Jack Charlton fish and chips story with Ireland team and his first instructions to Andy Townsend

"I know you like to play your tippy-tappy stuff with Norwich. If you do that for me, I'll take you off."
When Jack Charlton gave an instruction, Andy Townsend and all of the Republic of Ireland players understood it in no uncertain terms.
The Finding Jack Charlton film was a phenomenal piece of television and Townsend, one of the main producers, talks to Virgin Media Sport for Jackie's Army and tells the story of the fish and chips meal that the Irish players had before they played Austria at the Aviva.

[@ononewheellad]

I’m a N. Ireland fan and watched Jack’s documentary. Turned out to be a great Irish team manager and a gentleman for by. Forgot how good and successful the Republic team were under him, a popular man who enjoyed a beer and loved a game o football. God bless. ☘️

[@brianodonovan8470]

Andy . Great player. I just watched the Jack documentary. I have to say it was emotional. Fair play to Andy, Paul McGrath, Packie . Most of all to Jacks family. I’m from the Northside of Dublin , and we loved and still do love Jack C. ☘️

[@jasonleonard4582]

Jack was a legand both sides of the water , north and south

[@s99bf0c8]

Andy was a great player for ireland back in the good old days

[@cringycook9597]

A time when we actually had ball players and we could control midfield even dominant it despite playing the direct game

[@InYourHeadChangedMan]

And Aston Villa

[@tombarryantik7115]

I am from HK, had pleasure to spend my time in Northern Ireland studying for 5 years, saw Ireland played in 94 worldcups. Jack to me is like a father figure, lost him like I lost a family member. The most memorable game I watched on tv was Ireland lost to Portugal, jack stood in the rain in his thoughts. I will always remember him!

[@JR-xo5jp]

Great post

[@silverback5248]

Jack was a fantastic player, a no nonsense manager and like his brother, a gentleman off the pitch.

[@billgowland3250]

Hailing from Ashington. Home of the Charlton's. I can honestly say WOR Jackie was twice the man bobby will ever be.

[@garjude5412]

Good man , nice words

[@ChubbyChecker182]

Two of the best things I have watched on TV this year are The Shane McGowan and Jack Charlton Documentaries. Well done all involved in both.

[@peternagy-im4be]

I can't believe that Shane is still alive. Weened on guiness and a bottle of whiskey a day. Amazing.

[@elena16350]

Jack Charltons Irish Team were workmanlike, but the success he made with them put a smile on my face, and I’m English. England are supposed to be a good team, but I’ve followed English football since we won the World Cup and I can’t remember too many bright moments, except when we were Beaton by the US, or no, it was when we were knocked out the World Cup by Poland, never forget that night.

[@peternagy-im4be]

England are utterly hopeless. A league full of cash and foreigners. An absolute joke.

[@stigflambard9799]

You wont get great stories anymore. Its all about hair cuts, tattoo's and money now. No personalities. Just salad and water. Soulless characters. Good Ol' Jack.

[@roberthayes9842]

Jack Charlton was a joy, proper man, great man

[@johnnydonaghy6096]

Could do with players like him now... now we have the mighty Luxembourg beating us and drawing with the football giants of Qatar

[@gungagalunga9040]

I heard Gary Kelly was the winner of Ramseys challenge

[@aidankearney493]

My wife's favourite player for Ireland. 💚

[@73reider]

I attended Andy Townsend`s Debut vs France aged 16 at Dalymount park 1989, Terrible game 0-0 pissed rain all day and all night.

[@johnmcgrath5698]

legend thanks for great memories

[@andyhello23]

lol What good managers used to be

[@thefeckineejit264]

Been Irish I love Big Jack and what he did for football in Ireland......true story, I’m from a small town close to the river Shannon which has great finishing on it and Big Jack was down doing some fishing in the area, he came in to a local pub one night and at first there was a handful there and he started chatting away with locals and people were buying him drinks and the craic (Gaeilge for fun) was mighty , within no time word got out who was in the pub and it started to fill really quickly but Big Jack stayed telling story’s, almost the end of the night and Big Jack shouts to the barman to get everyone a drink which the whole place erupted, anyway at the end Big Jack was settling up his bill and asked if they took cheque and they were like of course which he obliged and gave the cheque, that cheque was never cashed and last time I was in the pub it was still hanging on the wall, and I heard afterwards that was a thing he learned very early in Ireland, if Big Jack paid a bar bill with a cheque the cheque would never get cashed and would end up hanging on the bar wall, smart fecker knew exactly what he was doing 😂.....love the guy and may he Rest In Peace.

