As the Ireland Women's National Team prepare to take on Belgium in the Aviva Stadium, they can take inspiration from the 1980 team who beat the same opponent in the same month 45 years ago.

On October 27th 1980, the Ireland WNT faced off against Belgium for the first time in a women's senior international. The game in Dalymount Park came on the back of the Belgians beating England and Northern Ireland, so they were heavy favourites.

Coincidentally, the Ireland men's senior team had held Belgium to a 1-1 draw in the same venue just 12 days before. But the WNT went one better by claiming a 1-0 victory courtesy of a goal from Gráinne Cross.

Limerick ace Cross - who earned her first WNT cap as a 15-year-old - came off the bench as a substitute to head in the all-important goal. Unfortunately she clashed with the opposing goalkeeper and had to be taken to hospital, but it proved to be the decisive action of the game.

The WNT have since played Belgium on five other occasions but yet to replicate that winning feeling. Now, the current squad have the opportunity to break that trend by looking back to what Tony Kelly's team achieved 45 years ago.

Ahead of their UEFA Nations League Promotion / Relegation Play-Off First Leg on Friday, October 24th, the WNT were sent good luck messages by members of that 1980 team who were reunited for a special event in the Aviva Stadium.

Mairead Culhane, Elizabeth Hanney, Cassandra Lawless, Pauline Boland, Linda Gorman, Pauline Bolger, Breda Hanlon, Marrita Murphy, Grainne Cross, Denise Lyons and Jane Cowhey were all in attendance, while Eileen Brennan, Mary Cleary, Catherine Fitzpatrick, Margaret O'Connell, Janice Mooney and Philo Robinson were unable to make it along.

The 1980 team are amongst over 300 former WNT players who have been offered complimentary tickets to the Belgium game to cheer on the Girls in Green as they attempt to get that victory and boost their chances of achieving promotion to League A.

UEFA NATIONS LEAGUE PROMOTION / RELEGATION PLAY-OFF
First Leg
Ireland v Belgium
Friday, October 24th
Aviva Stadium
KO 19:00
Live on RTÉ2 / RTÉ Player

Second Leg
Belgium v Ireland
Tuesday, October 28th
Den Dreef, Leuven
KO 19:30 (Irish Time)
Live on RTÉ2 / RTÉ Player