The famous Lansdowne roar was in full evidence recently against France as we were treated to a raucous and stirring fan reaction to the arrival in Dublin of the World Cup Finalists. As ever, we were the 12th man for our Boys in Green. Lansdowne Road (or the Aviva if you prefer!) is a special place when Ireland play. But what of the history of the Irish soccer team at this famous venue?
Located in Dublin 4 (Ballsbridge) and nestled beside the River Dodder, the venue is named after the nearby road, which in turn was called after William Petty-FitzMaurice (the 1st Marquess of Lansdowne).
The history of the ground can be traced all the way back to 1872, when it was founded by Henry Dunlop, a track walker, an engineer and Trinity College graduate who founded the Irish Champion Athletic Club and was the organiser of the first All-Ireland Athletics Championships.
![](https://www.greenmachinepodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/LR-1-1024x682.jpeg)
Image: Getty Images – Michel Piquemal/Icon sport)
The orientation of the old ground was initially East/West, changed to North/South and the first stand was a covered stand on the West side with an uncovered stand to the left (completed in 1908). In 1928 the East side of the ground was fitted with a stand. The West stand was then replaced by a two-tier structure in 1955. In 1974 the lower tier of the West stand was renovated and then the East stand was completely rebuilt in 1983. The old Lansdowne Road had some iconic touches (such as the rail track running directly under the West Stand).
It was of course used primarily for Rugby (for international fixtures and Lansdowne Rugby Football Club and Wanderers Rugby Football Club), but the first international soccer match took place at Lansdowne Road on 17th March 1900 between Ireland and England (this was a time when the Belfast based Irish Football Association controlled the game throughout the island of Ireland) and England won 2-0. In 1927 the Irish Free State played an international game against Italy and this was the last soccer game played at the venue until Manchester United played Waterford in a European Cup tie in September 1968.
The FAI first leased the ground for international matches in 1971 and from 1990 until 2006 the ground was used for the vast majority of the home fixtures for the Irish soccer team. The traditional home of Irish Football is of course Bohemians Dalymount Park in Phibsborough (a wonderfully historic and atmospheric old venue with a storied history all of its own), but when Dalymount was deemed no longer suitable to host international fixtures, games were eventually moved to Lansdowne Road and the last full Irish international match played at Dalymount was in 1990 (in a friendly versus Morocco).
As most of the games were played at Lansdowne Road post 1990, floodlights were installed in 1993 to allow international soccer matches to take place in the evenings.
![](https://www.greenmachinepodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/LR2.jpeg)
In 2010 the famous old ground was replaced by a 51,700 all-seater football and rugby stadium. The development of the new stadium was announced in January 2004 at an initial cost of approximately €365 million (growing to €410 million). €190 million was to come from the Irish government with the remainder paid by the IRFU and the FAI.
The development was originally meant to begin in January 2007 but was slightly delayed (works commenced on 17th May 2007). While the stadium was being rebuilt internationals were mainly played at Croke Park with matches also staged at the RDS and Thomond Park in Limerick.
In February 2009, a sponsorship deal, reported to be in the region of €44 million for 10 years, was struck under which the new stadium would be known as the Aviva Stadium and it officially opened on 14th May 2010.
Unlike the old ground, which was exclusively owned by the IRFU, the Aviva Stadium is owned and controlled by the IRFU and the FAI through a 50:50 joint venture which has a reported 60-year lease on the stadium.
![](https://www.greenmachinepodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/AV-1024x576.webp)
The revamped stadium is a bowl shape with four tiers on three sides of the ground. The North Stand incorporates only the lower tier of the bowl (with the roof dipping and rolling down at this end) and is mostly used by away fans for international games. Planning permission was granted for this stand on the condition that it did not intrude on the local housing any more than the previous section of Lansdowne Road did. Decked out in green seats, on a match night the lit-up stadium with flashing lights and booming music is quite a sight and experience.
The first international game at the revamped stadium was a friendly against an Argentina side featuring Lionel Messi on 11th August 2010 and the first competitive goal was scored by Kevin Kilbane against Andorra on 7th September 2010. It is also the current venue for FAI Cup Finals.
The Aviva Stadium is Ireland’s only UEFA Category 4/Elite Stadium and has won recognition (including an award by the British Construction Industry for the innovation of its design).
![](https://www.greenmachinepodcast.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/AV-1-1024x575.webp)
There have been lots of famous games and moments over the years. Think Liam Brady’s winner over Brazil in 1987. Jason McAteer’s goal and our outstanding win against Holland in 2001. Shane Long’s breakaway strike in the crucial 1-0 victory against Germany in 2015. Special times that are seared into the memory of Irish football fans.
Admittedly, after the rebuild, the cavernous new Aviva Stadium felt corporate and sterile. We missed the famous creaky old Lansdowne Road with its memories of agony and ecstasy. But new grounds take time to bed in. We needed to get acquainted with our new home. And as the years have gone by, we have begun to feel comfortable in our surroundings. And that was in full evidence when France came to town. What an atmosphere (of course driven by our singing section in the South Stand!). And although we didn’t get the result we craved, we left the stadium with heads held high, and back into the night proud of our players and fellow supporters. The feeling and emotion that we collectively created was special.
