NO GOALS FOR OWEN, BUT HE'S STILL A HIT WITH FANS
No goals for Owen, but he's still a hit with fans
LIVERPOOL and England star, Michael Owen, turned out to be the main attraction at Omagh Town's St. Julian's Road on Monday evening but he disappointed the fans in his 20 minute spell, failing to find the target.
His best effort was a shot from 10 yards in front of goal that ended up almost at the corner flag.
The hat-trick of memorial matches for the Omagh Fund was completed on Monday evening when Owen and the full Liverpool line-up togged out and graced the turf that Manchester United and Chelsea had already played on.
The 'house full' signs were up all around the ground, and in fact the Country end Terrace took on something similar to the former Anfield Kop for the big occasion.
On the houses adjacent to the ground, one window had a large sheet draped out reading 'Welcome to Omagh, L.F.C.', while on the neighbouring, the initial 'OT' could be seen on another sheet.
Announcer, Charlie Collins, seemed to have a problem getting his tongue around some of the 'foreigners' on the Liverpool team as he went through the team list, but the most embarrassing was calling Berger, Burger.
Liverpool-born singer, John Kennedy, sang his newly released single 'Town of Tears', proceeds of sales will go to the Omagh Fund, and it is available on the Internet.
Liverpool had experienced its own tragic loss after the Hillsborough disaster over 10 years ago, and the players came to Omagh to pay their respect to a town which had also suffered a terrible tragedy just over a year ago.
The silence which engulfed the ground as those attending remembered those who had died had to be experienced to be fully appreciated.
Then it was down to the main action of the evening the match.
The talk was of Chelsea scoring eight and Man United scoring nine, would Liverpool make it double figures? Even Roy McCreadie was quoted in several papers as saying he hoped they would.
Maybe that comment caught Liverpool off guard and they thought they were going to get it easy against the Irish League first division.
For the first 20 minutes, Omagh totally outplayed the English Premier giants, and indeed led from early on.
Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier was up off his bench on several occasions and probably had the chorus of Shania Twain hit single 'That don't impress me much' ringing through his head as he watched his side struggle against the amateurs.
And rightly so, there was over 30 million pounds worth of talent on the pitch at one stage and it was the Omagh Town players who should have been getting the better wages.
It was all too much for one Omagh girl who is an ardent fan of the Anfield Reds.
Five-year-old Nicola Scanlon, from Ashdale Court, and a pupil at Gibson Primary School, bedecked in a Liverpool hat and scarf, and red gloves to match, had a few tears running down her cheeks as she found her team behind.
But words of encouragement from many quarters soon had her little cheeks glowing again and she could soon be heard uttering words of encouragement to Liverpool.
Her favourite player, Michael Owen, was still on the bench, but it was another star which got the Liverpool supporters going, Camara.
When he grabbed the equaliser in the 23rd minute, all of a sudden there were Liverpool flags and scarves waving high in the air.
It was one-way traffic after that with Liverpool going on to eventually score seven.
The biggest cheer of the night was reserved for Michael Owen, who came on for the start of the second half. Every time he touched the ball a chorus of girls from various parts of the ground could be heard.
But he disappointed the screaming fans on the night and did not score a goal, eventually coming off after about 20 minutes.
St. Eugene's Brass Band provided the entertainment at the interval, including that well know Liverpool theme "You'll Never Walk Alone", while there was a penalty competition going on at one set of posts, organised through the Western Education and Library Board.
And spare a thought for the reporter from the official match sponsors The Mirror. He arrived slightly late for the start, was refused admission, despite having the proper accreditation, and had to wait outside until the half-time break before taking his seat in the Press area.
Liverpool proved the perfect guests. As the players came out for the second half they stopped to sign autographs, people using whatever was at their disposal to record the moment, and after the match they completed a lap of honour, just about making it around the ground before they were engulfed by excited fans.
All in all, it was the perfect finish to the three Memorial Fund matches organised by lowly Omagh Town. Liverpool kept their promise, unlike United and Chelsea, a full squad of available regular first teamers, delighted 7,000 fans on what was a chilly night, and several thousand was raised to go someway to comforting those injured in the bombing atrocity that shook the world.
