Thousands of Northern Ireland fans to be back in France by weekend

The Green and White Army faced a tense few hours last night awaiting the outcome of other games before it was confirmed they were through to the last 16 at Euro 2016.
By The Newsroom
Published 22nd Jun 2016, 09:25 BST
Updated 22nd Jun 2016, 10:27 BST
Northern Ireland fans show their continued support in the stands following the UEFA Euro 2016, Group C match at the Parc Des Princes, Paris. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday June 21, 2016. See PA story SOCCER N Ireland. Photo credit should read: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Use subject to restrictions. Editorial use only. Book and magazine sales permitted providing not solely devoted to any one team/player/match. No commercial use. Call +44 (0)1158 447447 for further information.Northern Ireland fans show their continued support in the stands following the UEFA Euro 2016, Group C match at the Parc Des Princes, Paris. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday June 21, 2016. See PA story SOCCER N Ireland. Photo credit should read: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Use subject to restrictions. Editorial use only. Book and magazine sales permitted providing not solely devoted to any one team/player/match. No commercial use. Call +44 (0)1158 447447 for further information.
Northern Ireland fans show their continued support in the stands following the UEFA Euro 2016, Group C match at the Parc Des Princes, Paris. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday June 21, 2016. See PA story SOCCER N Ireland. Photo credit should read: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Use subject to restrictions. Editorial use only. Book and magazine sales permitted providing not solely devoted to any one team/player/match. No commercial use. Call +44 (0)1158 447447 for further information.

Gary McAllister, chairman of the Amalgamation of the Official Northern Ireland Supporters Clubs, spoke to the News Letter from Paris minutes after Turkey’s win over the Czech Republic confirmed our qualification.

“Its fantastic,” he said. “Word is just filtering through that we are there in the last 16. Everyone is just overjoyed.”

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The fans‘ support against Germany was “tremendous” he said - “just as it had been at all three games”.

Pacemaker Press 21/6/2016 N Ireland v Germany EURO 2016 Group C Northern Ireland's Michael McGovern during this evening's game at Parc Des Princes in Paris on Tuesday. Pic Colm Lenaghan/PacemakerPacemaker Press 21/6/2016 N Ireland v Germany EURO 2016 Group C Northern Ireland's Michael McGovern during this evening's game at Parc Des Princes in Paris on Tuesday. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker
Pacemaker Press 21/6/2016 N Ireland v Germany EURO 2016 Group C Northern Ireland's Michael McGovern during this evening's game at Parc Des Princes in Paris on Tuesday. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker

“I am very proud of the Northern Ireland fans. Their conduct throughout the tournament has been fantastic.

“Wherever we went fans from other countries have commented on it - people from Iceland, Norway and Austria.

“They have actually been coming in and supporting Northern Ireland in our games. Everybody has been commenting on how well behaved they are and I am very proud of that.”

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When informed that former international players - now television pundits - Alan Shearer, Ian Wright and Lothar Matthaus all paid substantial tribute to the Northern Ireland fans, Mr McAllister replied: “They are just finding out what we knew all along.”

Pacemaker Press 21/6/2016 N Ireland v Germany EURO 2016 Group C Northern Ireland's Manager Michael O'Neill during this evening's game at Parc Des Princes in Paris on Tuesday. Pic Colm Lenaghan/PacemakerPacemaker Press 21/6/2016 N Ireland v Germany EURO 2016 Group C Northern Ireland's Manager Michael O'Neill during this evening's game at Parc Des Princes in Paris on Tuesday. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker
Pacemaker Press 21/6/2016 N Ireland v Germany EURO 2016 Group C Northern Ireland's Manager Michael O'Neill during this evening's game at Parc Des Princes in Paris on Tuesday. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker

He added: “Obviously we have to wait and see who we will play next.”

For a time, the doubters had given the Green and White Army’s team “no chance”.

“But now we are into the last 16. Anything from here on is just to be enjoyed.

