Northern Ireland v Norway Official Match Programme

bouncing from stand to stand included a stint on

the Kop terraces and that final match encased

within its under-stress concrete.

All the while fans found the funny in the most

bizarre of circumstances. I well remember that

wonderful moment in 2004 when the team broke

its record-breaking 1,298 minutes goal drought and

we all sang ‘We Are The Champions’. Sure where

else would you get it?

And I’ll never forget ‘Where’s The Ball?’ morphing

into ‘There’s The Ball!’ when the replacement

orange orb appeared on the pitch during the

famously foggy Finland friendly of 2003. You’ll

know what I mean if you were one of the hardy

6,000 souls in attendance.

Little did we know then the euphoria that was to

envelop the Windsor fortress just two years later.

Healy’s magnificent goal and Beckham applauding

fans as he trudged dejected from the pitch made

for an epic night in September. Then being hustled

through the line of riot police on Tates Avenue for

the 2009 win against Poland, our team selflessly

aided by Artur Boruc, Ulster’s Number One. Good

times never seemed so good…

I’ve witnessed Windsor Park half empty and full

to the rafters, and I know which I prefer. It’s great

to welcome a new generation of fans, and I’m

delighted to say my 10-year-old daughter Scarlett

has broken her Kop duck with the Croatia friendly.

She knows ‘Jonny, Jonny Evans’ and ‘Corry, Corry

Evans’, can sing the chorus of ‘Sweet Caroline’, nah-

nah-nah-nah-nah-nah-nahs to ‘Will Grigg’s On Fire’

and remains undimmed despite the result. A true

Norn Iron fan.

And that’s the thing about the Windsor faithful.

Whether a veteran or newbie, you need to relish the

lows as much as the highs. Because without those

character-defining slumps in form, those rain-

sodden winter friendlies, Dalglish not turning up…

Euro qualification and Paris medals will never attain

the same lustre.

We may not be Brazil but Northern Ireland, be

assured, we will support you ever more.

Heidi and Scarlett McAlpin cheer on the boys in green

Scarlett outside Belfast City Hall when it turned green

to honour the Northern Ireland team during Euro 2016.