Your first sporting memories.

Mint Sauce · 04-07-2012 11:02pm #1

First one for me was the World Cup in Mexico '86, although I remember nothing from the event, barr the replays of Maradonas Hand of God against the English, I did at the time know that there was a major event going on, mainly due to getting a money box in the shape of the WC Mascot. The first WC I actually remember watching was Italia '90, the shot out agaisnst Romania in the second round and then the loss to the Italians in the quarters.

I remember the Seoul '88 Olympics, not for any of the events on the field, but for the political discussion that was going on at the time around it. First one I remember watching was Barcelona '92 and that song by Freddie Mecury and the Oprea lass.

Oddly, before England '96, I didn't even know that there was a European football championship, other than reruns of Suttgard '88 on Reeling in the Years, and a song by Christie Moore.

So, over to you, good people of AH, what were yours?

bgrizzley · 04-07-2012 11:07pm

breaking my thumb while in goal in Croke Park on a school tour

QuiteInterestin · 04-07-2012 11:07pm

Italia '90, don't remember much about it except for the Irish team songs and my uncle giving my brother an Italia '90 football

Remember USA 94 much better, anyone else remember the posters super valu gave away with all the different players on them, and the flip up cards of all the Irish team members that came in packs of kelloggs cereals?

Where To · 04-07-2012 11:09pm

Egg and spoon race when I was 4.

Pherekydes · 04-07-2012 11:11pm

The 1969 European Championships, particularly the 1500m, which saw Clonliffe's Frank Murphy win silver, though I also remember him winning the AAA title a few weeks earlier.

I have a sketchy memory of the '66 WC and the '68 Olympics.

Ghandee · 04-07-2012 11:12pm

Playing soggy biscuit with big Ron and gang at the back of the youth club disco.

Chips Ahoy · 04-07-2012 11:14pm

One memory i will never forget was Robbie Keanes last minute goal against Germany in the 2002 world cup and the whole school going crazy when it went in.

My first clear sporting memory was Galway wining the All Ireland in 2001. I'm From Mayo so wasn't the happiest memory although i still got too see and lift the cup.

Skid · 04-07-2012 11:15pm

Bruce Grobbelaar doing handstands around Wembley after Liverpool won the Milk Cup in 1982. Happy days!

Richard Hillman · 04-07-2012 11:15pm

Being thrown out of the sitting room by my father and grandad during the Ireland-Italy game at Italia 90. I was only 4 at the time so i fully understand their decision :pac:

El Weirdo · 04-07-2012 11:17pm

1981 FA cup final replay and Ricky Villa's brilliant goal.

leincar · 04-07-2012 11:23pm

1971 FA Cup final between Arsenal and Liverpool. Watched it in a rich Uncle's house as he had just gotten a colour TV. First thing I ever watched in colour.

Fell in love with the red shirt of Liverpool and even though we lost I still love the red shirt.

Next memory would be Munich Olympics 1972.

04-07-2012 11:24pm

I'm struggling to remember Italia '90 so I'm pretty sure my first memory is Man Utd winning the FA cup 4-0 in '94. Could have my year wrong though. I was wearing the refresher jersey but we were very poor so it could have been a handmedown from a couple of years before

Ray Houghton's goal against Italy in USA '94 would be soon after.

Biggest saddest memory for me was Mark Hughes being sold for 1.5 million, he was worth more than that

RhubarbCrumble · 04-07-2012 11:25pm

Packie Bonner's famous save in Italia 90. I was 10 and fell in love with him.

A2LUE42 · 04-07-2012 11:27pm

Junior rugby match in 78.

04-07-2012 11:28pm

RhubarbCrumble wrote: »

Packie Bonner's famous save in Italia 90. I was 10 and fell in love with him.

I think I remember the talk of it more than I actually remember it.

