All flights at the airport were grounded by fog and 700 fans only left Dublin at 2am on Wednesday morning - the day of the game - having been stranded since 11.30pm on the Monday night.
After the heroics at Euro '88, hope was high that Ireland could qualify for the World Cup for the first time.
They’d been fogbound in Dublin so got a ferry to Holyhead, then a bus to Bristol before boarding a plane to Valletta. "We got a penalty and I ballooned it about five yards wide. Paul McGrath, Ronnie Whelan, Jack Charlton and so on were sitting behind the goal so it was a bit embarrassing for me!" He put Ireland ahead after half-an-hour when Ray Houghton's corner was met at the near post by David O’Leary and his flick-on was thundered to the net by Aldridge.
"John and I always had a good understanding, not only from Liverpool but from the Ireland team as well. It had been a hugely emotional six months for him as the Hillsborough disaster had happened the previous April.
Republic Of Ireland Football Team Jack Charlton John Aldridge Ray Houghton
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