I remember he got the whole country behind him and the football team. Italia 90 was probably when i really fell in love with football and it was all about Jackies Green Army! He did more for Irish football than anyone else in History, he made the nation fall in love with the game. Everyone wanted to be an Irish football player, every single pub in Ireland absolutely packed out when a game was on. Irish shirts and scarfs on almost every person walking down the streets, the Irish flag hanging from lamposts, houses, pubs, cars everywhere you looked was Green, White and Orange! The buzz of the entire country. When Packi Bonner saved that penalty against Romania and David O’ Leary stepped up to put us through to the quarter finals… Don’t think i’ve ever felt tension like it, such a huge moment, the nerves, the eery silence, the fear of him missing. A moment that’s etched in every Irish person’s brain until they die – O’Leary sending the keeper the wrong way and Ireland through to the Quarter Finals of the World Cup! The whole country erupted, it was unbelievable, tears, hugs, complete mayhem. What a time to be alive. Emotion is a funny thing. Looking back now it’s actually quite sad at how long ago it was, how many family and friends have died since and your own mortality brought into sharp focus. It’s a very short thing this life, but football gives it context!
So give it a lash jack, one last time – “We’re all part of Jackies Army we’re all off to Italy…”!
RIP