CANON EDGAR TURNER has two obsessions in his life: the cloth and the fortunes of the Northern Ireland football team.
They may have only ever qualified for three World Cups but the 95-year-old has seen them all.
And in between, he’s been there for the heartache and struggle too.
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But, as the rejuvenated side are within a whisker of confirming their place at next summer’s European Championships in France, their loyal supporter has put in the hard yards to travel to the Faroe Islands and watch his beloved side’s latest assignment.
He is wary and has every right to be. The Faroes are riding the crest of a wave after June’s sensational victory over Greece. Tickets for this evening’s clash sold out within 16 hours because of the upturn in the country’s fortunes. This is the best they’ve ever been.
From six games, they’ve won twice, beating the Greeks home and away. They pushed Hungary and Romania all the way, succumbing to defeat by a single goal in both encounters. Currently, they are placed higher in the group than Greece and Finland.
The Faroe Islands have already beaten Greece twice in the group and won't fear playing Northern Ireland, regardless of their form. Thanassis Stavrakis / AP/Press Association Images
Thanassis Stavrakis / AP/Press Association Images / AP/Press Association Images
Michael O’Neill knows the damage they can do to under-prepared teams and showed his players the opening ten minutes of the Faroes’ recent 2-1 win in order to get his point across.
“I know that the Faroese are big, strong, athletic fishermen and mountaineers”, the sprightly Turner told Sky Sports’ Paul Gilmour.
But I think the speed of the Northern Ireland team and its lightness are good. I think we have a good chance. If we win here, there’s a great boost and I think Hungary will shake in their shoes if we do.”
Right now, Michael O’Neill’s side are second in Group F, one point behind Romania. But a win tonight could very well take them clear at the top, with the current leaders facing a tricky looking fixture in Budapest against third-placed Hungary.
And the maths are pretty straightforward. Should the Hungarians fail to win their next two games and Northern Ireland rack up a couple of victories, automatic qualification will be assured and it will mean an appearance at a major tournament for the first time since 1986.
And that would make Canon Edgar Turner a very happy man indeed.
95-year-old Canon Edgar Turner travels to Faroe Islands to cheer on his beloved Northern Ireland
CANON EDGAR TURNER has two obsessions in his life: the cloth and the fortunes of the Northern Ireland football team.
They may have only ever qualified for three World Cups but the 95-year-old has seen them all.
And in between, he’s been there for the heartache and struggle too.
But, as the rejuvenated side are within a whisker of confirming their place at next summer’s European Championships in France, their loyal supporter has put in the hard yards to travel to the Faroe Islands and watch his beloved side’s latest assignment.
He is wary and has every right to be. The Faroes are riding the crest of a wave after June’s sensational victory over Greece. Tickets for this evening’s clash sold out within 16 hours because of the upturn in the country’s fortunes. This is the best they’ve ever been.
From six games, they’ve won twice, beating the Greeks home and away. They pushed Hungary and Romania all the way, succumbing to defeat by a single goal in both encounters. Currently, they are placed higher in the group than Greece and Finland.
Michael O’Neill knows the damage they can do to under-prepared teams and showed his players the opening ten minutes of the Faroes’ recent 2-1 win in order to get his point across.
“I know that the Faroese are big, strong, athletic fishermen and mountaineers”, the sprightly Turner told Sky Sports’ Paul Gilmour.
Right now, Michael O’Neill’s side are second in Group F, one point behind Romania. But a win tonight could very well take them clear at the top, with the current leaders facing a tricky looking fixture in Budapest against third-placed Hungary.
And the maths are pretty straightforward. Should the Hungarians fail to win their next two games and Northern Ireland rack up a couple of victories, automatic qualification will be assured and it will mean an appearance at a major tournament for the first time since 1986.
And that would make Canon Edgar Turner a very happy man indeed.
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