Re: [LU] Re: [NON LU] Healy Lovers.........

[Forzaleeds]

John,   Firstly the people who abused Lennon for his religion or team are not Northern Ireland fans, anymore than the people who abuse black players in England shirts are England fans or for that matter Ireland fans who abuse Rangers players playing for Scotland in Dublin against the Republic of Ireland - (Sorry couldn't resist that last one).   Without wishing to make light of the threats that Lennon received, having lived throught the "interesting" bits of the troubles, I know that these things were followed through from time to time, however one Superprod numpty with a phone in his hand does not represent everyone who supports NI, having read parts of Lennons biography, this whole issue seems to have been inflated into a large part of the book, cynically I could say because without it, like most player biogs, Lennons book would be of interest to a few thousand football obsessives and no-one else.   The amount of effort that has gone into turning the tide of sectarianism in the NI fanbase, led by the IFA and the (excellent) fanzine/website "Our Wee Country" is just simply amazing, as someone who remembers Windsor Park in the 1970's as Orange Lodge meetings held at a football match, the change in recent years has to be seen to be believed.   I went over earlier this year for the game against Estonia and had a fantastic time, before, during and after the match and can honestly say the fan culture has completly changed, Estonian fans were made welcome in the pubs, the visitors national anthem was respected, and there was 90 minutes of vocal,partisan and 100% non-sectarian - pro Northern Ireland chanting from the fans, you might be shocked to hear they don't even sing The Sash anymore, being more concerned with pointing out that "We're not Brazil" to help resolve any confusion among the visiting fans I presume :-) Everyone in the green shirt is made welcome, regardless of background, and the fans have to a large extent become self policing, no Rangers/Linfield tops, NI flegs/red hands not Union Jacks and supporting the team and the football, what people do or think or say when they go home from the football is irrelevant to me as long as they are up for a party at Windsor.   The issue most vexing us at the moment is the governments plans to ship all the national teams (football, rugby and GAA) to a white elelphant stadium on the site of the former Long Kesh prison, that no-one wants from any of the sports, has no transport links to either of the major cities, that will never be filled and the costs of running this monstrosity are handed over from goverment to the assocations will certainly bankrupt the IFA, Ulster rugby and the Ulster GAA if they have to fund its maintenance - the fans of all three codes, regardless of background are united in trying to stop this Millenium Dome sized white elephant before it gets off the ground.   If you'd like to see for yourself, you'd be made welcome anytime, come on up to Belfast.   Sarge - looking forward to the NI list trip to Spain already :-)