Finally a thread that makes me feel young

Fentdog84 · 04-07-2012 11:28pm

Carruth winning gold in the barcalona olympics in 92. First soccer memory was ireland beating NI 3-0 in 93. First GAA memory was Donegal beating Dublin in AI final.

efb · 04-07-2012 11:32pm

McGuigan beats Pedroza 1985

Where To · 04-07-2012 11:37pm

Serious answer 1984 FA Cup Final Everton v Watford.

thebaz · 04-07-2012 11:42pm

the Brazil team of the early 70s and George Best - and getting selected for the school under 13 A;s for first time , and not getting to play due to flu or something , feckin Doc, it all went downhill after that

TwoBirds · 04-07-2012 11:45pm

My dad throwing me up and down in the air in our living room after Everton won the FA cup final. 1995, I believe?

tomkav79 · 04-07-2012 11:55pm

I remember West Tip winning the Grand National, me mam let me pick it for her. I was only seven! I've had a love affair ever since......

Captain Darling · 04-07-2012 11:57pm

Padraig Pearses having a full blown running riot with another team in Athenry.

padd b1975 · 04-07-2012 11:58pm

Seamus Darby.

Copper_pipe · 04-07-2012 11:59pm

u/8 hurling blitz

Thatnastyboy · 05-07-2012 12:11am

My earliest sporting memory comes from when I was about 6:

I distinctly remember lining up for the 50m race in the parish sports one fine sunny evening, I had been practising like billy-o for this race cos I felt I had it won before I even started, in my mind I was the fastest child in the world,

However,

In the excitement of the build up to the 'big race' my excitement coupled with - I'm guessing a watery dinner - led me to chronically needing to poop, which I defiantly refused to do for fear of missing the race and my one shot at being parish champion,

So the time came and I lined up,

And with about thirty seconds to go I violently shat myself, and I mean with force, so I ran off, out the gate of the football pitch and the whole way home with shit flowing out of my shorts, and sploshing all over the place.

I never did get to run that race, and my dreams were shattered.

Thanks for the reminder OP, I thought I had erased that one.

kfallon · 05-07-2012 12:15am

Liverpool winning the FA Cup in 1986 to complete the double.....my sister was born a few hours after it!

I remember Italia '90 like it was yesterday, especially the '**** Schillaci' T-shirts

kfallon · 05-07-2012 12:16am

Thatnastyboy wrote: »

My earliest sporting memory comes from when I was about 6:

I distinctly remember lining up for the 50m race in the parish sports one fine sunny evening, I had been practising like billy-o for this race cos I felt I had it won before I even started, in my mind I was the fastest child in the world,

However,

In the excitement of the build up to the 'big race' my excitement coupled with - I'm guessing a watery dinner - led me to chronically needing to poop, which I defiantly refused to do for fear of missing the race and my one shot at being parish champion,

So the time came and I lined up,

And with about thirty seconds to go I violently shat myself, and I mean with force, so I ran off, out the gate of the football pitch and the whole way home with shit flowing out of my shorts, and sploshing all over the place.

I never did get to run that race, and my dreams were shattered.

Thanks for the reminder OP, I thought I had erased that one.

Now we know where your username came from

flutterflye · 05-07-2012 12:17am

I was losing some race or other, so I pretended to fall over and get grass in my eye - so to save face or some sh1t.

The best medal I received that year was 3rd place - there were only 3 of us in that race though!

El Weirdo · 05-07-2012 12:17am

tomkav79 wrote: »

I remember West Tip winning the Grand National, me mam let me pick it for her. I was only seven! I've had a love affair ever since......

With your mother?!:eek:

Galwayguy35 · 05-07-2012 12:18am

1980 All Ireland Hurling Final

flutterflye · 05-07-2012 12:22am

Oh actually, now that I think of it, I remember "Ooh ahh Paul McGrath, I say Ooh ahh Paul McGrath", and "We're all part of packy's army, We're all off to Italy, and we'll really shake em up, when we win the world cup, coz Ireland is the greatest football team".

DEFTLEFTHAND · 05-07-2012 12:23am

USA 94.

kfallon · 05-07-2012 12:27am

Christ I feel so old reading this thread

05-07-2012 12:29am

kfallon wrote: »

Christ I feel so old reading this thread

Aww

Palytoxin · 05-07-2012 12:30am

I remember watching the international rules when I was about 6 or 7 I'd say, cause I got to sit up in the windows of the classroom with the 5th and 6th class lads, there was only about 90/100 in the school at the time, I think it was 2000. It's funny the things you remember!

