‘Stand up for the Ulsterman’.
It was a small gesture but it meant so much to so many.
During Ireland’s 1-1 draw with Sweden, a large contingent of Irish supporters started that famous Ulster chant in honour of Darren Rodgers, the 24-year-old Northern Ireland fan that died in tragic circumstances at the weekend.
Rodgers fell to his death at a beach in Nice, hours after cheering his country on against Poland.
The tribute was recognised, and appreciated, by Northern Ireland and their coach Michael O’Neill. On Newstalk’s Off The Ball, last night, Northern Irish journalist Colin Murray offered some background on how the chant came to be.
IFA thank Irish fans for classy gesture in honour of fan who sadly passed away https://t.co/XB6LZqBv6e
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) June 13, 2016
Tweets and texts had apparently been passed around between fans to try arrange a tribute to Rodgers during Northern Ireland’s game with Ukraine, on Thursday. Murray said:
“Little did we know, there would be men in green standing up, singing and applauding… While it is a huge moment – underneath the sadness of a fan coming to watch a football game and losing his life – [the Irish reaction] is not a total surprise, given some of the stuff that goes unreported.
“The media often love to cover when there is a scuffle or when people sing the wrong thing, when it comes to Republic and Northern Ireland fans, I’ve seen this for a long time. There are bars all over Belfast with the red hand of Ulster and the tricolour up, and they’re welcoming both fans. We’re sharing a fan park in Belfast.”
Murray says he visited an Irish bar in Nice ahead of the North’s opener and that 10-15% of the supporters there were supporting the Republic. “Everyone was partying together and having a right old laugh,” he commented.
“[This gesture] goes beyond that.”
It certainly did. There will be a further tribute paid to Rogers at Thursday’s group game with Ukraine.
