Northern Ireland v Norway Official Match Programme

Don’t shout at me. I accept I am just an old traditionalist. Ancient

and craggy, set in my ways and unwilling to consider change.

There is nothing wrong with liking things to be as

they have been. There is comfort in the certainty

that such an approach brings. We are not

blindsided by innovation and unsure as to what to

do.

In footballing terms I like referees to wear black

(the chants don’t really work otherwise!), players

should be made to wear black boots (none of this

silly pink or pastel shades), the FA Cup Final should

take place on a Saturday afternoon at three o’clock

(preferably preceded by a Celebrity Cup Final It’s

A Knockout) and Germany should always win the

penalty shoot-outs (what sort of a crazy universe

would it be if they didn’t?).

However, like all football traditionalists, there are

some traditions that I would really like to see the

back of.

Our spanking brand new National Football Stadium

has managed to put an end to the rusting barbed

wire and weeds in the terraces that welcomed

visitors to the old Windsor Park in its later years.

That was a tradition we are delighted to have

placed in the annals of history.

SOME TRADITIONS

ARE WORTH KEEPING

Gareth McAuley in the thick of the action during the friendly

international against Norway in Belfast in February 2012.