The Norn Iron vs Spain match 2008 at the Highlander - Top Sports Pub and Rangers Supporters Clubs

The Norn Iron game, 2007

November 2007 saw the airborne invasion of Gran Canaria by the Green and White army supported by landings in the north of the island by ferries from Tenerife.... the Canarians immediately started putting their hands up.... and grabbed extra beer glasses from the high shelves of the bars. Over 5000 football fans traveled to Gran Canaria to support the 'Norn Iron' team, and many of them made the Highlander their base during their stay in Gran Canaria.

Fans get ready to go to the big match- Spain vs Northern Ireland - outside and inside the Highlander

First landings managed to watch the Scotland Italy game at the Highlander

The advance party arrived on the Saturday and the Highlander Bar became the rallying point for several hundred thirsty invaders... surrounding bars looked on in horror at the sight of the army destroying beer and spirit stocks while the bar, till and staff fought a gallant but losing battle to keep up with the onslaught.

So there is no doubt, The Highlander was clearly identified as the best place for Norn Iron fans to meet

Old and new friends kept coming back to the Highlander, where all the Northern Ireland (and other teams!) fans were welcomed.

We received complaints from certain bars about the noise disturbing their sheep. ..well I think it was about the noise because it was too noisy to hear anything but I knew the moans and whingeing would cease when the main party arrived on the Monday

A sea of green shirts in a Rangers Pub? Yes this is where the Norn Iron Supporters all came.

....and lo it did as the whole area around the Highlander Bar was overrun Monday evening, thro to the game and beyond by hordes of supporters determined to bomb the tills with as much money as they could.

Suddenly the carping stopped and the bars welcomed the hordes as saviours and immediately forgot the sheep and started putting up Norn Iron flags etc to show their support ( I wonder where all those flags went when the army regrouped back in Norn Iron after the week.)

The terraces, walkways and bridges outside the new Highlander Pub made a great place for everyone to mingle before the match.

Everyone received the best of welcomes at the Highlander Bar in Gran Canaria

This family traveled all the way from Atlanta Georgia to see the Spain vs Northern Ireland football match. Everyone made them more than welcome at the Highlander and Puerto Rico

Our neighbours got used to having their bars re-decorated in NI colours

Everyone made sure their flags and banners were ready for the big event!

Everyone enjoyed the atmosphere in the new Highlander Pub when the Norn Iron army arrived

The week was a stone success and I don't think the island will see the like again ... I think I can afford to replace the damages caused that week..... one toilet tap and one broken plastic terrace chair... The till recovered after some technical therapy..but will never be the same again.

The line of people setting off for the match stretched several hundred yards up the road to the fleet of waiting coaches

Not the result we wanted but nevertheless a great time had by all

The taxi drivers now all know where the Highlander is...and all of them were in praise of the supporters..... The local papers praised them highly as well as did the supporters of Las Palmas FC as dozens of Norn Iron fans turned up to support them at their next game...... fantastic.

The Highlander Bar and Rangers Supporters Club, cc Puerto Rico, Gran Canaria Phone (0034) 928 560 709
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The Norn Iron game, 2007

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