[@James-b7p2k]

Yeah I saw summit about jack paying in cheques no one would cash them in lol

[@barnbersonol]

That wouldn't work in England. We have photocopy machines.

[@DidYaServe]

No-one had any soup before. No-one had any pudding afterwards. They had fish and chips. And I like fish and chips. And the players like fish and chips. And it's full of protein so it's one of the best things you can eat.

[@exessex3522]

You're not supposed to eat large portions of fish 'n' chips on the day before a match? Who knew? What about at lunch time shortly before kick-off? No? Maybe that's why I never made it as a professional footballer...

[@leebush4053]

These stories are of their time. Look at old copies of Shoot or Match. Player profiles would have pre match meal. Lots of them would say steak chips fish chips. Drinking was a culture. Nottingham Forest would be allowed a drink under Clough. Seem to remember they did ok. Jack was Ireland best manager by far.

[@carlterry1728]

Did Alf Tupper no harm.

[@woolmer608]

Great guy and a real character,BIG JACK RIP.

[@MasterControl-MCP]

Ahh yes, Andy Townsend , another “Irishman”

[@68blues]

Those must be the most boring football stories i've ever heard.

[@robertbradshaw9367]

Good solid Irish accent. From kerry I'd say...

[@dominicmackrill5953]

Funny you say that .....

[@charliebuckley1496]

Never judge a Paddy by he’s accent..,he stood tall on the pitch in Belfast

[@edmorley7589]

we love you Andy we do

[@thefeckineejit264]

Great player and captain for Ireland!

[@gungagalunga9040]

Greasy fish and chips the night before a big match. FFS

[@malsmith1618]

Fs it was the eighties they were doing worse than eating fish and chips

[@JSL2000]

That was an outstanding team. Whilst everybody else was happy to qualify, have a couple of big wins along the way, and then not to embarrass themselves in big tournaments, there were players in that squad capable of winning something or at least getting to the late stages of a tournament. Anybody notice Roy played no part in "Finding Jack Charlton". I bet they were too scared to ask! Then again, when you see Manchester United standards every week and then get taken to a Fish and Chip shop with Ireland, its only a matter of time before you explode. "It all came flashing back - The duff hotels, The Training kit, Denis Irwin proving himself, Harry's Fkn Challenge........MICK YOU'RE A FN WKR"!!!

[@leebush4053]

Jack Charlton and Roy Keane argument with the FAI are totally separate. Jack gave an Ireland 🇮🇪 team that always had a handful of very good players the extra they needed to move on. He utilised players such as Sheedy and Houghton. Aldridge and Townshend. Players who were worthy internationals who England and Scotland overlooked. Bobby Robson was giving caps to Steve Hodge and ignoring Kevin Sheedy. In Roy Keanes words 'do me a favour.' Roy has never been disrespectful of Jack. When Keane was first capped he was under Clough. The whole Man Utd thing and preparation would have come after. Not to say he was wrong with his criticism of the FAI and Mick McCarthy. Roy Keane evidently didn't rate Mick as player and it carried on. Nothing to with Jack.

[@JSL2000]

@@leebush4053 Thanks for detailed reply. There's a lot of good points about Jack taking the team over the line. I also agree that he capped players that England, for whatever reason, overlooked. I do think Roy had a real problem with Jack though. He resented being asked to bluff the media about their accurate reporting of a row in training between Maurice Setters and Andy Townsend. The rest of the team walked off afterwards. Young Roy was sent out to deny any clash. Roy was also very aggrieved that he had to do a urine sample drugs test after the Italy game, came out, and Charlton and the team had left without him. Keane had to hitch-hike a lift back to the hotel as he had no money for a taxi. Keane also had some real issues about what he perceived as the under use of good football players who could have beaten Norway and Mexico. Instead, they were used for a game style which never varied. In fact, we ended up being lucky to get out of the group in 94. Thankfully, the Norwegians couldn't hit a barn door despite having plenty of the ball.

