Northern Ireland v Hungary (29/03/2022)

WORDS: HEIDI McALPIN

ALWAYS DRUMMING UP

You know that feeling when we’re two-nil down, spirits are dipping and it seems nothing will lift your ashen pallor. Then you hear it… a dull thud resonating around the stadium urging you to give yourself a shake, stop checking your Insta and let rip with those lungs.

I’m talking about the rousing beat that beckons the battle cry of fans, starting with the Kop and immersing the stadium in that well-honed hypnotic sound. The monotonous boom of the big bass drum that , as if by magic, galvanises the throng into one majestic voice. You couldn’t beat it . Like the lovechild of Gareth Malone and Animal from The Muppets, all hail tonight’s drummer who has, Atlas-like, wrestled his great instrument into the ground and taken up position to get the GAWA going. And the collective cacophony doesn’t stop when fans land on foreign shores. For ready to get the party started at a far- flung city square and keep the beat on the long march to the ground is Craig ‘Red Drummer’ Lutton.

Now living in London, the Ballymena man often misses home matches – letting sister Rachel use his campaign card – but he keeps the London NISC jumping at Philomena’s Bar, and it’s on those away days that he really lets rip. “There’s something incredible about playing in squares and taking over a foreign city with the GAWA,” ponders the professional percussionist , who has just returned from Luxembourg. “Luxembourg was my first match since Frankfurt 2019, home or away. Since lockdown I’ve missed performing to audiences – on stage or in the stadium.” And when it comes to perfecting his matchday sound, where Craig positions himself in the ground is nothing short of scientific. “I get to the centre back of where we stand for the best acoustics,” he explains. “The sound goes down to the corner flag and pushes out to the stadium. Then the noise from the GAWA echoes through and lifts our players. After both national anthems I love those first two beats of ‘Green and White Army’.” Craig also keeps up with the latest songs carefully crafted among the collective GAWA. “I suss out WhatsApp for new chants, see how it goes in the square then take it to the stadium,” says our very own rhythm

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NIR V HUN