The journey started way out west. Castlebar on the 30 July 2005 saw the season commence for the stalwart footballers of the Republic of Ireland Soccer Supporters Club (London). Just under nine months later it ended in glory. The team secured the Second Division Championship of the APFSCIL Sunday Football League.

Every season has its highs and lows, its ups and downs where the pendulum swings to and fro and one can never be quite sure for whom the bell will toll. Such was the season for RISSC (London) as the pursuit of early league leaders Manchester United SC ebbed and flowed, week by week. The challenge continued to that seminal meeting with Hull City SC, the final active game of the season.

The victory over Hull, secured two minutes into added time at the end of the game, proved absolutely decisive in winning the title. To prosper, to prevail in the final seconds of the last active game was surely the epitome of suspense befitting any theatrical imagination. The drama that unfolded that afternoon will live long in the memory of the participants.

It was perhaps fitting, rather like it was written in the script, that the winning goal should be scored by Mick Coffey, for it was he who had delivered the opening goal of the elongated season on the Atlantic coastline back in July. The season which ended in such joyous fashion, did also have some moments of sadness. The early season cup defeat by Birmingham City SC was one such low. The injuries which plagued, the season of Liam Kelly another. Happily, Liam has now recovered and is back in active service.

The end of the season is a time to relax, to recharge the batteries, to reflect and perhaps also to reminisce upon events along the way. A warm Wandsworth afternoon in early September when the league campaign commenced. The hosts Aberdeen SC defeated. The first league goal of the season by Tim Nagle, a goal from Mick Coffey and the solitary goal of the season from the now retired Philip O’Dwyer.

The first home game of the season and defeat by Manchester United SC. The chase is on and the recovery begins. Victories, goals, 5,6,8,6,7,8 as Blackburn Rovers SC, Hull City SC, Bristol City SC, Manchester City SC, Dundee United SC and London Scottish SC are overcome. We remember Mick Coffey’s four goal salvo against Bristol City SC, the stunning Emmett Mannion hat trick in the London Scottish SC match. Dave Hestor’s goal for the season, against Bristol City SC, was in there too.

The trip south of the Thames, Manchester United SC, the leaders, a huge challenge, the lead, a Coffey confection, so sweet but then heartache, a penalty, the equaliser, a valiant effort. There is no time for recrimination, stay strong and together, battle on. Three, six, four, eight, no, not the intro to the Tom Robinson Band and Motorway but the subsequent goal response to the Barn Elms disappointment. Tucked away among those strikes was the once a year Dan Healy goal and one from Paul Lavelle, remember him.

The chase goes on, we are in the home straight now. There still remain some hurdles to clear. Home again at Sudbury, Manchester City SC, trounced them earlier in the season, we can do this. My, but that was close. A 4-3 success initially broked a muted reaction but news from the south soon changed that. The leaders had been held by Hull City SC, the door was open, the opportunity was now there, the League Title was within reach.

Then the climax. A chilly Barn Elms on Sunday 12 March 2006 where Hull City SC await. The drama, the tension is quite tangible, nerves abound. An early goal conceded. Calm, regroup and play. The equaliser from Mauricio Carillo, his seventh league goal of the season. The Donnie Mullen injury, his eye. He has scored seven goals this season, oh! for another one now. Time is up, it is all over or is it?. The last charge, the strike, the rebound, Coffey, the header, the goal.

The joy of it all. We remember all of the players who contributed to the success of the season. The rampaging full back Mark O’Connor, four goals from him. That penalty, to hell with it, who cares now. Midfield players should score a goal or two, Gary Stockwell hit four as indeed did the stricken Liam Kelly. There were three from Adrian Ward and a brace from captain Karl McGee. Almost unbelievable, is the fact that manager Paul Franklin scored twice during the season, it is a long time since that happened!

There are those without whom, the goals in those tight encounters would have counted for nothing. Custodian Darren Nolan, a barrier brave. The ubiquitous Jon Carey and the redoubtable Martin Flannery at full back. There were fleeting, very fleeting glimpses of Johnny Flynn, Damian Greavy, Red Hughes and Shane Roache, who even scored a goal. All along the journey there was Paddy McGee, it seems as though there has always been Paddy McGee.

It is Captain Morgans on a Sunday night and the party is in full swing. The sights and sounds are no longer appropriate for those of delicate disposition. The band is quiet but the boys are singing what seems to paraphrase a better known ditty:-

'the craic was good in Greenford
cause they couldn’t find the Crown
there were pints a flying, Franklin buying
when the RISSC boys hit the town
Oh! Karen dear, he’s over here
do you really want him back?
we can keep him here with loads more
beer, no women, just the craic.'

The evidence suggests that the craic went on from dusk till dawn for Franklin’s Fusiliers.