France 1998 FIFA World Cup - Qualifying

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In 1998 the World Cup was hosted by France for the second time, and for the second time Northern Ireland did not make the trip. While the Irish FA, along with the other Home Nations, had not entered the 1938 competition, Northern Ireland's failure to qualify meant that they missed out for a third consecutive tournament, despite an increase to 32 finalists. 

Following a strong finish to their Euro 96 qualifying campaign Northern Ireland felt they might have had a chance of making it - alas it was not to be. Strong performances against European Champions Germany and a decent home draw with a fancied Portuguese team were off-set by poor results against an (incorrectly) unregarded Ukraine and the group's genuine minnows, Armenia and Albania. Northern Ireland finished second bottom of their group, with a single win to their name. Ultimately, the poor campaign cost manager Bryan Hamilton his job.

European Qualifying Group 9

Rank	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	Germany	10	6	4	0	23	9	14	22
2	Ukraine	10	6	2	2	10	6	4	20
3	Portugal	10	5	4	1	12	4	8	19
4	Armenia	10	1	5	4	8	17	-9	8
5	N. Ireland	10	1	4	5	6	10	-4	7
6	Albania	10	1	1	8	7	20	-13	4

Germany qualified for the finals. 
Ukraine qualified for the play-offs where they lost 3-1 on aggregate to Croatia.

Results

	ALB	ARM	GER	NIR	POR	UKR
ALB		1-1	2-3	1-0	0-3	0-1
ARM	3-0		1-5	0-0	0-0	0-2
GER	4-3	4-0		1-1	1-1	2-0
NIR	2-0	1-1	1-3		0-0	0-1
POR	2-0	3-1	0-0	1-0		1-0
UKR	1-0	1-1	0-0	2-1	2-1

Northern Ireland Line-Ups

Terry Hayes (physio), Steve Lomas, Danny Griffin, Gerard McMahon, Derek McKinley (team attendant), Jon McCarthy, Kevin Horlock, Cameron Ramsey (medic)
Darren Patterson, Jim Magilton, Barry Hunter, Roy Carroll, Alan Fettis, Aidan Davison, Iain Dowie, Gerry Taggart, James Quinn
Gerry Armstrong (assistant manager), Keith Rowland, Michael Hughes, Nigel Worthington, Bryan Hamilton (manager), Phil Mulryne, Keith Gillespie, George O'Boyle, Willie McFaul (gk coach)
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Match Programmes 

<< Euro 1996 Qualifying Campaign --- Euro 2000 Qualifying Campaign >>
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Friendlies 1994-1997

Cameron McGeehan

Name: Cameron McGeehan
Born: 6 April 1995, Surrey (ENG)
Height: 5.11 ft
Weight:
Position: Midfielder

Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: 3 Under-21 Caps (2013-2014), Under-19 (2013), Under-17, 9 Under-16 Caps.
Club Honours: (with Norwich) FA Youth Cup Winner 2012/13; (with Luton) Conference Champion 2013/14.
Awards: Conference Player of the Month Apr/14.


Club Career: 
Teams ...... --Seasons-- Signed -Fee- -League- FA Cup
Fulham .................... -03 Youth .0(0)/ 0
Chelsea ....................-05 Youth .0(0)/ 0
Norwich City ...............-10 Youth .0(0)/ 0

Luton Town.. 13/14 ..... Jan-14 .Loan 18(0)/ 3
Cambridge U. 14/15 ..... Jan-15 .Loan .4(0)/ 3 2(0)/0
Luton Town.. 14/15 ..... Feb-15 .Loan 13(2)/ 3 
Luton Town . 15/16-16/17 Jun-16 Undis
Barnsley ... 17/18- date Jun-17 Undis
Scunthorpe U 17/18 ..... Jan-18 .Loan

Biography:
Captain of the Norwich side that won the 2013 FA Youth Cup, he scored penalties in both legs of a 4-2 aggregate win over ex-club, Chelsea.

Had been on the books at Fulham before signing for Chelsea as a 10-year-old in an £80,000 deal. He signed for Norwich after being released by Chelsea.

Joined Luton on a months loan in January 2014. The move was extended to the end of the season as Luton won the Conference title and McGeehan's impressive form earned him the Conference Player of the Month award for April.

Capped by Northern Ireland at Schoolboy and Youth level by Northern Ireland before elevation to the Under-21 set-up while just eighteen. Made his Under-21 debut as a sub in a 1-0 win over Cyprus in November 2013.

Made the bench for Norwich's senior team for a League Cup tie against Crawley in August 2014. After enjoying further successful loan spells with Cambridge and back at Luton McGeehan felt his career would be better served be leaving Carrow Road behind. He was once again signed by Luton, this time on a permanent deal worth "six figures".

In September 2015, McGeehan rejected a call-up for under-21 qualification matches against Scotland and Iceland, stating that he was "reconsidering his international future." In January 2017 he suffered a broken leg in a match against Portsmouth.

