This nostalgic piece recounts a personal experience of growing up in Northern Ireland during the 1980s, highlighting the impact of the Troubles, the love for football, and the unifying power of sporting heroes like Barry McGuigan.
Submitting your details indicates your consent for The Mag to send you email marketing messages and process personal data. Please read our privacy policy. Growing up in Northern Ireland in the early eighties, we had the upheaval of the troubles in the background, but we as kids just went on with life and accepted it as ‘normal’, when looking back, it was anything but.
I remember the austere and sombre voice of the balding Brian Moore, who to my delight, occasionally introduced the not so mighty Mags on a few occasions.Every morning I would run to school, throwing my satchel in the tennis courts and the match would begin, only to be physically cajoled into lessons by the teachers. DM boots were the fashion outside of school, Adidas Kick were the trainers everyone had on them, as well as the obligatory DIY haircut. I had to watch Aberdeen win in Europe, Willie Miller and Strachan et al, Liverpool won everything else, and to cap it all, they stuffed us four nil in the FA Cup. I had to listen to all the glory hunters but this just made me all the more determined to remain loyal to our Newcastle United tribe. Kevin Keegan was playing and after Mark Lawrenson, (who wouldn’t lace his boots, by the way) outran him, he allegedly thought it was time to retire. Barry McGuigan the boxer, from just over the border in the Republic, deserves enormous credit for bringing all of us together when he was in the ring, and I still remember, (and always will) his father, Pat singing Danny Boy before the fight against Pedro, (not our maestro), in Vegas on a warm summer’s night. Everyone, regardless of their affiliation, creed, or class cheered Barry on, I had the pleasure of meeting him a few years back and he is someone I will always admir
Northern Ireland Football Troubles Barry Mcguigan Nostalgia
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