40 years ago today... a World Cup miracle that transcended the Troubles

As a showcase for sport’s mystical powers of unity, perhaps only Barry McGuigan’s world title triumph three years later transcended the Troubles to the same degree.

But 40 years ago tonight, Gerry Armstrong’s winner for Northern Ireland against World Cup hosts Spain in a Valencia cauldron sparked street parties all over Belfast.

Briefly, it even left Billy Bingham’s heroes homeless.

Nobody gave them a prayer of progressing beyond the group phase and they had been booked on the next flight home.

And no one planned a civic reception because Northern Ireland were simply not expected to reach the same stage of the tournament as Zico’s Brazil, Diego Maradona’s Argentina and Ron Greenwood’s England.

By the time Armstrong was waving to the crowds from the squad’s open-top bus parade through the streets of Belfast, it was November and he was on crutches after breaking his ankle on Watford’s maiden voyage in the top flight.

In a poignant reunion at the city’s Europa Hotel, Northern Ireland’s class of 1982 will convene and raise a glass to Bingham, the field general who plotted a miracle.

Bingham passed away earlier this month aged 90 and Armstrong – now a prominent pundit and TV co-commentator – said: “It’s going to be an emotional, momentous evening. Our World Cup adventure simply wouldn’t have been possible without him and we will raise a glass to Billy, for sure.

“We were given no chance whatsoever of turning over the hosts at their own World Cup party. It was such a hot, humid night and I lost about 12lb – almost 10 percent of my body weight – just through pure sweat.”

Armstrong missed the first hour of post-match euphoria with his team-mates because he was selected for dope-testing formalities and, by the time his system was