Northern Ireland v Norway Official Match Programme

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Pat, who won 49 caps (1968-1979), starred for both
Arsenal and his country at right back. He made 528
appearances for the Gunners, winning a league title
and two FA Cups, between 1967 and 1980.
After finishing his playing career with Watford he
returned to Arsenal in 1984 as youth team coach.
After more than a decade in that role he became
assistant to Arsene Wenger, a position he held for
16 years until his retirement in 2012.
Willie Irvine, who played as a centre forward with
Burnley, Preston North End and Brighton among
others, won 23 caps for Northern Ireland between
1963 and 1972, scoring eight goals.
Also attending tonight’s game is a group from
Saint-Georges-de-Reneins, the municipality north
of Lyon which welcomed the Northern Ireland team
and backroom staff with open arms during Euro
2016.
The team’s training pitch at Parc de Montchervet
and the Irish FA’s media centre - it was created
within a community centre - were both a stone’s
throw from the municipality’s Town Hall.
Sylvie Epinat, the mayor of Saint-Georges-de-
Reneins, is here tonight with other key figures who
ensured everything ran smoothly during the team’s
stay in the area.
Words: Nigel Tilson
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A WARMWELCOME TO
SPECIAL GUESTS
Sylvie Epinat, the mayor of Saint-Georges-de-Reneins,
with Michael O’Neill
The Irish Football Association has
invited some special guests to
tonight’s game. Among them are
two former Northern Ireland players,
Pat Rice and Willie Irvine.
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