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NORTHERN Ireland supporters are loud and proud – no matter where they go they sing their hearts out and cheer the boys on from way before kick-off to long after the final whistle.

It is something that Lawrie Sanchez and the team certainly appreciates and their vocal support is legendary.

And at last Wednesday night’s match at the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki the Green and White Army easily out sang the 10,000 odd Finnish fans!!!

One man, who was impressed, not only by the performance of our boys on the pitch, but by the fans in the stands, was Stephen Thompson.

Originally from Belfast but now living in Helsinki, Stephen was one of the first people to applaud the team and his fellow Northern Ireland fans.

“I just want to offer my congratulations to the NI squad for their victory against Finland in Helsinki last Wednesday night.  It was an enjoyable and interesting game for me, a NI ex-pat living in Finland, to be at,” said Stephen.

“I also want to offer my congratulations and thanks to the smallish contingent of NI fans for their behaviour and support during the game.  While I was sitting with the Finns, the NI 'enclosure' was pretty much just a few metres from me, so I was able to monitor their support fairly well.

“Their singing / chanting was loud and enthusiastic.  Indeed, Thursday's Helsingin Sanomat (biggest newspaper in Finland) said in their match report: ‘Northern Ireland won on the pitch and its supporters took the points in the stands.  Finland has a lot to learn in both places.  Without the green-shirted NI supporters the atmosphere would have been pretty dull and anaemic.’

“Quite a tribute, and also very true.  I didn't need to feel any sense of shame or embarrassment as a NI fan in Finnish company.  These days people are very quick to complain but, in this case, credit and praiseshould be given where it is due.”

Stephen added: “And I would just like to say all the best to Lawrie and the team for the forthcoming Euro qualifying matches.”