Some of the loudest voices behind sports Ireland are not always found on the island. In London, generations of Irish supporters have built a close-knit community around the Republic of Ireland team, travelling together, sharing family roots and keeping the green jersey at the heart of their football lives.
The story of the Republic of Ireland Soccer Supporters Club (RISSC) is one of identity, loyalty and belonging. Established in 1984, the group now has close to 800 members and remains a familiar presence at Ireland matches at home and abroad.
A London childhood shaped by Ireland football
Martin Prendergast was born in London to an Irish family, with his father from Kilkenny and his mother from a Tipperary background. Although he grew up close to Wembley Stadium, his sporting allegiance was not automatically with England.
For Martin and many of his classmates, Irish heritage was part of everyday life. Families with links to Ireland followed the national team closely, and trips to matches became an important way for the next generation to connect with the country their parents came from.
The 1991 European Championship qualifier between England and Ireland at Wembley proved especially significant. The match was played during a difficult period for English football, when hooliganism and hostility around fixtures were common. Irish supporters faced abuse inside and around the stadium, but the experience did not weaken Martin’s attachment to the team.
Instead, it helped cement a lifelong relationship with Ireland football and the supporters who followed it.
RISSC grew from shared match-day journeys
The Republic of Ireland Soccer Supporters Club began when Irish fans repeatedly met while travelling to games. A small newspaper advertisement helped bring those supporters together, with the original group forming in the Prince of Wales Feathers pub near Warren Street.
Four decades later, the club has developed into a sizeable organisation with members who have been attending Ireland matches together since the 1980s. Its work reflects a wider part of Irish sport: the strength of supporter networks and the role they play in preserving community and tradition.
Travel was far more complicated in the club’s early years. Some members crossed from London to Ireland simply to arrange away-match trips through travel agents in Dublin. Today, online booking, group messaging and WhatsApp have removed much of that difficulty, although arranging transport and tickets for large groups still demands significant effort.
Trips that become part of the story
Following Ireland is about more than the 90 minutes. Over the years, RISSC members have travelled to major tournaments, qualifiers and remote venues, creating memories that last long after the final whistle.
The 2002 World Cup in the Far East stands out among the club’s experiences. Another memorable journey took place in the Faroe Islands in 2005, when difficult weather and limited flights added to the sense of adventure. Supporters arrived in a remote North Atlantic setting, with fog disrupting travel and creating uncertainty around departures.
Those unusual trips capture the spirit of Ireland supporters: determined to be there, willing to deal with logistical headaches and ready to turn a difficult journey into a shared story.
The special bond between diaspora fans and players
London-based supporters also feel a particular connection to players who were born in England but have Irish family backgrounds. For them, seeing a footballer choose the green jersey can carry an added emotional meaning.
The international decisions of Jack Grealish and Declan Rice caused frustration among many Irish fans, particularly those who saw their own family experience reflected in those players. Martin described Rice as someone who felt connected to the same community, making the eventual decision to represent England especially difficult for supporters.
However, that disappointment has not changed the welcome given to those who do commit to Ireland. Players with Irish roots remain an important link between the diaspora and the national team, while younger supporters continue to dream of representing the country.
That connection can be seen around underage football too. Families of young Ireland players and supporters often meet at matches, creating a shared sense of encouragement around the next generation of the national side.
Why the London club still matters
The RISSC is more than a travel group. It gives Irish people born in Britain a place to express identity, maintain family connections and experience international football alongside people who understand the same background.
Its members represent an important part of Ireland’s football culture. They support the team in Dublin, follow away fixtures across Europe and bring their own family stories into every match-day gathering. Their presence also shows how Irish sport reaches far beyond county borders.
For supporters like Martin, the green jersey is inherited through stories, friendships and experiences. It can begin with a parent’s birthplace, a childhood trip to a match or one unforgettable night in a packed stadium.
The next chapter for Ireland supporters
As the club looks towards future international windows, its role remains as relevant as ever. Modern technology may make travel easier, but the essential ingredients have not changed: shared heritage, loyalty to the team and the excitement of following Ireland together.
For the London Irish community, every fixture is another opportunity to keep that tradition alive. The next generation may experience football differently, but the ambition remains familiar: to see Ireland succeed and to be there when it happens.
Article/Image Courtesy: Balls.ie
