Ulternative Alster Fan Club

Faltering Steps

Here we are on the cusp of winter well into the autumnal sessions, having a good old lambaste at the Irish Management and looking forward to the odes of Christmas, pressies, gourmet dinners and more wine than you can shake a stick at and, oh, not forgetting to mention the Ulster Rugby team. After such a momentous beginning to the season the momentum has slightly slipped but the crowds are still flocking to Ravenhill. The first 15 at Biarritz left us all shell shocked but the recovery was good and at last an Ulster team performed with due accreditation in France, almost snatching the win they needed so badly to pursue immortality and find themselves among Ireland’s famed elite by qualifying for the knock out rounds. By doing so, they may be gifted some more than the measly column inches they so precariously enjoy in the Southern press and possibly they might earn some recognition in our own Northern press that seems to be given to the platitudes of soccer and GAA. But as an aside, well done to Northern Ireland for beating England at football. It is an indication of the gulf between the countries that the players are famed and feted wherever about the country they travel and will be heroes for more than just one day while England move on to worry about winning a World Cup. But it was glorious.

The annual expeditions from New Zealand and Australia have been and gone from this island. Unlike days of yore there have been no visits to the provinces only a spanking at Lansdowne Road on two occasions and the demands for Eddie’s head on a pike have been circulating the country. It had been hoped that after the Lions Tour, the Home Nations individually would have put up a better showing than the combined but uncoordinated might of the British and Irish Lions. Had they, the bookies would have had a field day. Last year’s 6 Nations was dreadful with poor showings from all sides even the eventual winners Wales who in turn suffered at the hands of the All Blacks as did Ireland with England being the only side to put up much of a struggle. Much blame is being apportioned to Eddie O’ Sullivan for his selection policies. Though defiant, he is unrepentant and even indignant that he has been ignoring certain players.

The Ulster 8 are thriving in the International environment with Neil Best in particular impressing Eddie. Ireland though are at a bit of a hiatus and in a period of rebuilding, which is pretty obvious given the recent performances. The performances of the autumnal internationals may not have been the most inspiring but all is not lost. The great Irish public accept that the away games against England and France will be hard with home wins against Scotland and Italy a necessity. This leaves Wales at home as the defining moment of the tournament and the International season. There were some bright moments but what appears to be lost is the physical confrontation Lansdowne Road has been so famous for. Cue the Anderson moment against Buck Shelford’s All Blacks. Ireland are sloppy in contact, which is the weakest area. New talent has been introduced although sparingly and maybe wisely but Heslip of Leinster can feel aggrieved. The support play is non-existent with supporting layers running optional lines for the ball carrier. Against Romania, Humphries ran the backs well showing a turn of pace ROG can only dream of with Campbell breaking well when the opportunity presented itself. Stringer tried this on his arrival but promptly tripped over the expectant and non-obliging ball. Nevertheless I doubt if Eddie will move much from the Autumnal Squad as on display for the 6 Nations. It will take time and patience to built a good side. But win our home games and an unbelievable second place is possible and a third highly likely. However, there are huge amounts of work to be done between then and down the length and breadth of Ireland.

And so to the fortunes of Ulster riding almost on the crest of a wave having been knocked off the perch by Leinster in a poor showing and a second string Ospreys side. It has put a bit of a dampener on the November break with big games against Munster away and two against Sarries in the HEC, which will ultimately define the season. Three big games in a row after a few faltering footsteps which need to be won. The Munster game is huge in Celtic League terms but none bigger than the 2 games against Sarries, which could see Ulster qualify for the knockout stages, or not as the case may be. For the first time since winning the Cup there is a belief that it is possible. With the 8 boys returning from Irish duty there is an anticipation that these key men will be better equipped than before to deliver the bacon. Simon Best has improved immeasurably as a prop and his brother Rory has proved that he can mix it with the toughest of them. Despite the slaughter he received in the press, Matt McCullough has developed into one of the hardest working locks in the land. His work rate is phenomenal as is his general ball play around the park. Tommy Bowe, who now looks very comfortable on the wing for Ireland provides the rapier in attack, ably abetted by Andrew Trimble. Not yet into double figures in senior games, he is going to be the next big thing since the precocious Gordon D’Arcy so spectacularly broke onto the scene a few years back. Although I suspect our Andrew will be a bit more consistent.

The up and coming weeks bring the biggest challenges of the season so far. It could go either way in all three games and the excitement will bring the crowds flocking to Ravenhill for the Sarries game, which is almost a sell out already. It is too close to call and there is no doubt it will be another of those many memorable nights out in the Cup. It could be that the young men of Ulster with the help of the chosen few will dig deep enough to pull it off. It is in games like these that all of the hard work on the training ground and the comradeship built up over several seasons of labouring and suffering together pays off. The emotional pride that comes with pulling on the White of Ulster and what it means to be an Ulsterman will tip the balance at the crucial moment as the cheque book teams run out of self belief.

The debate over the Maze Multi-Sports Stadium shows no sign of running itself into the ground, with more controversy caused with a private venture looking at Ormeau Park and the Government stating that there is only one show in town or to be more specific the Maze. Of course the people of Lisburn are delighted but not so the rugby and football supporters. It can be an emotional issue for a lot of people and convenient for the out of towners. Simply put, emotions are still too taught in this country for anyone to be talking about a project at this location. The time is not right. The demographics are not right. The infrastructure is not right. When has a politician ever being straight and given an honest answer to a straight question? Even the press in the Republic is questioning the raison d’etre of the project when the GAA play their big games either in Clones or Croke Park. Windsor Park attracts 14,000 or so once every other season or so and Ravenhill will only produce those sort of crowds required to make the project viable in the knockout stages of the HEC. So what is the point? Ulster’s answer to the Millennium Dome in waiting and a few self satisfied politicians’ dreams realised at the expense to the taxpayer and the Lisburn ratepayers.

Finally the last word must go to the great George Best who left us yesterday for a better place. He took with him a bit of my childhood dreams as well as the odd tear or two and I suspect many of the readers’ as well. We all have memories we own, that we crave will bring him close to our hearts. His boyish smile, the devilment in his eye and the dancing in his feet that mesmerised the footballing world made him so special. He was loved by women and admired by men. As a small boy my father took me to Windsor Park to watch the World Cup winning England team play Northern Ireland. I do not remember much nor did I see much. For at the front of the old shed I could hardly see above the wall and over it onto the raised pitch. One moment I did see will live in my heart forever. My eyes like golf balls, I was perfectly placed across from the England goal as I watched George, on the tips of my straining toes, he flicked the ball out of the air as it left Gordon Banks’ hand and headed it into the back of the net.

He took all of our dreams and lived them for us. He would create a moment of magic and we would relive it for hours in our backyards. One day we would grow up and be just like him. We could be heroes. That was the real magic of George Best. For he made us all heroes for a few hours in our gardens, streets and alleyways. The headline that night in the Saturday Night read “We Wuz Robbed.” We all have been robbed. Shine on you crazy diamond. You gave us so much pleasure. You filled our hearts with such deep joy. You filled our hearts will despair. The world is so much poorer with your passing. The world is so much richer for your being. Shine on you crazy diamond.

George was also a father, a brother and a son. We send out or deepest and sincerest condolences to the Best family circle. Hold them tight, and keep the memories burning bright deep inside your hearts.

GEORGE BEST 1946 - 2005

RIP

Yer Man In The Stand.