WATCH: 35 years ago today, Ray Houghton stuck the ball in the English net
Ireland fans celebrated again when Ireland reached the Euros in 2016 in France. Credit: Al Robinson (ETPhotos)
On this day in 1988, Ray Houghton carved his name into Irish football folklore as he scored Ireland’s first-ever goal at a major international tournament.
And it proved to be more than just a landmark moment as Houghton stuck the ball in the English net to earn a famous 1-0 victory for the Boys in Green.
The then-26-year-old Liverpool midfielder latched onto a John Aldridge flick to nod the ball past England keeper Peter Shilton after just six minutes in Stuttgart.
Kenny Sansom’s failure to clear a Tony Galvin cross allowed Aldridge to nod the ball to his Anfield clubmate and the Glasgow man made no mistake from ten yards.
Singer-songwriter Christy Moore would later immortalise the moment in his classic tune Joxer Goes to Stuttgart, a dramatic re-telling of a historic day.
It was an emotional day for Ireland manager Jack Charlton as he took on his country of birth - with whom he won the World Cup in 1966 - and his charges held on for a narrow win.
ON THIS DAY...
— Ireland Football (@IrelandFootball) June 12, 2023
years ago, Ray Houghton stuck the ball in the English net!#OTD | #COYBIGpic.twitter.com/1YGaES8BCD
