So why do Reds Independent exist? Why the need for an independent supporters group for The Reds?

Well, it all goes back to the summer of 1998. After the bitter final day capitulation in Oriel, the consolation of a UEFA Cup place didn't seem like much. Then the draw was made. Shelbourne FC versus Rangers FC. Ooh yeah!!! Bring it on!!!

Then things started to go awry. Naturally enough the media showed footage of Rangers previous visit to Dublin. There was chaos in and around Dalyer as locals, visiting fans and the Gardai all clashed during their UEFA Cup tie with Bohs. And it had been only three years since the infamous Lansdowne Riot. And it fell in the middle of the Orange Order's marching season which had seen the north decend into near civil war during the mid-nineties.

However we still looked forward to a momentous day. After all Drumcondra was hardly Drumcree. The Dublin of '98 was one of near "full employment" as opposed to the city blighted by rampant unemployment, poverty and emigration of '84. But rumours persisted about the match being played behind closed doors, or even being moved to Britain.

But the likelihood of either scenario happening were slim (or so we thought). After all, Ireland had played the north in front of 48,000 at Lansdowne in 1989. There were no incidents with away fans banned bar the burning of a Union Jack on the Havelock Square Terrace. Same again in 1993 in front of 33,000 fans. Easy solution so. Also Tolka was in the heart of the constituency of An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, a man who was so insistent on the RUC and the British government not surrendering to the threat of violence by the Loyalist community over Orange marches being re-routed from the nationalist Gavarghy Road in Portadown. any threat of violence in his own backyard would surely be faced down.

Then word started coming through that the match was being switched. And it was duly announced that the match, our home leg, would take place in a foreign country. At Prenton Park, Birkenhead, home of Tranmere Rovers FC.

As if that wasn't bad enough the then chairman of the official supporters club was interviewed on RTE television news and claimed (i.e. lied) that all Shelbourne supporters agreed with the decision to switch the match. (Yes, that actually happened!!!!). And with those outrageous comments claiming to reflect all of the club's support, it was agreed that the club need a new independent outlet for the fans. After a couple of open meeting in Pearse Street, a decision was taken to put a fanzine together. The first real Shels fanzine for a number of years since the demise of the Alternative Reds Club's From Home To Home in the early nineties. The new fanzine Red Inc. first appeared in January 1999 and has proved hugely popular with Shels fans, inspired a bit of a revival of 'zines across the League, and is now the League's longest running fanzine, in its' eigth season.

We hope you enjoy it and we hope you enjoy the website. But most importantly of all, we hope you contribute to them.

DGB,

Reds Independent,

May 2003