Here is to more great memories in our famous home!
Wow, fantastic blog format! How long have you ever been running a blog for?
you make running a blog glance easy. The whole glance of your website is magnificent,
as neatly as the content material! You can see similar here
ecommerce
Hi there, always i used to check website posts here in the early hours in the dawn,
since i like to gain knowledge of more and more.
comprar medicamentos en España de manera sencilla Vale Spittal an der Drau Guide complet pour acheter médicaments en ligne en France
pin up casino https://azerbaijancuisine.com/# pin up onlayn kazino
pin-up
pin-up: pin-up oyunu – pin up az
pin up azerbaijan: pin up kazino – pin up azerbaijan
pin up yukle https://azerbaijancuisine.com/# pin up az
pin up azerbaycan
http://northern-doctors.org/# medication from mexico pharmacy
mexican rx online: buying prescription drugs in mexico – mexico pharmacies prescription drugs
https://northern-doctors.org/# best online pharmacies in mexico
purple pharmacy mexico price list northern doctors pharmacy mexico drug stores pharmacies
reputable mexican pharmacies online: mexican northern doctors – mexico drug stores pharmacies
https://northern-doctors.org/# mexico pharmacy
mexico drug stores pharmacies: northern doctors pharmacy – buying prescription drugs in mexico online
mexican pharmacy: northern doctors pharmacy – buying prescription drugs in mexico
http://northern-doctors.org/# buying prescription drugs in mexico
mexican border pharmacies shipping to usa mexican drugstore online mexico drug stores pharmacies
mexico drug stores pharmacies: northern doctors – mexico drug stores pharmacies
https://northern-doctors.org/# mexican pharmacy
mexico pharmacy: mexican pharmacy northern doctors – buying prescription drugs in mexico
http://northern-doctors.org/# purple pharmacy mexico price list
reputable mexican pharmacies online: northern doctors – buying prescription drugs in mexico
mexico drug stores pharmacies: mexican pharmacy northern doctors – mexico pharmacies prescription drugs
http://northern-doctors.org/# mexico pharmacies prescription drugs
mexican border pharmacies shipping to usa northern doctors pharmacy reputable mexican pharmacies online
best online pharmacies in mexico: mexican pharmacy – mexico pharmacies prescription drugs
reputable mexican pharmacies online: northern doctors pharmacy – medication from mexico pharmacy
https://northern-doctors.org/# mexico pharmacies prescription drugs
medication from mexico pharmacy: mexico pharmacies prescription drugs – mexico drug stores pharmacies
https://northern-doctors.org/# mexican drugstore online
buying from online mexican pharmacy: northern doctors pharmacy – mexican pharmacy
mexican rx online: northern doctors – mexico pharmacy
https://northern-doctors.org/# best online pharmacies in mexico
mexico drug stores pharmacies mexican pharmacy northern doctors buying from online mexican pharmacy
pharmacies in mexico that ship to usa: northern doctors pharmacy – mexican rx online
http://northern-doctors.org/# mexico drug stores pharmacies
mexican online pharmacies prescription drugs: northern doctors pharmacy – medicine in mexico pharmacies
mexican rx online mexican pharmaceuticals online best online pharmacies in mexico
buying prescription drugs in mexico online: mexican pharmacy online – pharmacies in mexico that ship to usa
http://northern-doctors.org/# п»їbest mexican online pharmacies
best online pharmacies in mexico: medicine in mexico pharmacies – reputable mexican pharmacies online
http://northern-doctors.org/# buying prescription drugs in mexico online
purple pharmacy mexico price list: northern doctors – mexico drug stores pharmacies
medicine in mexico pharmacies: mexican northern doctors – mexico pharmacy
http://northern-doctors.org/# buying from online mexican pharmacy
mexico drug stores pharmacies: mexican pharmacy online – mexico drug stores pharmacies
https://northern-doctors.org/# mexico drug stores pharmacies
mexican border pharmacies shipping to usa: mexican mail order pharmacies – pharmacies in mexico that ship to usa
medication from mexico pharmacy northern doctors pharmacy buying prescription drugs in mexico
mexican pharmaceuticals online: buying prescription drugs in mexico – buying prescription drugs in mexico online
https://northern-doctors.org/# п»їbest mexican online pharmacies
purple pharmacy mexico price list: mexican border pharmacies shipping to usa – mexican rx online
reputable mexican pharmacies online: mexican pharmacy online – buying from online mexican pharmacy
http://northern-doctors.org/# п»їbest mexican online pharmacies
purple pharmacy mexico price list: northern doctors pharmacy – mexican pharmacy
https://northern-doctors.org/# reputable mexican pharmacies online
mexican pharmaceuticals online: mexican pharmacy online – mexico drug stores pharmacies
