Northern Ireland v Lithuania (12/11/2021)

DOORS CLOSE BUT MEMORIES LIVE ON…

WORDS : GARY McALLISTER (AONISC)

The visitors presented their hosts with an ‘action’ photo, taken at the 1989 World Cup qualifier at Lansdowne Road. Among the players featured in the image were Norman Whiteside, captaining Northern Ireland in what proved to be his final international appearance, John Aldridge and Ronnie Whelan. It has adorned a wall in the premises ever since, along with a whole host of signed shirts and other items of memorabilia, which were auctioned off earlier this week. It’s perhaps fitting that this article is featured in the match programme when Lithuania are the opposition. On the only previous occasion the Baltic side came to Belfast, in 1992, their fans were welcomed up the Shankill for food and drinks. Legend has it that even the cabin crew from the charter aircraft came along and enjoyed the hospitality! Many famous faces have also paid a visit, including former Northern Ireland boss Billy Bingham and players Gerry Armstrong, Barry Hunter, Grant McCann and Billy Hamilton. Billy officially unveiled a huge mural on the side of the premises in October 2017, depicting each of the Northern Ireland teams to have reached the finals of a major tournament. The club holds more than 100 Campaign Cards for home games and members have been travelling away for almost 40 years, on many occasions going to locations which were difficult to get to back in the 80s and early 90s, such as Romania, Yugoslavia, Hungary and Lithuania. Another personal connection I have with 1st Shankill is the fact that I was first elected on to the committee of the AONISC when our AGM was held there way back in January 2005. Little did I realise on that evening the interesting journey that would follow. Like so many others, I’m sorry to see the ‘Northern Ireland Club’ close. We’ve lost an important part of our fan culture and football heritage, however all of those happy memories remain and I look forward to seeing the club’s members at matches for many years to come.

The news that 1st Shankill Northern Ireland Supporters’ Club has closed its doors has been met with much sadness by the Green And White Army.

The famous Belfast establishment has been a popular match day venue for fans for decades, welcoming both home and away supporters through the doors along with a host of celebrity guests. I have many great memories of my visits to the ‘Northern Ireland Club’. My first was in November 1994 when Northern Ireland hosted the Republic in a Euro 96 qualifier. While the match itself was most definitely a night to forget, off the pitch it was a lesson for me as a young man from north Belfast that our football and our politics should, quite rightly, remain separate. The Shankill club had invited a group from the Republic to join them for pre and most match drinks. Both sets of supporters travelled together to Windsor Park and despite the intense rivalry between the two teams there was a great deal of mutual respect on show between the two sets of supporters as conversations went on over pints until closing time.

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