The next thing is playing an under 8s hurling match, I was only 6 at the time playing corner back, and we had a great win against a neighbouring club, weird how I still remember it too!

kfallon · 05-07-2012 12:30am

Deleted User wrote: »

Aww

Not as old as thebaz tho

05-07-2012 12:32am

kfallon wrote: »

Not as old as thebaz tho

But not as young as me

kfallon · 05-07-2012 12:33am

My first memory of playing sport was winning the u/8 city league, the final was a one sided affair and we won by 5 goals to nil........in hurling

kfallon · 05-07-2012 12:36am

Deleted User wrote: »

But not as young as me

Yeah ok, you made your point :mad:

JerryHandbag · 05-07-2012 12:38am

John Treacy winning silver at the Olympics 1984. First football memory was 1985 Cup final when United beat Everton.

rainbow kirby · 05-07-2012 12:42am

Watching the penalty shootout in the Ireland v Romania game in the 2nd round of Italia '90 - I was 6 at the time.

kfallon · 05-07-2012 12:43am

First full World Cup match I watched in Mexico '86, twas on a Saturday evening if I remember correctly and I settled down with me Da and brothers to watch it armed with a packet of Tayto and some kind of nutty bar

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9OxeeU7UYM

castletownman · 05-07-2012 12:56am

All Ireland hurling final 1996.

I distinctly remember being in Gorey for the homecoming that night and back then I was never any good at measuring crowds but there must have been 1 million people around the place. The following day in school wearing the Wexford jersey in and getting a photo taken with the Liam McCarthy Cup, and getting a bottle of pop and a packet of crisps for the occassion. Then in the local that evening when the local members of the panel were down signing autographs and my then baby brother got a picture taken of himself sitting in the Bob O'Keeffe cup.

Oh the memories

K-9 · 05-07-2012 1:18am

Donegal losing to Galway in the 83 All Ireland SF, the dirty dozen beat them in the final. First match watching Donegal live was the same Dublin team robbing us of a draw in a league match and the manager running onto the pitch and "consulting" about the decision that robbed us!

Soccer, 2 European Cup Finals, 84 and Heysel. First Irish memory was Stapleton scoring a fantastic header against Belgium, WC Semi Finalists in 86 and a 2-2 draw, start of the 88 qualification campaign. Also Lawrenson scoring against Scotland but the cameras missed it!

Barely remember Platini in 84 but do remember the hand of God in 86, couldn't understand why a pub in Rossnowlagh was so packed and went mad over an Argentinian goal!

SlyBacon93 · 05-07-2012 1:21am

Zidane's goal against brazil during the 1998 world cup final.

KKkitty · 05-07-2012 1:31am

Desert Orchid winning some race. It was in 1988 and my mam let me back Desert Orchid. Remember jumping on the couch, shouting at the tv and being happy as Larry when it won.

p.oconnor · 05-07-2012 1:40am

Michelle Smith winning gold at the 1996 olympics, I was only 5 and can remember the father picking me up and going mad celebrating .

Namlub · 05-07-2012 1:44am

Deleted User wrote: »

I think I remember the talk of it more than I actually remember it.

Finally a thread that makes me feel young

I wasn't even born in 1990

>_>

Jesus Wept · 05-07-2012 2:13am

QuiteInterestin wrote: »

Italia '90, don't remember much about it except for the Irish team songs and my uncle giving my brother an Italia '90 football

Remember USA 94 much better, anyone else remember the posters super valu gave away with all the different players on them, and the flip up cards of all the Irish team members that came in packs of kelloggs cereals?

lol, had the posters. So did Dougal from Father Ted.

They looked ridiculous, remember? A terrible photoshop of it's time, the player/s were based on a pitch background or something because it looked way out of whack.

Jesus Shaves · 05-07-2012 2:17am

wrote:

Heysel:D

Hope you're proud of that one as a Liverpool fan

3hn2givr7mx1sc · 05-07-2012 3:22am

Watching Sonia O'Sullivan in the Sydney Olympics. Was 6!

Your first sporting memories.

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