mexican drugstore online mexican pharmacy northern doctors best online pharmacies in mexico
mexican rx online: northern doctors pharmacy – buying from online mexican pharmacy
pharmacies in mexico that ship to usa: Mexico pharmacy that ship to usa – mexican rx online
http://northern-doctors.org/# medicine in mexico pharmacies
pharmacies in mexico that ship to usa: mexican northern doctors – mexican pharmacy
reputable mexican pharmacies online: mexican northern doctors – medicine in mexico pharmacies
https://northern-doctors.org/# best online pharmacies in mexico
mexican drugstore online: mexican northern doctors – buying from online mexican pharmacy
mexican rx online: buying prescription drugs in mexico online – mexico pharmacies prescription drugs
http://northern-doctors.org/# mexican pharmacy
mexican pharmaceuticals online mexican pharmacy online mexican pharmaceuticals online
mexican online pharmacies prescription drugs: mexico drug stores pharmacies – mexican rx online
reputable mexican pharmacies online cmq pharma mexico pharmacy
purple pharmacy mexico price list mexican pharmacy online reputable mexican pharmacies online
buying from online mexican pharmacy cmq pharma mexican mail order pharmacies
medicine in mexico pharmacies mexico pharmacy buying prescription drugs in mexico online
purple pharmacy mexico price list: cmqpharma.com – mexican mail order pharmacies
purple pharmacy mexico price list cmq pharma mexican border pharmacies shipping to usa
mexican mail order pharmacies
https://cmqpharma.com/# mexico drug stores pharmacies
reputable mexican pharmacies online
mexico drug stores pharmacies cmq pharma medicine in mexico pharmacies
mexican drugstore online
https://cmqpharma.com/# buying prescription drugs in mexico
medicine in mexico pharmacies
mexico drug stores pharmacies mexican pharmacy online buying from online mexican pharmacy
п»їbest mexican online pharmacies cmq pharma mexican pharmacy medication from mexico pharmacy
best online pharmacies in mexico mexico drug stores pharmacies pharmacies in mexico that ship to usa
https://cmqpharma.online/# medicine in mexico pharmacies
reputable mexican pharmacies online
mexican pharmacy: online mexican pharmacy – mexican mail order pharmacies
purple pharmacy mexico price list
https://cmqpharma.online/# reputable mexican pharmacies online
pharmacies in mexico that ship to usa
mexican pharmaceuticals online: mexican pharmacy – mexico pharmacies prescription drugs
mexican border pharmacies shipping to usa
https://cmqpharma.com/# medicine in mexico pharmacies
purple pharmacy mexico price list
Very superb information can be found on website.Money from blog
reputable indian online pharmacy: pharmacy website india – indianpharmacy com
http://foruspharma.com/# mexican mail order pharmacies
canadian pharmacy online pharmacy canadian cheapest pharmacy canada
canadian pharmacy uk delivery: canadian drug – precription drugs from canada
ordering drugs from canada: prescription drugs canada buy online – canadianpharmacymeds
canadian pharmacy online: vipps approved canadian online pharmacy – legal to buy prescription drugs from canada
mexican rx online mexico pharmacy mexico pharmacy
http://indiapharmast.com/# top online pharmacy india
safe online pharmacies in canada: canadian neighbor pharmacy – canada pharmacy online
mexican online pharmacies prescription drugs: buying from online mexican pharmacy – mexico pharmacies prescription drugs
indian pharmacies safe: online shopping pharmacy india – indian pharmacy paypal
indian pharmacy top 10 online pharmacy in india indian pharmacy paypal
canada pharmacy online: canada cloud pharmacy – canadian medications
medicine in mexico pharmacies: mexican mail order pharmacies – mexico drug stores pharmacies
https://canadapharmast.online/# cheapest pharmacy canada
northwest pharmacy canada: canadian 24 hour pharmacy – best canadian pharmacy
mexican rx online: mexican border pharmacies shipping to usa – mexico pharmacies prescription drugs
http://doxycyclinedelivery.pro/# how much is doxycycline in south africa
amoxacillian without a percription: where to buy amoxicillin – amoxicillin cost australia
https://paxloviddelivery.pro/# paxlovid covid
doxycycline australia cost: doxycycline 100 mg tablet – 40mg doxycycline online
http://clomiddelivery.pro/# where can i get cheap clomid
https://paxloviddelivery.pro/# Paxlovid over the counter
http://doxycyclinedelivery.pro/# pharmacy prices for doxycycline
paxlovid price: paxlovid price – paxlovid buy
http://ciprodelivery.pro/# buy cipro online without prescription
cost clomid without rx: can you get clomid no prescription – how to buy clomid without rx
https://doxycyclinedelivery.pro/# cheapest doxycycline 100mg
http://paxloviddelivery.pro/# paxlovid pill
can you buy amoxicillin uk: amoxicillin brand name – where can you buy amoxicillin over the counter