Northern Ireland’s Euro 2024 qualifying campaign, which had supporters brimming with hope when the draw was first made, has not worked a treat.
Michael O’Neill hasn’t been given much of a honeymoon period since returning to the hotseat, as a frustrating crusade will ensure that his joy at guiding the nation to the 2016 Euros in France will not be replicated in Germany eight years on.
On the pitch, there is an agonising element of so near, yet so far that comes from the fact that five of NI’s six defeats in Group H have been by mere 1-0 scorelines – and, consequently, all six of their points have come at the expense of San Marino. Auf Wiedersehen, Deutschland.
Off it, meanwhile, irritation has been bubbling surrounding a number of topics.
While parts of the Green And White Army have made their recent displeasure known following news that Casement Park will be hosting fixtures at Euro 2028, with white banners bearing ‘No Casement’ seen at the respective home clashes with San Marino and Slovenia during the last round of matches in the wake of the UK/Ireland joint bid’s acceptance, the much longer-standing issue of ticket prices for a product that is no longer perceived to be worth it has often put the Irish FA in the firing line.
Especially at the tail end of this futile bid to put Northern Ireland’s name in the hat for next year’s European bonanza, you would think the Association would want to drum up a bit of optimism and buzz ahead of the trials to come.
Alas not. Prices for the last home qualifying clash Denmark still start at an eye-watering £50.
And a junior ticket will set you back £19.
So, say you have a family of four, with two adults and two children that you would like to bring to Windsor Park for that encounter on Monday, November 20.
The cheapest price for a family night out against the Danes at what realistically is a dead rubber is £138. And that doesn’t even count the extra fees from Ticketmaster.
The social media furore told you all you need to know.
These prices highlight a couple of things. Firstly, in comparison to recent glory days when the National Stadium was alive and abuzz, when the fans’ chants never used to dim or reduce in volume, there has been a stagnation that, in turn, no longer makes £50 a justifiable price to watch Northern Ireland play.
Secondly, during events of the last 18 months that include a cost of living crisis and a hike in price of basic essentials, many people are understandably irked that the cost for a product that should give them a bit of a lift outside their usual working life does not appear to fit in with the reality of the world today.
An ardent follower who forks out to support home and away may not be in the same boat, but a casual fan pays £50 for premium quality.
Half a dozen points against the group minnows is hardly that.
There are highs and lows in any walk of life, and you can certainly remain faithful to a team whose best days may be behind them, but that seems disincentivised by such a lofty price.
It’s only natural that the atmosphere suffers – and, while it remains loud and proud on the road, the Windsor roar of old has been reduced to only occasional spurts. The Ulster boys making all the noise used to drown out vocal away supports; no longer does that seem so.
How do you fix that? Well, a start would look to be on the part of the IFA – lower the price and, although fortunes on the pitch may not improve, at least restore some of the spirit and soul that made Windsor a fortress.
Featured image from Reuters, via Daily Mail.
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