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Anthony Reddy Associates (ARA) were officially crowned football
Champions of Europe after beating Foster and Partners in an action
packed final to win the Architekten Cup held annually in Berlin
and open to all architectural practices in Europe.
A total of 12 teams took part in the competition and as well as
Foster’s and ARA, who were coached by Rory van Vuuren, other international
heavyweight practices included Herzog and De Meuron and Kollhoff
and Timmermann.
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ARA’s international line-up were the only team to represent Ireland
and proved themselves equal to Europe’s best after a number of convincing
wins early in the group stage.
Ill-tempered affair
The toughest game of the group ended in a one all draw after veteran
ARA defender Robbie Keane was sent off for a professional foul against
the top striker of Germany's Gruntuch Ernst Architects.
Moments later in another dramatic turn of events ARA’s keeper John
Crawford, later to become the only keeper in the history of the
tournament not to concede a goal, was also sent off for violent
misconduct against the same striker after being scythed down whilst
jumping for a cross ball.
Fortunately the same striker saw red from the Swiss referee and
the points were eventually shared in this bad tempered fixture.
This turned out to be the only draw of the campaign for ARA who
finished top of their group with some distinguished performances
from the German midfield including the Aachen duo of Jan Hinrichsen
and Anka Braemer, cheered on by the mainly partisan crowd of several
hundred.
Herzog and De Meuron (HDM) proved to be a much harder test for
ARA in the semi final who were by now struggling for fitness having
lost striker Matt Stevens to injury during the group stage.
Matt continued to help the team by blowing cigarette smoke into
the faces of passing HDM players from the sidelines.
An eventual goal by Jan Hinrichsen, who finished the tournament
as top scorer with six goals, settled the outcome of the match and
the announcer signalled to the crowd the two teams who would take
part in the final to the background strains of the theme tune to
Star Wars!
The Final
Fosters and Partners had won the tournament for the past two years,
symbolised by two gold stars sewn into the chest of their immaculate
red and white strips, but ARA sensed that the crowd were firmly
behind them as chants of ‘Ireland, Ireland’ rose up around the arena.
ARA needed the extra lift as Fosters had come prepared with a squad
of 16 players compared to ARA’s now depleted outfit of 10 who were
struggling with the effects of exhaustion.
Accomplished all rounder and the man recognised by his players
as captain of the squad, Robbie Walsh gave a stirring team talk
before the match and we all sensed that history could be in the
making.
But Fosters came out fighting and ARA suffered a withering attack
from their forwards as wave after wave pounded the ARA goalmouth.
The match remained goalless until the second half when Fosters
star striker known to us as ‘big Nathan’ broke through the ranks
of Reddy’s defence and closed in on goal to unleash a thunderbolt
shot to the deep left corner.
Silence gripped the arena, but plucky young Scotsman John Crawford
anticipated the shot and held the ball at full stretch earning a
standing ovation from the crowd and Fosters players alike.
Big Nathan reaped his revenge later in the match when captain Robbie
Walsh had to take one for the team after blocking another of Nathans
trademark rasping shots with his privates.
Characteristically, Robbie got up immediately and, rubbing the
affected area vigorously, he waved paramedics aside and inspirationally
stepped into the breech once more.
Extra Time
The match ended goalless and the pleas from Reddy players to the
referee to go straight to penalties landed on deaf ears and extra
time kicked off a few moments later.
Again Fosters were unrelenting in their pursuit of a third successive
win but the German/Danish duo of Resul and Stefan spotted a gap
and danced a merry jig around the Foster players to release homeboy
Robert Branschofsky in front of goal whose sweetly struck shot flew
passed the Fosters keeper.
The noise around the stadium was such that it was several seconds
before ARA’s Joerg Heil knew we had scored!
Fosters desperately shot straight from the kick off but the ball,
along with their hopes of winning the cup, sailed high over the
bar and seconds later the referee blew the final whistle and ARA
were crowned champions on their inaugural visit to the tournament.
The scenes afterwards were reminiscent of USA ‘94 when Ray Houghton
scored against Italy as coach van Vuuren ran onto the pitch to embrace
his players, wildly battling his way through the throng of German
supporters.
Ich bin ein Berliner
The oldest player in the squad, Robbie Keane, took the cup in the
after match presentation to the strains of Baddiel and Skinners
‘Football's coming home’. "Heute ich bin ein Berliner"
(Today, I am a Berliner) was the short but sweet victory speech
delivered as homage to the overwhelming support given to the Irish
in the final by partisan crowd who sang a united chorus of ‘Schade
Foster, alles ist vorbei!’ (what a shame Foster, its all over!).
Lion-hearts
A top level delegation led by Tony Reddy met the triumphant homecoming
at Dublin airport the following day after crazy celebration gripped
the whole of Berlin. Pressed by local reporters for his thoughts
Tony stated that he was proud to be associated with the team who
he described as ‘having hearts like lions’.
Tony also stated that he was happy that the offices achievements
were being mirrored on the football pitch as well as on the architectural
circuit. |
