OMAGH TO BENEFIT FROM KOSOVO CRISIS
Omagh to benefit from Kosovo crisis
By IAN STARRETT
REPUBLIC of Ireland international footballers, left without a match because of the Kosovo crisis, were last night queuing up to offer to help raise money for the Omagh Disaster Appeal.
Some of their top stars were volunteering to turn out in tonight's charity game at Brandywell Stadium in Londonderry to aid the Omagh fund.
They volunteered their services after the lunchtime announcement that the Republic of Ireland's Euro 2000 qualifier against Yugoslovia in Belgrade this Saturday had been called off.
This follows the NATO warning about air strikes in retaliatory action to the Serb army atrocities of ethnic Albanians in the province of Kosovo.
The possibility is that more famous names from the Republic's international squad could now be coming to Londonderry with Mr McCarthy today.
Derry City commercial manager Jim Roddy said last night that McCarthy himself would now be playing in the game and certainly joining him will be Pat Bonner, Willie McStay, John Aldridge and, possibly, Ray Houghton and Shay Given.
Spurs idol David Ginola confirmed yesterday that he will be on his arranged flight to Northern Ireland this morning and that he is looking forward to pulling on the famous candy striped Derry City shirt.
Mr Roddy said that a lot of work had gone on over the past three weeks to organise the game and the pre-match concert starring Phil Coulter, Brian Kennedy and Gary McAvoy.
"If the Brandywell had been twice the size we probably could have filled it," he said.
By IAN STARRETT
REPUBLIC of Ireland international footballers, left without a match because of the Kosovo crisis, were last night queuing up to offer to help raise money for the Omagh Disaster Appeal.
Some of their top stars were volunteering to turn out in tonight's charity game at Brandywell Stadium in Londonderry to aid the Omagh fund.
They volunteered their services after the lunchtime announcement that the Republic of Ireland's Euro 2000 qualifier against Yugoslovia in Belgrade this Saturday had been called off.
This follows the NATO warning about air strikes in retaliatory action to the Serb army atrocities of ethnic Albanians in the province of Kosovo.
The possibility is that more famous names from the Republic's international squad could now be coming to Londonderry with Mr McCarthy today.
Derry City commercial manager Jim Roddy said last night that McCarthy himself would now be playing in the game and certainly joining him will be Pat Bonner, Willie McStay, John Aldridge and, possibly, Ray Houghton and Shay Given.
Spurs idol David Ginola confirmed yesterday that he will be on his arranged flight to Northern Ireland this morning and that he is looking forward to pulling on the famous candy striped Derry City shirt.
Mr Roddy said that a lot of work had gone on over the past three weeks to organise the game and the pre-match concert starring Phil Coulter, Brian Kennedy and Gary McAvoy.
"If the Brandywell had been twice the size we probably could have filled it," he said.
Further Information
Publisher: NEWS LETTER
Ref: NL/333
Published Date: 06-Oct-98
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