Ben Lowry: Remembering the joy of watching Billy Bingham leading Northern Ireland to the world cups

Also the thrilling moment when Northern Ireland’s Alex Higgins picked up the world snooker championship that year.

I remember the excitement when the Ulster boxer Barry McGuigan became world champion in 1985, and the crowds coming out to greet him in Belfast, as they did Dennis Taylor after his extraordinarily dramatic world snooker win the same year (which had for a long while the record for the largest UK television audience after midnight).

Above all, I remember the joy of the great Billy Bingham leading the Northern Ireland football team to the world cups of 1982 and 1986, and his band of heroes such as Sammy McIlroy, Pat Jennings and Gerry Armstrong.

Ben Lowry (@BenLowry2) is News Letter editor

Links:

• Ben Lowry main column: BBC NI is downgrading its Twelfth output but pretending otherwise

• Ben Lowry June 4: The monarchy seems set to be in good hands for decades to come

• Ben Lowry June 4: Some thoughts on the centenary parade and BBC coverage

• LISTEN Ben Lowry criticises BBC on Nolan Show

• Ben Lowry: Anniversary happiness and glorious June weather too

• Ben Lowry May 28: Today’s parade is a reminder that NI was denied a 100th birthday

• Letter: Ben Lowry deserves credit for speaking out about centenary parade

• Letter: Thanks to News Letter editor for his remarks on Stephen Nolan

• Letter: I agree with News Letter editor’s criticism of BBC

• Letter: Orange Order critics didn’t get the trouble that cameras were ready to record