If you grew up in the 1970s and 1980s, doubtless you received a few birthday cards that resemble this cover of TV Times from May 1971, featuring a football photograph given a bit of artistic treatment to try and make it impossible to recognise the players, thereby not alienating fans of other teams – though that’s definitely Pat Rice on the left.
Football was on the cover because it was Home Internationals week, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland facing off against each other over the course of a week to uncover the British champions.
ITV pundit and still a mainstay of the Norther Irish side, Derek Dougan gave his views on the upcoming competition, saying, “If we win against England, we will win the competition.” And why not? After all, they had George Best, who, according to Dougan, was, ‘Happiest just being ‘one of the lads’ – and he takes his turn making the tea like the rest of us.’
As it turned out, Dougan wasn’t far off – Northern Ireland were beaten 1-0 in Belfast by England in the opening game, but rallied to beat Scotland and Wales to finish second.
There are plenty of traditionally trenchant views from ‘the Doog’ across his four page preview here.
