Brodie Spencer's family stories and ‘amazing’ fans in the stands extra special sources of motivation for Italy adventure
Brodie Spencer will draw from internal family memories on Thursday alongside the external motivation provided by the Green and White Army fans cheering on Northern Ireland’s World Cup dream from the Bergamo stands.
After months of dreaming and then this past week’s reality of training and tactics, that first whistle will finally put Northern Ireland’s future at the feet of the players.
One victory away from a final shot next Tuesday towards securing a seat on the plane to the summer World Cup finals for the first time in four decades will be played out against the backdrop of over 20,000 Italian fans and a band of Northern Ireland supporters, as ever, small in number but big on noise.
For Spencer, one group of supporters in particular will prove especially significant.
"What pops into my mind is my family...my uncles, my cousins saying about back in the day with Northern Ireland at the World Cup and how important it could be if we do go and be able to qualify,” said the 21-year-old defender. “How much that would mean to not only the team but the whole country.
“It would mean so much to everyone.
"The support we get with Northern Ireland fans is amazing it's almost like an extra man...probably one of the best I've ever seen, to be fair.”
Life over the past few days at Northern Ireland’s Liverpool camp before flying out yesterday to Italy has helped Spencer and his team-mates finetune the focus as the countdown continues towards that next chance at putting the names of 2026 alongside past World Cup squads of 1958, 1982 and 1986.
“You're at your club trying to focus on your league performances but also then you obviously have that in the back of your mind as well so you're trying not to overthink it,” said Spencer. “Then you do get into camp and it’s full focus on that and just dialling in.
"We face every game the exact same, always give our all whether that's in training or when it comes to match day.
"We're the type of team who can't turn it on and turn it off when we want to...we need to be 100 per cent every single time we meet up.
"Everyone’s always buzzing to get away and when we do get away everyone's ready.”