ARCH RIVALS TO JOIN FORCES FOR OMAGH CHARITY MATCH
Arch rivals to join forces for Omagh charity match
By Seamus McKinney
SCOTTISH football giants, Celtic and Rangers, are to combine in a symbolic gesture of Protestant and Catholic unity for a charity match to raise money for the Omagh bomb victims.
Manager of Omagh Town soccer club Roy McCreadie revealed yesterday that Rangers - who traditionally draw support from Northern Ireland's loyalist community - were keen to join with the traditionally nationalist Celtic for a game in Omagh.
Mr McCreadie said Rangers had already put the plan to him for a game against Omagh Town in the near future. The Glasgow club now intends to discussing the plan with their long-time rivals Celtic.
The Omagh Town boss revealed that Liverpool hopes to play a fund-raising game in Omagh within the next month; and Manchester United also plans a visit as soon as possible.
Mr McCreadie was speaking after Omagh Town withdrew their request for the use of the town's St Enda's GAA pitch for a soccer match to raise funds for the bomb victims.
The soccer club's request had led to a major dilemma for the GAA who claimed they could only agree by changing their constitution at annual congress.
While the GAA's Croke Park headquarters refused the request, there was widespread support for the move in Co Tyrone and throughout Northern Ireland, which led to St Enda's GAA club considering defying the headquarters ban and opening their grounds for the charity game.
A potential split in the GAA was avoided when Omagh Town withdrew the request.
Roy McCreadie said Omagh Town didn't want to be involved in any internal GAA dispute.
"It was only a request to the GAA. It has got out of all proportion and is nothing to do with Omagh Town football club," he said.
Mr McCreadie revealed that rather than one major charity game being played at the soccer club's grounds at St Julian's Road, there was now the prospect of a number of games.
He said Omagh Town would increase seating arrangements at St Julian's Road in a bid to raise as much money as possible for the bomb disaster fund.
Celtic and Rangers have both moved away from the bitter sectarian divide that once existed between the clubs, but they still attract their Northern Irish support from opposing sides of the community.
By coming together to play Omagh Town, the clubs are making a huge symbolic cross-community gesture.
St Enda's GAA club was due to discuss the latest developments at a meeting last night.
Club chairman Brendan McAleer declined to make any comment on the Omagh Town affair until he had talked to his committee although he pointed out that the club "had gone out on a limb" for the charity soccer match.
By Seamus McKinney
SCOTTISH football giants, Celtic and Rangers, are to combine in a symbolic gesture of Protestant and Catholic unity for a charity match to raise money for the Omagh bomb victims.
Manager of Omagh Town soccer club Roy McCreadie revealed yesterday that Rangers - who traditionally draw support from Northern Ireland's loyalist community - were keen to join with the traditionally nationalist Celtic for a game in Omagh.
Mr McCreadie said Rangers had already put the plan to him for a game against Omagh Town in the near future. The Glasgow club now intends to discussing the plan with their long-time rivals Celtic.
The Omagh Town boss revealed that Liverpool hopes to play a fund-raising game in Omagh within the next month; and Manchester United also plans a visit as soon as possible.
Mr McCreadie was speaking after Omagh Town withdrew their request for the use of the town's St Enda's GAA pitch for a soccer match to raise funds for the bomb victims.
The soccer club's request had led to a major dilemma for the GAA who claimed they could only agree by changing their constitution at annual congress.
While the GAA's Croke Park headquarters refused the request, there was widespread support for the move in Co Tyrone and throughout Northern Ireland, which led to St Enda's GAA club considering defying the headquarters ban and opening their grounds for the charity game.
A potential split in the GAA was avoided when Omagh Town withdrew the request.
Roy McCreadie said Omagh Town didn't want to be involved in any internal GAA dispute.
"It was only a request to the GAA. It has got out of all proportion and is nothing to do with Omagh Town football club," he said.
Mr McCreadie revealed that rather than one major charity game being played at the soccer club's grounds at St Julian's Road, there was now the prospect of a number of games.
He said Omagh Town would increase seating arrangements at St Julian's Road in a bid to raise as much money as possible for the bomb disaster fund.
Celtic and Rangers have both moved away from the bitter sectarian divide that once existed between the clubs, but they still attract their Northern Irish support from opposing sides of the community.
By coming together to play Omagh Town, the clubs are making a huge symbolic cross-community gesture.
St Enda's GAA club was due to discuss the latest developments at a meeting last night.
Club chairman Brendan McAleer declined to make any comment on the Omagh Town affair until he had talked to his committee although he pointed out that the club "had gone out on a limb" for the charity soccer match.
Further Information
Publisher: THE IRISH NEWS
Ref: IN/0421
Published Date: 01-Oct-98
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