Author: Paul LittleIreland | c 1970 to c 1980 | Football (Soccer, Association football)Published on 9th June 2025 by Pitch Publishing Ltd in the United Kingdom.Hardback | 224 pages 223mm x 145mm x 24mm | 370g Tells the definitive story of Ireland’s infamous 1982 World Cup qualification campaign, while painting a vivid picture of 1980s Ireland through the eyes of a young football fan.By Irish Daily Star writer Paul Little, author of the widely acclaimed In the Shadow of Benbulben: Dixie Dean at Sligo Rovers.Primarily written in the present tense to give a ‘real-time’ feel to events, this riveting book:Draws on meticulous research of Irish newspapers and TV to bring to life all eight of the Republic of Ireland’s 1982 World Cup qualifying matchesDiscusses how Eoin Hand took over from John Giles as Ireland manager after the first qualifier in CyprusCovers the build-up to games in detail, from the squad announcements to the starting 11 on the day, including the pre- and post-match thoughts of many of those involvedDescribes matches in the present tense to convey a sense of immediacyFeatures the author’s childhood memories of life in Dublin in the early 1980s – the games children played, home life and what was on TV – with Irish and world news providing a backdrop to the qualifying campaignFinishes with a ‘what if’ chapter considering what might have happened had Ireland qualified for the 1982 World Cup, including the thoughts of Eoin Hand himselfPerfect for all nostalgia-lovers and fans of Irish football, this book transports you back to a depressed 1980s Ireland and a troubled world where football dreams offered a thrilling escape.