In May 2018 McGeehan was a surprise inclusion in the Northern Ireland squad for the Central American tour, though he had to withdraw through injury.

IrishFA
Flown From The Nest
Wikipedia

Northern Ireland Under-21 Cap Details:
19-11-2013 Cyprus H W 1-0 ECQ sub
05-03-2014 Italy. H L 0-2 ECQ
09-09-2014 Serbia H L 1-4 ECQ sub

Summary: 1(2)/0. Won 1, Drew 0, Lost 2.

Liam Donnelly

Name: Liam Francis Peadar Donnelly
Born: 7 March 1996, Dungannon
Height: 5.10 ft
Weight: 11.02 st
Position: Defender / Midfielder

Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: Full, Under-21, Under-17, Under-16.
Club Honours: (with Fulham) FA Youth Cup Runner-Up 2013/14.

Club Career:
Teams ...... --Seasons-- Signed -Fee- League FA Cup FL Cup Other
Dungannon Sw 11/12 ....... 2010 Youth 6(1)/0
Fulham ................. Aug-12 Youth 0(0)/0
Crawley Town 15/16 ..... Jul-15 .Loan 9(1)/0 ...... 1(0)/0 1(0)/0
Heart of Midlothian .... Jul-16 Trial
Hartlepool United ...... Aug-16 .Free
Motherwell . 18/19- date Jun-18

Biography:
To follow.

Irish FA
IFA Premiership

Northern Ireland Full Cap Details:
04-06-2014 Chile.. A L 0-2 FR sub
still active

Northern Ireland Under-21 Cap Details:
13-11-2012 England. A L 0-2 FR sub
09-09-2013 Belgium. A L 0-1 ECQ sent-off
15-10-2013 Serbia.. A L 1-3 ECQ
14-11-2013 Italy... A L 0-3 ECQ
19-11-2013 Cyprus.. H W 1-0 ECQ
05-03-2014 Italy... H L 0-2 ECQ
05-09-2015 Scotland H L 1-2 ECQ
08-09-2015 Iceland. A D 1-1 ECQ
still active.

William McFrederick

Name: William McFrederick
Born: 24 February 1985, Enniskillen
Height: 6.01 ft
Weight:
Position: Goalkeeper

Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: Under-20, Under-19, Under-17, 2 Under-16 Schools (2001), Junior (2005).
Club Honours: (with Ballymena) Co. Antrim Shield Runner-Up 2006/07.

Club Career:

Clubs	Seasons	Signed	Fee	League	FA Cup	FL Cup	Europe	Other
Ballinamallard United	-	-	Youth	-	-	-	-	-
Fulham	-	2001	Youth	0(0)/0	-	-	-	-
Crawley Town	03/04	Jan-04	Loan	-	(Southern League)		-	-
Ballymena United	04/05-06/07	c/s-04	Free	34(0)/0	3(0)/0	3(0)/0	-	5(0)/0
Ballinamallard United	06/07	-	Free	-	-	-	-	-
Glenavon	06/07-07/08	Dec-06	Free	1(0)/0	-	1(0)/0	-	1(0)/0
Glentoran	07/08	Jul-07	Loan	0(0)/0	-	-	0(0)/0	-
Armagh City	08/09-09/10	c/s-08	Free	-	-	-	-	-
TOTALS		£0		35(0)/0	3(0)/0	4(0)/0	0(0)/0	6(0)/0

Biography:
William McFrederick comes from a footballing family - his father, Sammy, was a goalkeeper with Derry City and Ballymoney. William joined Fulham in 2001 as a sixteen-year-old where he was to become an understudy to Edwin van der Sar and Maik Taylor. In January 2004 he was sent on loan to Crawley Town of the Southern League to gain some firstteam experience, but shortly after his return to Craven Cottage he was released. He wasn't without a club for long as Ballymena United stepped in to sign him on a short-term deal as cover for their Intertoto Cup campaign.

In the summer of 2004 McFrederick was selected for the Northern Ireland Milk Cup Elite squad and starred in a memorable win over Brazil. He had previously played for County Fermanagh in the younger age groups and at the 2004 tournament his younger brother Matthew did likewise. In April 2005 McFrederick was part of the Northern Ireland Junior international squad that took part in the annual Quadrangular tournament against Scotland, the Isle of Man and the Republic of Ireland.

McFrederick remained with Ballymena for three seasons, claiming a regular place in 2005/06 and appearing in a 2-1 Co. Antrim Shield final defeat by Linfield. His form saw him called into the Northern Ireland Under-21 squad, but he never made it further than the substitutes bench as fellow Fermanagh-man, Michael McGovern was Roy Millar's preferred number one.

