‘We were taking bets on who he was going to buy next,” said Aaron Hughes as the Northern Ireland contingent sat in a line at a Fulham press conference in the summer of 2007.

Lawrie Sanchez had been made permanent manager and he wasn’t going to stray far from his roots as part-time NI boss.

In they came, the trusted David Healy, Hughes, Chris Baird and Steven Davis for fees nudging £10 million.

France bound: Steven Davis celebrates after scoring Northern Ireland's third goal against Greece

Fast forward to last night and the latter celebrated after leading the Province to its first major championship. Captain Davis was a year old the last time Northern Ireland competed at a major finals - the 1986 World Cup

But the honeymoon was quickly over after Sanchez was shown the door in December 2007, just 10 months into the job.

Boss: Lawrie Sanchez at Fulham

Fulham had gained but a single point from the previous five games, and certain players had fallen out with the FA Cup winner and his hoofball tactics inherited from his time with Wimbledon's Crazy Gang.

The second casualty was ironically, Davis.

He was last man standing from the four able to enjoy Northern Ireland’s big moment last night as they trumped Greece and Fulham striker Kostas Mitroglou, 3-1.

Tracking back: Chelsea's Eden Hazard takes on Southampton's Steven Davis

NI manager Michael O'Neill paid tribute to his skipper: “He's one of the most under-rated players in the Premier League, he's a top, top, top player and he showed that again tonight.”

He wasn’t back in 2007, according to Roy Hodgson, the next man through the Cottage door. He didn’t fancy Davis, deemed lightweight by fans.

Off he was dispatched to Glasgow Rangers on loan, later made permanent before a switch to Southampton and a return to the Premier League.

Backs you can depend on: Daniel Sturridge faces Aaron Hughes (L) and Brede Hangeland

What of the others?

Aaron Hughes was the most successful of the quartet as a Fulham player.

The number 18 struck up a partnership with Hodgson’s first signing, Brede Hangeland. The pair made it all the way to the 2010 Europa League final.

Hughes played 242 times for the Whites before moving to QPR for a solitary half season - where he was less successful. He now plays for Melbourne City in Australia.

Who are you looking at? Chris Baird, at West Brom, remonstrates with QPR's Sandro

Baird is at Derby County, having been linked with a move to QPR and back to Fulham over the last two seasons. He made 135 Fulham appearances all the way to 2013.

Healy’s playing fate was the saddest.

Irish eyes: David Healy is head down as he battles with Cesc Fabregas, then at Arsenal

Northern Ireland’s all-time leading scorer was forced out of the game in 2013 with ankle injuries. That and no one fancied a punt on a player who finished his career with lowly Bury.

He’s now a coach back home with the NI U16s, and no doubt looking to enjoy the six counties show in France 2016.