Feeling old, children of the early eighties? If not, you probably will be upon realising that one of the greatest moments in the history of Irish football occurred 25 years ago today.
That’s right, a quarter of a century has passed since wee John Aldridge beat Tony Adams to a botched clearance by Kenny Sansom and Ray Houghton sent a looping header beyond Peter Shilton and into the English net for probably the most memorable and significant goal ever scored by an Irish player.
If it seems a long time since that day in Stuttgart, the 84 minutes remaining in the game itself seemed to take just as long, but Big Jack’s Army held on for a famous victory in our first ever major tournament, our participation in which was ended only by a late goal from a star-studded Dutch side who went onto win the competition thanks to THAT goal by Marco van Basten in the final.
All that was to come later, however, after the Irish players and fans lapped up the moment following the final whistle in the Neckarstadion on a day that hasn’t been forgotten and probably never will be, thanks in no small part to Christy Moore’s musical ode to Houghton’s heroics.
Let’s watch it one more time you say, for old time’s sake? Go on then.
Video via YouTube/chimpanzeethat1