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“Most supporters will have to go home now but quite a few will stay on. People are already trying to secure tickets for the next game.

Pacemaker Press 21/6/2016 N Ireland v Germany EURO 2016 Group C Northern Ireland's Michael McGovern during this evening's game at Parc Des Princes in Paris on Tuesday. Pic Colm Lenaghan/PacemakerPacemaker Press 21/6/2016 N Ireland v Germany EURO 2016 Group C Northern Ireland's Michael McGovern during this evening's game at Parc Des Princes in Paris on Tuesday. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker
Pacemaker Press 21/6/2016 N Ireland v Germany EURO 2016 Group C Northern Ireland's Michael McGovern during this evening's game at Parc Des Princes in Paris on Tuesday. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker

“Many are trying to change their travel plans but not everyone can afford to stay on. Many have already been here for 10 or 14 days.

“Not everyone can afford to stay on but those of us who remain will trying our best to maintain the support we have seen so far.”

Gareth Sloan, 36, from Banbridge, told the News Letter that fans stayed in the stadium singing for 40 minutes after the game ended.

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“I am flying home on Wednesday but I will be back in France at the weekend by hook or by crook,” he said.

Pacemaker Press 21/6/2016 N Ireland v Germany EURO 2016 Group C Northern Ireland's Manager Michael O'Neill during this evening's game at Parc Des Princes in Paris on Tuesday. Pic Colm Lenaghan/PacemakerPacemaker Press 21/6/2016 N Ireland v Germany EURO 2016 Group C Northern Ireland's Manager Michael O'Neill during this evening's game at Parc Des Princes in Paris on Tuesday. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker
Pacemaker Press 21/6/2016 N Ireland v Germany EURO 2016 Group C Northern Ireland's Manager Michael O'Neill during this evening's game at Parc Des Princes in Paris on Tuesday. Pic Colm Lenaghan/Pacemaker

“French people that we met on the train told us that we were the best fans they ever had in Paris.”

Earlier the response at the final whistle belied 1-0 defeat as a wall of green at one side of the stadium jumped in unison.

Supporters flew from Kuwait, Beirut and the US to be at the crunch final group at the Parc des Princes - the Park of Princes - and acclaimed their heroes like royalty with a standing ovation at the end.

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They had besieged the French capital in a mass of green shirts, flags, sombreros and banners.

And long after the Germans scored a first-half deadlock breaker, fans in the stadium were still “doing the bouncie” following a result which is far better than feared.

They sang “Everywhere we go it is the Ulster boys making all the noise” and the emotion poured from the solid green wall ranks.

The faithful chanted at their counterparts: “You only sing when you are winning” and in one corner of the stadium the cries of Deutschland were drowned out by the UIstermen.

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The martial but good natured atmosphere was cemented by a veritable battle of the bands between supporters with rival drummers.

The First Finaghy Northern Ireland Supporters’ Club from South Belfast transports its bass drum to most away matches.

Sam McClean said: “We have a carry case. We have slugged it on taxis, trains, buses, the whole lot, then we take it home on a plane.

“Oversized baggage, you see. It goes everywhere. “

They brought it to the Northern Ireland war memorial in France at the Ulster Tower on Monday.

“It gets the crowd going,” said Mr McClean

The Euros had been fantastic, he added.

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“You will never get it again, the atmosphere is unreal,” he said

An inflatable crocodile which has been a permanent feature of Northern Ireland’s travelling entourage again showed up in the capital.

And the two bass drummers from south Belfast and London led the Ulstermen in raucous full voice in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower.

A beach ball was tossed enthusiastically between fans as bemused tourists with ears echoing from the drumbeat elbowed their way through the square and towards the Seine.

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Earlier, Northern Ireland fans played their counterparts in a sign of friendship and cooperation ahead of the match.

The match also marked the first attendance of Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness at a Northern Ireland game.

Related topics:Northern IrelandFranceSupporters