Northern Ireland v Netherlands

DO YOU REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME?

I wonder how many fans in the stadium for tonight’s game can boast that they were present at the very first appearance of the Dutch international team in Belfast?

The Dutch team had not yet become the worldbeaters of the 1970s. Not until two years later did Johann Cryuff make his debut. But in 1965 they were a slick outfit and took the initiative right from the start. Hennie van Nee gave them the lead after only six minutes. That goal was a wake-up call for the home team and five minutes later we were level through Johnny Crossan. Our winner came in the second half. A George Best corner from the left at the Kop end curled in towards the far post and Bangor’s own Terry Neill rose majestically to head home. One legend was missing that Paddy’s Day. Pat Jennings did not play and was replaced between the posts by Swansea Town’s Ronnie Briggs. It was to be his last international appearance, but not a bad way to bow out. As I look back to that St Patrick’s Day in the distant past I am impressed by howmuch things have changed. Dutch footballers are no longer considered part of an emerging footballing nation but are feared and respected world-wide because of three appearances in the World Cup finals (1974, 1978 and 2010) and being crowned European champions in 1988. Windsor Park is now an all-seater national stadium, an ultra-modern arena, a footballing Starship Enterprise. Bertie Peacock and George Best are no longer with us but have been honoured by statues in their native towns. However, some things are just the same: the eager anticipation with which we fans approach a competitive game against top-class opposition and our love of the beautiful game. Bring on the Dutch and may the better teamwin! PS Neither Northern Ireland nor the Netherlands qualified for the 1966 World Cup finals. Switzerland won the group and played in England the following summer. Words Cunningham Peacock

It happened 54 years ago - on St Patrick’s Day 1965. I was there, a skinny teenager eager to see my heroes in action as they challenged for a place in the World Cup finals which the following year would take place in England. I’m sure I would have been wearing my school uniformwith white shirt and striped tie. I am also sure my presence at Windsor Park was a defiant protest against most of my schoolteachers, who shamelessly defended my grammar school’s policy of playing rugby only and banning the beautiful game from school property. It is more than likely that I would have been spending the half-hour before kick-off learning French irregular verbs and Shakespeare quotes. My ‘A’ Levels were just around the corner and I was keen to get to college/university. My head was also swimming with Beatles songs. That spring ‘Twist and Shout’ with John Lennon’s rasping vocals was a monster hit. My obsession with the Northern Ireland team had started back in childhood when I had seen the legends of 1958 in action. However, the years since then had seen the team struggling. The period from 1959 until 1961 brought 11 consecutive defeats. But by 1965 things were looking up. We had our very own superstar. One player on the pitch that night would soon be crowned the fifth Beatle. George Best was two months short of his 19th birthday. This would be his seventh international game and already he had notched up two goals. All of us Northern Ireland fans knew that he was more than just another good player. With him in our line-up we feared no-one and knew that the opposition feared us. Our manager that night was Bertie Peacock, one of the heroes of 1958. How could anyone undertake to coach George Best? I suppose Bertie just told him to go out and play.

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