Alan McLoughlin can hardly believe 20 years have passed since Italia '90. Sky's Enda Brady caught up with the former midfielder for a quick chat about that tournament, THAT goal in Belfast . . . and sharing a room with an Ireland striker who phoned his dog every day while on international duty!

Q: We've read a lot lately about England's luxury hotel in South Africa. What was Ireland's accommodation like in 1990?

A: We had a 10-day training camp in Malta before the tournament began and I was a late addition to the squad because Swindon Town were in the play-offs. We were staying in what had been the biggest hotel in Malta, but it had been closed down for years! They only opened it for us and it was a bit like 'rent-a-ghost'! Everything was empty apart from the level we were on.
And there was no air conditioning! In fact, only one place we stayed at in Italia '90 had air con, that was before the Romania game. In Palermo we actually slept on camp beds. I made my debut in a friendly against Malta and that was when Frank Stapleton broke the then record.

Q: Did things improve in Sardinia then?

When we got there the facilities were excellent. I was 23 and everything was just amazing. My big thing was getting to know the lads. Obviously I had played against some of them before but hadn't met them. I missed the pre-World Cup friendlies because of the play-offs. So settling in was a big deal for me.

Q: Were you made welcome? Any practical jokes?

A: When I arrived in Malta one of the FAI officials, a man called Jack Kelly, picked me up at the airport. He took me to the hotel where I briefly met the other lads and then he showed me to my room. The door was open and there was this terrible, terrible howling coming from inside. I didn't know what to expect. It turns out that Bernie Slaven was to be my room-mate and he had to telephone home every day and speak to his dog! I kid you not. The dog was called Shauna. I'll never forget it as long as I live. He'd call home, have someone put the dog on the phone and then bark back to Shauna. Mental, absolutely mental. Three weeks that went on. I can still hear it now.

Q: What can you remember about Sheedy's goal against England in 1990?

A: Well for a start I was a good yard offside. I just had this awful feeling. It dawned on me that I was offside. Sheedy had anticipated Steve McMahon's mistake and pounced on it and then BANG! I was hoping that Peter Shilton would maybe spill the shot but I had gone too quickly. I gambled a fraction ahead and was offside. The panic was unbelievable. But part of me often thinks we equalised because Jack had brought me on!

Q: What are your memories of meeting Pope John Paul II?

A: Well Bernie Slaven was desperate to get a gold medal from the Pope, so I had to stay in the queue. I was a bit like Robin to his Batman, or maybe that should be the other way around? Anyway, we were a good 20 minutes late and kept Jack and the others waiting outside the Vatican. That didn't go down too well and we nearly got sent home over it!!

Q: Do you know what happened to your shirt from the Northern Ireland away game in 1993 when you scored THAT goal?

A: I still have it, it is kept in a very safe place and I am extremely proud of it. It has '14' on the back and I love it. It should be in a museum really and if there ever was an Ireland football museum I would be proud to donate it so any Ireland fans could see it, if they wanted to. I did have the boots I scored with but they have gone missing.

Q: Have you any message for everyone at You Boys in Green?

A: Ireland fans gave me the best days and nights of my life and for that I will always be grateful. You made the hairs stand up on the back of my neck, particularly in New York. Amazing. You are the reason that the Ireland players put in the level of performance they do when they pull on that shirt. We gave everything because it was drummed into us how special the fans are. Jack did it, so did Mick. I'm just delighted that that spirit continues now in players like Kevin Kilbane, Robbie Keane and Shay Given. You either embrace the shirt or you get out. More than anything there is an enormous pride. I have the height of respect for people who save their money and go to places as far flung as Lithuania, Macedonia and New York to cheer on You Boys in Green. If players can't respond to that kind of support there is something wrong with them.

Thanks for your time Alan and best wishes in all you do in life from YBIG.