Road to SA - about this site

The road to World Cup 2010 in South Africa for Northern Ireland took a double away hit with defeats to Slovakia and Slovenia, but the emphatic 4-0 home win against San Marino means points and happier fans.

NI fans invade Bratislava in Slovakia as the South Africa 2010 campaign begins

Despite results on the pitch, the green and white army will be there as the 12th man to support their heroes - win, lose or draw. BBC NI want to be there with the fans throughout the campaign.

BBC NI want to share the fans' passion and unconditional support for the team and to follow the highs and lows of being a Northern Ireland football supporter both home, and especially away.

At each venue the BBC will be providing short video packages of the unique atmosphere generated by the fans. The clip below will give you a taste of what it's like to travel with the GAWA to away games. The clip below has the best bits of match day as NI took on Slovenia and shows the NI fans at their best.

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Match Day Montage - Slovenia

So we want to hear from you, we want your stories, photos, and memories to form an online snapshot of what it's like, and what it's been like, to follow the Northern Ireland football team.

The BBC Interactive team wants to hear from any Northern Ireland fans who are planning something special for the away trips. Fill in the form at the top of the page to get in touch.

WATCH THE SLOVENIA VIDEOS

Our road trip took in Bled, Ljubljana and Maribor

WATCH THE SLOVAKIA VIDEOS

Planes, taxis and hydrofoils as the fans get there any which way

SOME OF YOUR COMMENTS

"23 of us from Kilkeel N.I.S.C. will be making the trip to San Marino via Bologna or Rimini. Here's to three points and hoping that the locals don't get sick of our singing voices lol."

"I'm a member of the NOE (North of England) NISC and we will be taking a group of 8 away to cheer our wee country on. Flying to Pisa on the Tuesday, before getting the train up to Florence to take in the cultural delights of this beautiful city. Leaving Florence Wednesday morning on the 'mainland party train' to Rimini along with members of the SOE (South of England) NISC and Scottish NISC. Should be a cracking trip, and hopefully 3 points in the bag to set us up nicely for the vital double header coming up in March against Poland and Slovenia."John Hart, - aka JP "Lafferty" (fans match video, Slovenia).

"Well I am all set for San Marino!! Flying out of Cork to Gatwick tues the 10th....sleeping rough in the airport over nite then fly to Bologna at 8am. Train journey then to Rimini and then a bus to San Marino!! ..oh the joys of following our wee country. After the game we have to make r way back to Bologna somehow to get a flight back to Gatwick at 6.40am....for a flight back to Cork at 3.00pm thurs the 12th...its gonna be a good ride Nicky Young, Waterford.

"I have supported Northern Ireland all my life and remember 1958 when we reached the quarter finals. I remember as a child I played in the seven a sides at the Oval. You can take the boy out of Ireland but you cant take Ireland out of the boy. Brian Barnes, Canada.

"Brilliant watching the vids. I've been on one or two of them. It shows the English how to support your country and how to win and lose with dignity, not bad fans for a wee country. Scott Devenay, Germany.

"Off to san marino in feb to watch the GAWA. Taking a week for this one, spending a few days in milan and taking in a game at the san siro, then meeting the rest off my troops and travelling down to Bologna where we shall meet the SNISC before travelling on buses down to the game and back up and then travelling down to pisa to fly home to dublin on the friday. Quite a few miles will be covered on this away trip, but it wouldnt be a proper away trip if we didnt" Bangor Boy.

"Off to Bratislava on the train. After 2 years of watching most Nor'n Ir'n games as a lone fan in a smokey sports bar in Prague, I can't wait to see Sir David and the boys in the flesh once again." Phil Alexander, Prague.

"I've got my NI shirt and I'll be watching online from the far side of the world. Go-on the boys. Make us proud." Jonathan Scott, New Zealand

" Being a Norn Iron supporter has never been sweeter these last few years! May I again be in Windsor for many more memories..BRING ON THE CZECHS!!! Jay Wallace, Greyabbey.

" Brilliant! I am an Englishman living in the USA. What a great example of how to support your team and Country!! You done yourselves proud! If only the idiot English fans could take your lead!! Graham Sharpe, Miami, USA.

"Our club, Whitehouse NI Supporters Section, have planned away trips to Slovenia and San Marino. The club has been going for 26 years and at its height had 30 members and have seen the highs and lows. Its important to realise that when going to support our wee country you should never expect to win but you do expect a performance . George Lunn.

In the taxi on our way to Las Palmas for the final match of the Euro campaign, the taxi driver phoned his sister to let her hear our chants on the 60 minute drive! His driving had been dodgy enough to begin with...Joel, Belfast.

Get in touch with us by filling in the form on the top right of the page or send an e-mail to [e-mail] with your comments and photographs.