WALES v IRELAND

Under-23 INTERNATIONAL

March 20, 1968

Ninian Park, Cardiff

OFFICIAL MATCH DAY PROGRAMME (ORIGINAL)

8 Pages (Very Good Condition) A 1-0 away win for the Irish with Sean Dunlop from Coleraine scoring the goal. There's a noteworthy pen picture in the programme about Arsenal Legend Pat Rice.

It reads:

"Unknown in Northern Ireland until a few months ago when someone at Highbury discovered his Ulster birth qualifications. Has been knocking at the International door for some time. A good performance. tonight could put him in line for a 'full' cap. Spent all his youth in London and is rated highly by Arsenal manager Bertie Mee."

Well he must indeed have had a good game - he went on to win 49 'full' caps and make over 400 appearances for Arsenal. In fact, the boy who used to work in a greengrocers in Gillespie Road later became assistant manager of Arsenal, a position he held from the appointment of Arsène in 1996 through to his retirement in 2012.

Arsène said of Pat:

"Pat is a true Arsenal Legend and has committed almost his entire life to Arsenal Football Club, which shows huge loyalty and devotion to this Club..iI will always be indebted to him for his expert insight into Arsenal and football as a whole. On the training and match days, Pat has always been a passionate, loyal and insightful colleague who we will miss."

Pat was awarded the MBE in the 2013 New Years Honours List for services to sport.

The match attendance of 2,669 was disappointingly low, though that adds to the rarity and value of this programme.

Scores, scorer, and attendance details are neatly written on the team page.