Come Here To Me!

Last night saw Saint Patrick’s Athletic somehow throw a two goal lead away to lose 3-2 to Bray Wanderers. Still, never mind what’s going on on the field of play, last night was a remarkable one in the stands.

The Shed End Invincibles celebrate ten years this year. Last night saw the group unveil a display in tribute to Paddy ‘Ginger’ O’Rourke, a Saint Patrick’s Athletic and League of Ireland legend who passed on recently. For ninety minutes, the groups flags stayed up and one continuous chant of ‘We are the Red Army’ got a good airing through most of the second half, even with Bray knocking two goals in soon after one another. The sight of an entire block in the stand with their backs to the pitch bouncing is some spectacle, not least with the red flags waving.

If the League is to prosper, it’s critically important clubs facilitate ultras groups like the SEI. Last night saw the traditional ‘first game back’ scenes of people bringing friends for the first time and many children being taken to their first match. The roar in the stands is just as likely to bring people back to Richmond Park as the action on the pitch.