THE VITALS:

Team: Northern Ireland

Brand: Umbro

Era: 2006-08 (Used during the 2008 UEFA European Championship Qualifying campaign)

Name/Number: -

CONDITION: EXCELLENT

This article comes in nothing short of excellent condition, looking as close to brand new as you will find this shirt today!

DIMENSIONS:

Size: Small

Pit to Pit Measurement: 19 inches

Shirt Length: 27.5 inches 

Made using Umbro’s ‘Thermo Regulation’ technology range that they introduced ahead of the 2006-07 season; this shirt provides excellent dimensions for a size small fitting football shirt!

DESCRIPTION:

In Umbro’s second bid at producing Northern Ireland’s home shirt; they would retain the navy accents that they carried from the last Patrick produced kits, albeit in a more subtle and contemporary design. The classic rich green synonymous with ‘the Green and White army’ formed the overwhelming majority of the shirt after the last iteration featured a thick navy block down the sleeves; instead, this classy shirt would come with a minimal white collar, while a navy ‘V’ was formed underneath, and comes off the left shoulder, while there are also small navy accents on the inner sleeve and at the base of the shirt. This shirt would be worn in famous victories over Spain, Sweden, and Denmark during a memorable Euro 2008 qualifying campaign!

THE SEASON(S):

Northern Ireland would debut their new cycle home shirt in their May 21^st 2006 defeat to Uruguay, as both nations would have to watch the upcoming FIFA World Cup in Germany from home. A defeat 6 days later to Romania was a non-event for Lawrie Sanchez’ side as they eagerly looked forward to qualifying for Euro 2008.

Before the qualification campaign began, they would defeat Finland in Helsinki on August 16^th. Underdogs in a group that also featured: Spain, Denmark and Sweden; ‘the Green and White Army’ had only just defeated England at home less than 12 months prior, and knew that any nation would have to earn their points at Windsor Park!

Their Group F opener at home to Iceland was a disaster as they lost 3-0 on September 2^nd. 4 days later however, they would complete a victory to rival their upset of England in 2005, as David Healy’s hat-trick earnt them a 3-2 win over Spain! A 0-0 draw away against Denmark on October 7^th, was then followed up by a 1-0 win over Latvia, with Healy scoring again, as Northern Ireland signed off a very productive 2006.

2007 began with a home nations friendly against Wales that ended 0-0 on February 6^th, and then their qualification bid went from strength to strength; as Lichtenstein were easily beaten 4-1 on March 24^th as David Healy netted his second hat-trick of qualification, and the Leeds United striker certified his billing as a national hero when his brace earnt his country a 2-1 win over Sweden on March 28^th! This game would prove to be Lawrie Sanchez’ final game in charge of Northern Ireland as he became Fulham’s caretaker manager, and eventually full-time coach.

Nigel Worthington was given the task of building on the excellent foundations left behind by his predecessor, and his first game in charge yielded a 3-1 win over Lichtenstein at home on August 22^nd.

Norther Ireland would travel to Riga on September 8^th expected to take another 3 points, however, the Baltic nation would inflict N.I’s first defeat since the loss to Iceland in September 2006, as they won 1-0. 4 days, Iceland completed the double over Northern Ireland, as Keith Gillespie’s late own-goal condemned his nation to a 2-1 defeat.

They would earn a very creditable 1-1 draw away against Sweden, however, a win was required for any chance of qualification, as they paid the price for those defeats to Latvia and Iceland. Still, Northern Ireland, in their final home game of the qualifying campaign would send their fans home happy as they beat Denmark 2-1 at home on November 17^th. David Healy would score his 13th goal in qualification, making him the highest ever scorer in European Championship Qualifying history! In their final outing on November 21^st, they would fall 1-0 away against Spain.

2008 began with a 1-0 defeat at home to Germany, before the kit was exihibited for the final time in the excellent 4-1 win at home against Georgia on March 26^th!

The notable players that season(s) were:

David Healy, Kyle Lafferty, Keith Gillespie, James Quinn, Sammy Clingan, Grant McCann, Chris Brunt, Steven Davis, Ivan Sproule, Tony Capaldi, Stuart Elliot, Damien Johnson, Aaron Hughes, Jonny Evans, Chris Baird, Stephen Craigan, George McCartney, Gareth McAuley, Michael Duff, Roy Carroll, Maik Taylor