A story about the most significant Irish soccer game ever.
The great Puskas led Hungarian team of 1953 is credited as the first foreign team to beat England on home soil.That distinction however, rightfully belongs to the Republic of Ireland who beat England 2-0 at Goodison Park on the 21st September 1949.The declaration by the former Free State of a
Republic in the summer of that year established the historic context of the game against the old enemy.
The expected England win was reflected in the bookmaker’s odds of 10/1 against an Ireland victory. The documentary begins by setting the political and social background of Ireland at the time with interviews from the former Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald and Eamonn de Valera’s grandson, Eamon O’Cuiv.
To capture the atmosphere leading up to the match we have reunited surviving players – most now in their seventies.Through a combination of live-action and photographs they tell us their own personal story of the day – how they got there, how they felt and many other anecdotes and memories that they can recall.
(2002. Ireland. Colour. Beta. 45mins)
Directed by: Joel Conroy