“What a player and goal scorer”. Former Republic of Ireland and Manchester United defender Paul McGrath has paid tribute to Italy and Inter Milan legend Toto Schillaci, just hours after the news broke of his passing. The former Juventus striker was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2022, but made a full recovery after undergoing treatment. Earlier […]

1 year ago

“When we were away, we had to ask for a curfew. We had to say, ‘Jack, we don’t want to go out tonight!’” Andy Townsend was 21 years old and playing non-league football for Weymouth when he got his big break with Southampton. Four years later and he was playing international football for Jack Charlton’s […]

5 years ago

Do you remember Gary Kelly being sent off? I certainly don’t. Jason McAteer’s goal against Holland is in its rightful place; among the very greatest Irish goals. It was a seminal moment in Irish football, giving a new generation of fans raised on songs and stories of Italia 90 a reason to believe. Now, in […]

6 years ago

Big fella, long shadow. There is a generation of Irish football fans who have no living or waking memory of Stuttgart, Genoa or Giants’ Stadium. Every Irish game they’ve ever watched has been tinged with a sadness, a longing for the scenes they grew up hearing about. Jack Charlton changed Irish football for us. He […]

6 years ago

Ciao! This Italia 90 quiz will bring you right back. It is 30 years since the World Cup came to Italy and embedded itself into footballing history as an enthralling tournament of high tension and drama. Ireland, Scotland and England all qualified so there was lots of interest in this neck of the woods. There […]

6 years ago

“The nation holds its breath.” It’s one of those tournaments that captured the nation. The fact that the Irish public had to withstand nearly 15 minutes of nerve jingling penalties. Sheedy scored, Houghton scored, Townsend and Cascarino did too but it was David O’Leary who it all went down to. Next thing you know Ireland […]

8 years ago