[@leebush4053]

@@JSL2000 yes I forgot the 94 WC press conference with Setters and the urine test. I suspect Keane felt Ireland were capable of more. Especially as he grew. I also suspect that respected Jack if he disagreed with his methods. To best of my knowledge Roy has never personally attacked Jack as he did Alex Ferguson on the Off the Ball Q and A. For the record I agree with Roy on Saipan (I'm a plastic irishman. English with Irish grandparents and pre WW2 heritage). Thanks for good discussion over it being a KZbin keyboard spat.

[@JSL2000]

@@leebush4053 You find a better discussion on youtube as people have to watch the videos. Now, twitter on the other hand!!! Without doubt, Jack has been awesome for Irish football. His contribution will never be forgotten. Managers will always do things which are reflected back on afterwards as a mistake. I am sure Roy will acknowledge that Jack took Irish football away from the "We would have qualified if it hadn't been for..." near misses. Roy made plenty of mistakes himself in his failed Managerial career. He had a cracking set up in Sunderland, they backed him heavily, gave him the best of everything, and resigned by text message after a bit of criticism and a few bad results. That's really cute.

[@blackcats3951]

He was too bitter for it

[@petelowson5481]

Truth is if Andy Townsend hadn’t chosen Ireland he would have probably been a mainstay of the England side in the early 90s. Real shame for England. 😐

[@seanbonella]

wouldnt have got in...like grealish now

[@jakestone954]

Not a chance he was a grafter, England were stacked back then

[@cullyx2913]

😂 😂 😂

[@chrisfallon9678]

Good old Irish accent there Aaaaaandy

[@gungagalunga9040]

Wexford i think

[@robertellis6413]

Andy only played for Ireland cause he couldn't get in the England team. Born in England = English....not irish

[@seamusgallagher9872]

Andy had more chance of getting into the England team than Ireland. Ireland had s better midfield at the time.

[@peternagy-im4be]

@Michael Collins cricket?

[@bertman75]

Terry Butcher born Singapore, not English?

[@peternagy-im4be]

@@bertman75 He's as English as fish and chips

[@bertman75]

@@peternagy-im4be I agree completely, but not English according to OP

[@antonyberry1632]

Andy townsend as about as Irish as genghis Khan

[@MB-pe1dw]

He is of Irish descent.

[@peternagy-im4be]

@@MB-pe1dw like paddy he is....

[@charliebuckley1496]

Great Irish player and captain.

[@peternagy-im4be]

@@charliebuckley1496 Irish??

[@peternagy-im4be]

I remember the Ireland team. One dimensional, tedious and dull. Also ineffective.

[@dunneincrewgear]

Alzheimer's?

[@peternagy-im4be]

@@dunneincrewgear Who's that? The goalkeeper??

[@seanbonella]

@@peternagy-im4be ignorant

[@peternagy-im4be]

@@seanbonella thanks buddy!!

[@TheToolnut]

Like your personality, 😂😂

[@simonrichards6739]

And you wonder why Roy Keane walked out?

[@DubSun33]

No wonder; he was a coward

[@peternagy-im4be]

@@DubSun33 I'm sure he would appreciate you telling him that....

[@DubSun33]

@@peternagy-im4be cheers uncle naggy troll

[@neilcurran1589]

Roy walking out happened under Mick Mcarthy not big Jack. I don't think he'd have got much change out of Jack. To be fair to Roy he wanted the Irish set up to be more professional than it had been and he was a much better player than the others in the squad. He was obviously very frustrated and pissed off home. Jack's ramshackle bunch of underdogs were a joy to watch and brought the country together just by the way they played and they won our hearts if bugger all else bar a few memorable scalps along the way. Given the choice of spending a day with Jack or Roy I think the vast majority would pick the former.

[@DubSun33]

@@neilcurran1589 Sorry fella but you're just rehashing the myth of Roy Keane. He did not care one iota about Ireland and engineered his way out of the 2002 competition blaming everyone else but himself. Oh yeah, he's 'complicated'.

[@euantreanor3320]

We lost to poland that day....not austria..... look it up.... just comfirms where your mind is....& your heart.........

[@niallglennon83]

It was Austria. Tony Polster ran the show. Look it up.

[@Hereandnow7881]

It was Austria.

[@nawkir]

Austria 1995 .feel like a gobshite yet? You should...

[@TheToolnut]

It was Austria.

[@tryandremovemeyoutube5155]

A national football team made up bye so many different nationals but a hell of a workman team which took no crap.