Six Northern Irish football documentaries to see during the football shutdown

If you are stuck for a sporting fix, in addition to the League of Ireland themed documentaries we looked at earlier this week (see here), there is a rich catalogue of films about Northern Irish football that might help you through the being stuck in the house. 

So with no domestic football set to be played until June at the very earliest, why not check out some of these excellent films that give a rich and detailed look into all levels of the Northern Irish game. 

1. Tifo Football – The Team That Triumphed

YouTube channel Tifo Football did a series of short documentaries on the Irish League in 2019, which included a look into the rich history of Linfield. This five minute feature gives a brief but detailed look into the story one of the world football’s most successful clubs with some fantastic visuals. 

2. BBC – Crusaders FC – A Season With the Team 

This hour-long feature tells the story of Crusaders’ 2017/18 Irish League season with exclusive match-day footage and interviews. Filmed over ten months, this film follows the club’s defence of the Irish League title in extraordinary detail. 

3. Tifo Football – The Team That Died

The story of Belfast Celtic and their dramatic fall from the grace in the Irish League is told in this five minute animated feature - how within a year of winning the league, the Celts went out of existence. 

4. BBC – Real Lives Reunited – Northern Ireland – World Cup Spain 1982

In 1982 the Northern Ireland football team led by Bill Bingham reached the finals of the World Cup in Spain. There, in the heat of Valencia, they pulled off a major shock in beating hosts Spain in 1-0 in the group stages. The result saw them progress into the second group stages, where they were one win away from qualifying for the semi finals. This half an hour shot brings the squad together for a last look at that summer in 82’. 

5. Tifo Football – The Team That Stayed 

Another documentary on the Irish League with the focus on Clifftonville FC and how the club, with their predominantly Catholic support base, withstood some of the worst days of the Troubles in Belfast. 

6. Unknown – Linfield, Into the Blue Treble Double

This short film follows Linfield through the 2007/08 Irish League season, in a year which the blues completed a clean sweep of silverware. With match-day footage combined with first hand interviews, this 40 minute feature gives a detailed look into the one of the club’s most successful seasons. 

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— Extratime.ie (@ExtratimeNews) March 23, 2020