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Article: Our cracking goal ; As Community Relations Week gets under way, the IFA's Michael Boyd tells Laurence White how Northern Ireland football fans have changed their image -- and also swelled recruitment to the Green and White Army
- Article from:
- Belfast Telegraph
- Article date:
- April 28, 2008
CopyrightCopyright 2008 Belfast Telegraph. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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Michael, head of community relations at the IFA, met the drummer,
a man called Trimble from City of Armagh Northern Ireland Supporters
Club, outside the ground.
"A big issue with the fans was the ban on drums inside the
ground. We had agreed that one drummer would be allowed in and I
would monitor what went on.
"We went into the Kop end of the ground. He was a brilliant
drummer and every time there was any sectarian songs or chants he
drowned them out. That was the beginning of a new atmosphere at
Windsor Park."
Michael, an avowed football fan and still active Amateur League
player, gives most of the credit for the transformation of crowd
behaviour at Northern Ireland matches to the fans, ...