JOHN GILES AND Eamon Dunphy say they are in favour of an All-Ireland soccer team.
Speaking at a the recent launch of The Irish Soccer Split — a book that looks at the history of soccer in Ireland and explains how the idea for two teams came about — Dunphy and Giles said that players in their era were in favour of a United Ireland side.
The book examines how a series of talks between the FAI and IFA took place during the 1970s and 80s looking into the possibility of bringing the two sides together — something Giles says the players would have been happy to see.
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“All the players wanted a united Ireland… George Best, Derek Dougan and Pat Jennings and what a great team we would have had, had it been combined at that time,” the Leeds legend said.
“A team with Giles, Liam Brady, Pat Jennings and George Best, it absolutely would have been as good as any Brazilian team ever,” Dunphy added.
And both the RTÉ pundits are hopeful that there could still be an All-Ireland team some day.
“If it ever happens… The healing must begin by understanding the causes and that’s the value of what you’ve done… We appreciate the commitment made by the author, it’s a very very important subject,” Dunphy explained
Giles also praised the book, saying: “I read the book, very, very good. I learned things I never knew before. I didn’t know actually why it [the split] happened. It’s a great history lesson for people.”
The Irish Soccer Split by Cormac Moore is published by Cork University Press. More info here.
'We would have been as good as any Brazilian team' - Giles & Dunphy on calls for All-Ireland side
JOHN GILES AND Eamon Dunphy say they are in favour of an All-Ireland soccer team.
Speaking at a the recent launch of The Irish Soccer Split — a book that looks at the history of soccer in Ireland and explains how the idea for two teams came about — Dunphy and Giles said that players in their era were in favour of a United Ireland side.
The book examines how a series of talks between the FAI and IFA took place during the 1970s and 80s looking into the possibility of bringing the two sides together — something Giles says the players would have been happy to see.
“All the players wanted a united Ireland… George Best, Derek Dougan and Pat Jennings and what a great team we would have had, had it been combined at that time,” the Leeds legend said.
And both the RTÉ pundits are hopeful that there could still be an All-Ireland team some day.
Giles also praised the book, saying: “I read the book, very, very good. I learned things I never knew before. I didn’t know actually why it [the split] happened. It’s a great history lesson for people.”
The Irish Soccer Split by Cormac Moore is published by Cork University Press. More info here.
Why don’t we have an all-Ireland soccer team and will we ever see one?>
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All-Ireland side Eamon Dunphy John Giles Potential Brazil Ireland Republic Northern Ireland