John,
Firstly the people who abused Lennon for his religion or team are not
Northern Ireland fans, anymore than the people who abuse black players in
England shirts are England fans or for that matter Ireland fans who abuse
Rangers players playing for Scotland in Dublin against the Republic of
Ireland - (Sorry couldn't resist that last one).
Without wishing to make light of the threats that Lennon received, having
lived throught the "interesting" bits of the troubles, I know that these
things were followed through from time to time, however one Superprod numpty
with a phone in his hand does not represent everyone who supports NI, having
read parts of Lennons biography, this whole issue seems to have been
inflated into a large part of the book, cynically I could say because without
it, like most player biogs, Lennons book would be of interest to a few
thousand football obsessives and no-one else.
The amount of effort that has gone into turning the tide of sectarianism
in the NI fanbase, led by the IFA and the (excellent) fanzine/website "Our Wee
Country" is just simply amazing, as someone who remembers Windsor Park in the
1970's as Orange Lodge meetings held at a football match, the change in
recent years has to be seen to be believed.
I went over earlier this year for the game against Estonia and had a
fantastic time, before, during and after the match and can honestly say the
fan culture has completly changed, Estonian fans were made welcome in the
pubs, the visitors national anthem was respected, and there was 90 minutes of
vocal,partisan and 100% non-sectarian - pro Northern Ireland chanting from the
fans, you might be shocked to hear they don't even sing The Sash anymore,
being more concerned with pointing out that "We're not Brazil" to help resolve
any confusion among the visiting fans I presume :-) Everyone in the green
shirt is made welcome, regardless of background, and the fans have to a
large extent become self policing, no Rangers/Linfield tops, NI flegs/red
hands not Union Jacks and supporting the team and the football, what
people do or think or say when they go home from the football is irrelevant to
me as long as they are up for a party at Windsor.
The issue most vexing us at the moment is the governments plans to ship
all the national teams (football, rugby and GAA) to a white elelphant stadium
on the site of the former Long Kesh prison, that no-one wants from any of the
sports, has no transport links to either of the major cities, that will never
be filled and the costs of running this monstrosity are handed over from
goverment to the assocations will certainly bankrupt the IFA, Ulster rugby and
the Ulster GAA if they have to fund its maintenance - the fans of all three
codes, regardless of background are united in trying to stop this Millenium
Dome sized white elephant before it gets off the ground.
If you'd like to see for yourself, you'd be made welcome anytime, come on
up to Belfast.
Sarge - looking forward to the NI list trip to Spain already
:-)
