Johnny Giles was quite rightly scathing about the condition of the pitch at Lansdowne Road recently for Ireland's friendly match against Sweden. He placed the blame squarely on the shoulders of the IRFU.

This writer does not have any information about the arrangements agreed to between the IRFU and the Football Association of Ireland but, regardless of that, it seems harsh to place the entire blame on the IRFU. Many years ago, very soon after Giles had made his spectacular debut for Ireland against Sweden at Dalymount Park, this writer took part in a late-night conversation in a public house about what should be done with regards to the provision for a decent venue for Irish soccer.

At that stage Dalymount Park held crowds of close to 40,000. The facilities were, by modern standards, pretty basic. Attendances at matches in those years, the 1960s and 1970s, presented problems - in today's terms unacceptable problems - for people getting in and out of the stadium.

Memories come flooding back of being swept off my feet on the overcrowded terraces as spectators surged forward, or when there was a rush for the exits as people tried to leave the ground through narrow passageways.

In particular, one remembers the huge crush on the open terrace on that infamous day when John Atteyo scored the goal that effectively ended Ireland's chances of playing in the World Cup finals in Sweden the following year.

The fact that Northern Ireland did so well in that tournament was only a minor compensation.

The late-night argument centred around the view, advanced by this writer, that the FAI should take over Dalymount Park and develop it, while leaving the Bohemians club as tenants with free use of the ground for domestic matches.

A supporter, a member of Bohemians I seem to remember, said his club would never in any shape or form hand over the rights. Sadly, within a period of some years, Bohemians sold off part of the ground for the development of what is now a shopping mall and supermarket.

That is the real tragedy which Giles highlighted after the Swedish match. When he returned from Bromwich Albion to take over Shamrock Rovers at Glenmalure Park, he expressed the hope that domestic Irish soccer would thrive. One of his first decisions as manager was to take his training sessions away from Glenmalure to UCD, the purpose being to preserve the Milltown pitch and give ground staff an opportunity to make the playing surface the best in the country. He expressed the view then that standards could not be improved unless playing conditions improved.

He succeeded to a large extent in that ambition, but the saga which followed Glenmalure Park, and the vandalism which resulted, ruined his dream.

Even a supporter of the Real Rovers from Sligo, such as myself, can scarcely forbid the shedding of a quiet tear when considering the passing of what was once a jewel in Ireland's soccer crown.

Let that rest! In recent times a number of schemes have been put forward with a view of providing Dublin - and by extension - Ireland with a stadium worthy of the high standing of Irish soccer.

All of us should hope that one or other of those schemes will come to fruition sooner rather than later. Giving our national team a national stadium should be a priority for the FAI, but the fact is that up until now the FAI has reneged, in this regard, on its responsibilities.

Even when the money began to flow more readily under the guidance of Jack Charlton, no cogent plan for the future was put together.

Instead, the FAI was forced to go cap in hand to the IRFU in order to provide a ground of a standard which would allow UEFA and FIFA to sanction the playing of international home matches.

That, in turn, has deprived the FAI of 15 per cent of its income from international matches at Lansdowne Road. That money is now flowing freely into the pockets of rugby players and has helped, in no small way, to underwrite the IRFU's decision to go along with the idea of professional rugby.

That is what has emerged from years of neglect by those who have run the game of soccer in this country. At this stage the only grounds in Ireland capable of catering for the crowds anxious to attend major international soccer fixtures, apart from Lansdowne Road, are all owned by the GAA - Croke Park, Thurles, Pairc Ui Chaoimh and Killarney. The playing of international soccer matches at Lansdowne Road is far from ideal from the point of view of both players and spectators. Lansdowne Road is thought to be the oldest international rugby ground in the world, and there are times when it shows its age. It has, nevertheless, served Irish sport well at many levels and it deserves respect.

A long season of Irish rugby has just ended, and it is only to be expected that the pitch would be far from perfect. If criticism of the playing of the match against Sweden on such a surface is justified, it should be aimed at Merrion Square and not Lansdowne Road.