YOU are Irish in Britain and you’re wont is to cheer against England in the World Cup - well, not in this Irish bar!
Irish pub goers cheering against England has been 'outlawed' by a publican based in north London with more than 40-years’ experience in the bar game in Britain.
But Galway man Ambrose Gordon said his request has been respectfully received by scores of Irish regulars who frequent the landmark Man of Aran in Rayner’s Lane, North London.
“I wouldn’t put up with it,” the former London hurler, manager and entrepreneur told The Irish Post. “I’ve worked here all my life. England has been very good to us, we’ve all made livings here, got on, that type of thing sends out the wrong signal and I wouldn’t want my English customers upset.”
Gordon, who has a long and colourful history in the capital, and has recently been involved in talks about a Hollywood production recounting his time running bootlegged videos of the Sunday Game into Britain, has managed landmark ‘Irish houses’ in London most notably The Spotted Dog in Willesden during the ‘80s and ‘90s.
“There have been lots of memories from lots of different World Cups featuring England,” he said. “But the standout one here is Italia 90 when Ireland beat Romania on penalties.
"There must have been 400or so Irish supporters in the place and they all went out and climbed the telegraph poles outside afterwards – the police came down in the vans but ended up dropping a lot of them into Camden so they could continue their night.”
A long time Manchester United supporter, Mr Gordon said he does not expect to have to enforce the code of conduct with his Irish customers – many of whom backbone the GAA scene in North London – for as long as England remain in the tournament stating the majority don’t need to be told.
“They are all getting on here, working hard, enjoying themselves – there is a certain respect for that,” he said.
