NIFG

An NIFG review… It really was a year of ups-and-downs (and here the clichés begin) for the Northern Ireland international squad and its supporters. We topped our group in March, we lost our manager in May, we slumped in September, we rallied in October, we (or at least Healy) broke records in November, but ultimately come June next year we’ll not be in Austria or Switzerland. We’ll be in Belfast of Ballymena, Lisnaskea or Lisburn watching on TV as Europe’s finest compete for the Euro 2008 title. But seriously, how can we be disappointed? As I viewed the draw for Group F way back in January 2006 I felt we had little chance of qualifying, an opinion seemingly reinforced by an opening day 3-0 home defeat by Iceland – how that team haunts my thoughts! Still, despite the opening September slip, the loss of Lawrie and Nigel’s early nightmare we went into the final game of the series with a chance, no matter how slim, of qualifying for a major tournament. That it was not to be was ultimate

Name:  John D. Dunlop Born: 1945, Ballymoney Died: December 2007 (age 62) Position: Inside-Forward Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: 2 Under-23 Caps / 1 Goal (1965-1968) , Youth Caps; Irish League: 1 Cap (1965) . Club Honours: (with Coleraine) Irish Cup Winner 1964/65 ; Blaxnit Cup Winner 1969/70, 1970/71 ; (with Linfield) City Cup Winner 1973/74 . Club Career: Clubs Seasons Signed Fee League FA Cup Europe Other Coleraine - - Youth - - - - Arsenal - - Youth 0(0)/ 0 - - - Coleraine 62/63-72/73 - - *404(3)/93 - 9(0)/0 - Linfield 73/74-76/77 c/s-73 - *11(3)/ 0 - - - TOTALS £- 415(6)/95 - 9(0)/0 - * all domestic games. Biography: A member of the Northern Ireland side that reached the finals of the European Youth To

Name: Edward Weir Born: 1910 Height: 5.09 ft Weight: 11.04 st Position: Left-Half Representative Honours: Ireland: 1 Full Cap (1939) ; Eire: 3 Full Caps (1939) ; Scotland XI (1940) . Club Honours: (with St Bernard's) Rosebury Charity Cup Winner 1930/31 ; (with Clyde) Scottish Cup Winner 1938/39 . Club Career: Teams Seasons Signed Fee League FA Cup Other Bonnybridge St Josephs - - - - - Camelon - - - (Scottish Junior) Falkirk 29/30 - 31/32 - - 7/ 0 - 6/0 St Bernard's 30/31 - Loan 14/ 1 3/0 2/0 St Bernard's 31/32 - 37/38 - - 180/10 8/0 26/0 Clyde 37/38 - 38/39 - - 44/ 0 - - Raith Rovers 46/47 - - 20/ 1 - - Dunfermline Ath. 47/48 c/s-47 - 3/ 0 - - Dundalk 48/49 c/s-48 - 0/ 0 - - TOTALS - - 268/12 11/0 34/0 Biography: Born in Ireland but raised in Scotland, Ned Weir began playing football with

Name: Gerard Mullan Born: Limavady Height: Weight: Position: Forward Representative Honours: Northern Ireland: 4 Full Caps (1983) ; Irish League: 5 Caps / 1 Goal (1980-1987) . Club Honours: (with Ballymena) Ulster Cup Winner 1980/81 ,   Co. Antrim Shield Winner 1979/80 ; (with Glentoran) Irish League Champion 1987/88 ; Irish Cup Winner 1982/83, 1984/85, 1985/86, 1986/87, 1987/88 ; Gold Cup Winner 1986/87 ; Ulster Cup Winner 1982/83, 1983/84 ; Co. Antrim Chalice 1987/88 . Club Career: Teams Seasons Signed Fee League FA . Cup FL . Cup Europe Other Newtowne - - - - - - - - Coolagh Celtic - - - - - - - - Limavady U. - - - (Irish League 'B' Division) Ballymena . U. 78/79 - 80/81 - - *80 (-)/ 27 - - 2(0)/0 - Everton 80/81 - 81/82 Oc

As the festive season approaches NIFG would like to wish all its readers a very Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous 2008... jcd

Name: Joseph Miller Born: 27 April 1899, Coleraine Died: Height: Weight: Position: Right-Half Representative Honours: Ireland: 3 Full Caps (1929) . Club Honours: (with Middlesbrough) Football League Division Two Champion 1926/27, 1928/29 . Club Career: Clubs Seasons Signed Fee League FA Cup Other Largs Athletic - - Morton 20/21-22/23 - 12/3 Arthurlie - - Loan Johnstone 23/24-24/25 Aug-23 Aberdare Athletic 25/26 Jun-25 37/4 3/0 Middlesbrough 26/27-29/30 Aug-26 140/0 13/0 Dolphin 30/31 Oct-30 Hibernian 30/31 Nov-30 18/0 4/0 Bournemouth & Bosc. Ath.