Fields of Wonder: The incredible story of Northern Ireland's journey to the 1982 World Cup

by Evan Marshall

Overview

For six glorious years and two astonishing World Cup campaigns in the 1980s, tiny Northern Ireland stood up to the global football giants, including mighty host nation Spain. The inspiring story of the squad, which matched legendary experience with extraordinary youthful talent, is one of battling spirit and good humor against the odds.

Spirit of ’82 tells the full story of how Northern Irish football flourished again for the first time since the glory days recounted in Spirit of ‘58, and after a period when not even the mercurial presence of George Best could lift the team beyond the occasional flash of brilliance in the midst of defeat.

Including interviews with 10 players and their manager, the book will transport football and sports fans pitch-side to revel in the drama of Northern Ireland’s fluctuating fortunes and footballing heroics on international stages from Wembley to Mexico City.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781780732404
Publisher:	Colourpoint
Publication date:	08/03/2022
Pages:	200
Product dimensions:	5.10(w) x 7.80(h) x 1.20(d)

Table of Contents

Foreword vii

Trouble Ahead 1

Deeper and Down 19

Putting the Band Together 37

British Champions 59

Crest of a Wave 79

'Players With Fire' 99

The Dream is Dead … and Alive Again 115

The Draw 140

It All Goes Wrong 157

Fallout 177

It All Goes Right 199

Yugoslavia 215

Honduras 231

The Night in Valencia 244

Austria 282

France 301

Epilogue 321

Appendix 1 Northern Ireland Internationals under Billy Bingham March 1980-July 1982 331

Appendix 2 Player Appearances 336

Acknowledgements 339