Last week I decided to venture up to Dalymount Park, the home ground of Bohemians FC, located barely a mile north of Dublin city centre.

The ground is being used for Drogheda United's UEFA Cup games this season, Drogheda's own ground not being up to European standards, and last Thursday evening (16 August) they played Helsingborgs IF (drew 1-1) from Sweden, which just happens to be the current club of one of the great players of the last decade, Henrik Larsson. 

Dalymount Park itself is shortly to go the way of our own beloved BBG - it occupies a prime site, ripe for redevelopment, hemmed in by houses, and the sale of the tiny, rickety, ramshackle ground will finance a move into a custom-built all-seater stadium a little further out from the city centre.

So, where to find the ticket office? I approached a chap who was wearing an orange, high visibility jacket - the groundsman, it turned out - and he conducted me along the terrace, through a gate and out into the car park at the other side of the ground. A stroll past the Des Kelly stand led me into a tiny lane that ran behind the Jodi Stand, to the Players Entrance - which was open.

I peeked in, then, braver, ventured forth into the bowels of the stadium. A notice on the Secretary's office door read "Tickets on sale in top Portakabin in staff car park". Outside again, further down the lane, through the double gates at the end, I felt as though I was about to strike paydirt - and sure enough, there neatly stacked one on top of the other, were two Portakabins.

Up the steps to said top Portakabin I skipped - only for my spirits to be dashed - 'Closed'.

The groundsman met me again - "Come with me" he said. I followed - this time, around the pitch and down the tunnel, once again into the inner sanctum. The purveyor of the tickets was duly summoned, I was sold one for the game - the very last one, apparently - "Drogs supporter?" he asked. "No, Derby County, but I love all football" I replied.

The word "Derby" opens doors, it seems. I was immediately conducted on a tour of the ground - dressing rooms, trophy cabinet, the lot. Memories of my first trip around the Baseball Ground flooded back - the smells, the 'chapel hat pegs' on the wall, and there were even some words of wisdom on the dressing room walls for the players to contemplate in their last moments before battle.

I recalled Cloughie's "The biggest crime in football is to give the ball to the opposition" and mentioned it to a murmur of approval - it seems the great man is revered everywhere.

And the Boh's words of wisdom that are emblazoned on the dressing room walls? Three spring to mind:

"Every training session, every game, every minute of our lives must be centred on our aim to be Champions."

"WINNING IS A HABIT"

"Bohemians Football Club - BFC - Belief, Focus, Commitment".

Nothing much changes. As Shanks famously said: "Football isn't a matter of Life and Death. It's much more important than that."

Photo: Action Images

Southampton Polls