1964 - Hurley thrills home fans as Ireland become the first side to break the Iron Curtain and play Poland

 

Hurley thrills home fans as Ireland become the first western team to play behind the Iron Curtain in Poland

 

There was disappointment for the Irish side on 10 May, 1964 when, despite a goal from Ambrose Fogarty, the Republic of Ireland lost 3-1 in Krakow before a crowd of 35,000, a large number of whom had roared out Hurley’s name throughout the occasion.

 

WP Murphy, writing in the Irish Independent, was full of praise for Hurley, stating that “never – not forgetting Carey’s famous last international match when he played against the Austrians at Dalymount Park in 1953 – have we seen as good a display of centre-half work as that of Charlie Hurley. The Poles loved the big, handsome Irishman from Sunderland, who strolled through this game in majestic fashion, giving a display of coolness and confidence that was an inspiration.”

 

Hurley admits that he had no idea that the Poles had been singing his name: “I didn’t know they were shouting my name until afterwards. Charlie for them was different. It didn’t sound clear to me. I had a hell of a game, I knew that. One of the selectors said they were calling my name and I was shocked; a great honour, mind.”


Taken from Charlie's authorised biography that has now been republished and is available on Amazon and at the ALS shop and direct from myself.





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