Shels praying for Champions League dream
Hundreds of Shelbourne fans will shout themselves hoarse in Spain tomorrow night when the club bids for a Champions League place and a remarkable multi-million euro jackpot.
Even though they are rank outsiders, a 1-1 draw against mighty Deportivo La Coruna will be enough to guarantee the Dubliners riches beyond their widest dreams by reaching the group stages of the Champions League.
Up to 1,000 Irish supporters will be among the anticipated 35,000 crowd for the club’s match of a lifetime.
They are already set to make €400,000 from the two games after the scoreless draw at Lansdowne Road a fortnight ago – equal to the club‘s total gate receipts for last season.
But against a star studded team worth €75m, Shelbourne officials believe they are agonisingly close to a spectacular Lotto-style payout. No Irish team – north or south – has made it this far before.
Shelbourne look to be on a mission impossible, but the fans have promised to make sure they are heard inside the Riazor Stadium.
A 1-1 draw could be worth an astonishing €15m to the club as it would put the team through on the away goal rule.
As some of the fans sunbathed on the Playa de Riazor beach in La Coruna, Shelbourne secretary Ollie Byrne said: “Everybody’s here enjoying the occasion.
“They’re very conscious of the fact that it’s an uphill battle but we’ll see what happens on the night. The players will give it everything and the manager will give it everything. If it is to be, it is to be.”
He said the club wanted to attract wealthy investors to become a serious force in European football.
Taxi driver Niall Fitzmaurice, who is flying to Spain tomorrow with around 180 other Shelbourne fans, said the “craic” at the match would be amazing.
“It’s an absolute dream to be going out there and thinking you could qualify,” he said. “But stuff like that happens.”
Mr Fitzmaurice, who is also the public announcer at Shelbourne’s Tolka Park home, said there had been great support from rival Eircom League clubs.
“One or two of the fans from other clubs would be unhappy to see Shelbourne doing so well, but I think the vast majority of fans would be delighted.”
He said the dizzying success of Shelbourne in Europe was a far cry from the barren years of the late 70s and early 80s.
“From 1975 when we lost the cup final to Home Farm right through to 1992 when we won the league, there was nothing. We were at the basement of the league,” he said.
“But now everything is rosy in the garden.”
