Sometimes being involved with a small Irish club can bring forth privileges.
It was an end of season fixture towards the end of the last millennium at The Oval, Glentoran’s home ground for almost 120 years now, when I met Wim Suurbier. He was there as the guest of Noel Lemon, owner of the Tulsa Roughnecks and a son of east Belfast.
It wasn’t the Dutchman’s first visit. He’d already played there several years previously, winning 6-1 with his Ajax club in a UEFA Cup match.
Suurbier was introduced to our table, as nonchalantly as you like, in the Players’ Lounge at the conclusion of the game.