot less. It pays to shop around. I decided to delve deeper and hunt out the programme from that famous match against Spain - the Norn Iron FIFA World Cup 1982 holy grail if you will . Sadly,

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NIR V CYP