Northern Ireland v Switzerland 08SEPT

JACKIE FULLERTON IN FULL FLOW BEHIND THE MICROPHONE

My personal favourite was probably Richie Benaud. He had the skill to let the pictures tell the story and to understand that less is often more. On his retirement the crowd and players stood and applauded his final spell behind the microphone. Closer to home we now miss the Ballymena twang of Jackie Fullerton. Watching football just isn’t the same without Jackie. Could that be why our fortunes have been waning a little? I wonder. Some of Jackie’s finest moments came during the famous Healy match versus England back in 2005. Not long after Northern Ireland had scored Jackie said to his co-commentator, the late Alan McDonald, the following words: “I’m famous for saying can you believe it , but can you believe it?” It was a classic line that caught the mood of the night perfectly. But perhaps my favourite Jackie-ism, and one which I am reminded of from time to time by one of my now former colleagues, came right at the end of that match.

The referee was Massimo Busacca from Switzerland (now Head of Refereeing at FIFA) and as the clock ticked down with our wee country still leading a glance at his watch was heralded by Jackie: “The referee is from Switzerland. He must have a good Swiss watch and he’s checking it again.” Right on cue Massimo blew his whistle to unleash the crazy celebrations of that particular evening. I have got to know Massimo through the International Football Association Board and I have once or twice asked him if he has a good Swiss watch. Massimo, while remembering the match very well and with no little pleasure, is always a little nonplussed by my question. Not surprisingly, I suppose, he just doesn’t get the significance. Maybe Jackie isn’t as famous in the Italian speaking cantons of Switzerland as he is here. They definitely missed out!

IRISHFA.COM

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