LIVERPOOL and England star, Michael Owen, turned out to be the main attraction at Omagh Town's St. Julian's Road on Monday evening but he disappointed the fans in his 20 minute spell, failing to find the target.
His best effort was a shot from 10 yards in front of goal that ended up almost at the corner flag.
The hat-trick of memorial matches for the Omagh Fund was completed on Monday evening when Owen and the full Liverpool line-up togged out and graced the turf that Manchester United and Chelsea had already played on.
The 'house full' signs were up all around the ground, and in fact the Country end Terrace took on something similar to the former Anfield Kop for the big occasion.
On the houses adjacent to the ground, one window had a large sheet draped out reading 'Welcome to Omagh, L.F.C.', while on the neighbouring, the initial 'OT' could be seen on another sheet.
Announcer, Charlie Collins, seemed to have a problem getting his tongue around some of the 'foreigners' on the Liverpool team as he went through the team list, but the most embarrassing was calling Berger, Burger.
Liverpool-born singer, John Kennedy, sang his newly released single 'Town of Tears', proceeds of sales will go to the Omagh Fund, and it is available on the Internet.
Liverpool had experienced its own tragic loss after the Hillsborough disaster over 10 years ago, and the players came to Omagh to pay their respect to a town which had also suffered a terrible tragedy just over a year ago.
The silence which engulfed the ground as those attending remembered those who had died had to be experienced to be fully appreciated.
Then it was down to the main action of the evening the match.
The talk was of Chelsea scoring eight and Man United scoring nine, would Liverpool make it double figures? Even Roy McCreadie was quoted in several papers as saying he hoped they would.
Maybe that comment caught Liverpool off guard and they thought they were going to get it easy against the Irish League first division.
For the first 20 minutes, Omagh totally outplayed the English Premier giants, and indeed led from early on.
Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier was up off his bench on several occasions and probably had the chorus of Shania Twain hit single 'That don't impress me much' ringing through his head as he watched his side struggle against the amateurs.
And rightly so, there was over 30 million pounds worth of talent on the pitch at one stage and it was the Omagh Town players who should have been getting the better wages.
It was all too much for one Omagh girl who is an ardent fan of the Anfield Reds.
Five-year-old Nicola Scanlon, from Ashdale Court, and a pupil at Gibson Primary School, bedecked in a Liverpool hat and scarf, and red gloves to match, had a few tears running down her cheeks as she found her team behind.
But words of encouragement from many quarters soon had her little cheeks glowing again and she could soon be heard uttering words of encouragement to Liverpool.
Her favourite player, Michael Owen, was still on the bench, but it was another star which got the Liverpool supporters going, Camara.
When he grabbed the equaliser in the 23rd minute, all of a sudden there were Liverpool flags and scarves waving high in the air.
It was one-way traffic after that with Liverpool going on to eventually score seven.
The biggest cheer of the night was reserved for Michael Owen, who came on for the start of the second half. Every time he touched the ball a chorus of girls from various parts of the ground could be heard.
But he disappointed the screaming fans on the night and did not score a goal, eventually coming off after about 20 minutes.
St. Eugene's Brass Band provided the entertainment at the interval, including that well know Liverpool theme "You'll Never Walk Alone", while there was a penalty competition going on at one set of posts, organised through the Western Education and Library Board.
And spare a thought for the reporter from the official match sponsors The Mirror. He arrived slightly late for the start, was refused admission, despite having the proper accreditation, and had to wait outside until the half-time break before taking his seat in the Press area.
Liverpool proved the perfect guests. As the players came out for the second half they stopped to sign autographs, people using whatever was at their disposal to record the moment, and after the match they completed a lap of honour, just about making it around the ground before they were engulfed by excited fans.
All in all, it was the perfect finish to the three Memorial Fund matches organised by lowly Omagh Town. Liverpool kept their promise, unlike United and Chelsea, a full squad of available regular first teamers, delighted 7,000 fans on what was a chilly night, and several thousand was raised to go someway to comforting those injured in the bombing atrocity that shook the world.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1408
Published Date: 21-Oct-99
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