ASK Jason McAteer what he was doing on the day of his 23rd birthday, and he won’t have any trouble remembering.

The former Wanderers midfielder’s favourite World Cup memory was created in the blazing hot sun of New York’s Giants Stadium, where he helped the Republic of Ireland stun the footballing world by beating Italy.

Ray Houghton scored the only goal of the game as Jack Charlton’s unfancied team progressed to the last 16 against the odds.

“It was just a dream to play in the World Cup, but that game against Italy in the Giants Stadium will never leave me,” said the former Burnden Park midfielder, who is one of eight Wanderers’ players to have played at a World Cup.

“It was weird in the tunnel to see legends like Paolo Maldini and Franco Baresi – I’d normally just see those players on the telly.

“I had only been in the squad a couple of months and thought I’d done quite well to get to the greatest show on earth. It was great, I was with all my heroes – John Aldridge, Ray Houghton, Ronnie Whelan – all the Liverpool lot were there, and Paul McGrath.

“I was picked to play against Norway, when we needed to get a draw to go through to the next round.”

McAteer reckons the Republic’s camaraderie saw them through against Arrigo Sacchi, and recalls the banter continued even after entering the field of play against the Italians.

“We came out to do the national anthems, and I was stood with Phil Babb and Garry Kelly, the younger lads with all the experienced pros, and I was about third from the end,” said McAteer.

“Andy Townsend, the captain, was first then Packie Bonner, the keeper, and so on. I was really nervous but I could see Andy whispering into Packie’s ear. Don’t forget this is Giants Stadium with about a hundred thosuand people all around you.

“I could see him whispering to Packie, then to Stan Staunton, and I thought it must be some last-minute instructions, ‘don’t give the ball away,’ ‘keep it tight,’ ‘we need this, come on lads,’ that kind of thing. It came down to me and Aldridge whispered in my ear: ‘Look at the girl in Row F, she’s a stunner. Pass it on.’”