Having lost his place at Ballymena at the start of the 2006/07 season McFrederick spent some time on loan at his first club, Ballinamallard United. In December 2006 he was allowed to join Glenavon, where he was limited to only rare firstteam appearances. He joined Glentoran on loan in the summer of 2007 as goalkeeping cover for their UEFA Cup matches against AIK Solna, though returned to the Glenavon bench for the bulk of the 2007/08 season.

Having been released by Glenavon in the summer of 2008, McFrederick joined Armagh City. A change of jobs in 2010 appears to have curtailed his playing career.

Photo by Tubby Morton from the OWC forum.

Oliver Norwood

Name: Oliver James Norwood Born: 12 April 1991, Burnley (England) Height: 5.11 ft Weight: 12.00 st Position: Midfielder Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: Full (2010-date), 1 B Cap (2009), Under-21 (2009-date), Youth; England: Youth. Club Honours: (with Brighton) EFL Championship Runner-up 2016/17 (promoted); (with Fulham) EFL Championship Play-Off Winner (promoted) 2017/18.

Club Career:
Teams.........--Seasons-- Signed -Fee- -League- FA Cup FL Cup Other
Manchester U. ............. 2007 Youth .0(0)/ 0
Carlisle U... 10/11 ..... Sep-10 .Loan .4(2)/ 0 ............. 1(0)/0

Scunthorpe U. 11/12 ..... Aug-11 .Loan 14(1)/ 1 0(1)/0 1(0)/0 1(0)/0
Coventry City 11/12 ..... Jan-12 .Loan 17(1)/ 2
Huddersfield. 12/13-13/14 Jun-12 ..... 75(5)/ 8 4(2)/1 4(0)/0
Reading ..... 14/15-15/16 Aug-14 £1.2m 75(6)/ 4 8(1)/1 2(0)/0
Brighton & HA 16/17- date Aug-16 Undis 16(17)/0 1(0)/0 3(0)/0 
Fulham ...... 17/18 ..... Jul-17 .Loan 22(14)/5 1(0)/0 1(0)/0 0(3)/0
Sheffield U.. 18/19 ..... Aug-18 .Loan

Biography:
A product of the same Manchester United youth set-up that has produced the likes of the Evans brothers and Craig Cathcart in recent seasons, Ollie Norwood signed his first professional contract in July 2009.

Already capped at Youth level by England, Norwood switched allegiances to Northern Ireland. He initially played for Northern Ireland in friendlies and minor tournaments, including an Elite success in the 2009 Milk Cup, while awaiting clearance. He made his competitive début in a 1-1 UEFA Under-21 Championship qualifier against Germany in November 2009, scoring the equaliser with a stoppage time free kick. In May 2010 he starred for Northern Ireland in the Elite Round of the UEFA Under-19 Championship, scoring twice (including another free-kick) in a 2-2 draw with Russia and a penalty to give the Irish a 1-0 lead against Italy prior to an eventual 3-2 defeat.

Norwood received his first senior call-up for the August 2010 friendly against Montenegro. He made his debut as a 64th minute substitute for Sammy Clingan, though by then Northern Ireland were already trailing 2-0 which turned out to be the final score.

Yet to make his United début, Norwood had a loan spell at Carlisle cut short by injury early in the 2010/11 season. In August 2011 he joined Scunthorpe on loan through to the following January. It was during his time at the Iron that Norwood scored his first senior goal, a trademark "belter" in a 2-2 draw with Huddersfield. Another loan spell that season with Coventry saw him play alongside Sammy Clingan but suffer relegation from the Championship.

In the summer of 2012 Norwood announced that he would be seeking a move away from Manchester United, despite the offer of a new contract, as he sought regular firstteam football. He drew interest from several clubs before eventually signing for Huddersfield.

In 2014 he moved to Reading in a reported £1.2 million deal.

More to follow.

ManU Profile

Northern Ireland Cap Details:
11-08-2010 Montenegro.... A L 0-1 FR. sub

09-02-2011 Scotland...... N L 0-3 CNC sub

24-05-2011 Rep. Ireland.. A L 0-5 CNC sub

27-05-2011 Wales......... N L 0-2 CNC
still active

Northern Ireland B Cap Details:
06-05-2009 Scotland...... A L 0-3 FR sub

Summary: 0(1)/0. Won 0, Drew 0, Lost 1.

Northern Ireland Under-21 Cap Details:
12-08-2009 Portugal...... A L 1-2 FR. sub
13-11-2009 Germany....... H D 1-1 ECQ 1 goal
17-11-2009 Czech Republic H L 1-2 ECQ 1 goal
02-03-2010 San Marino.... A W 3-0 ECQ 2 goals
03-09-2010 San Marino.... H W 4-0 ECQ
07-09-2010 Germany....... A L 0-3 ECQ

31-05-2011 Faroe Islands. A D 0-0 ECQ

10-08-2011 Faroe Islands. H W 4-0 ECQ
still active

Pictures kindly supplied by Roy Cathcart.