Northern Ireland v Norway Official Match Programme

CENTRE

Stephen Garrett, manager of the centre.

Belfast Lord Mayor Brian Kingston at an interactive display featuring Northern Ireland World Cup star Billy Hamilton.

places his famous hands in a mould ‘hands like shovels’!

Visitors are also able to see behind the scenes during an official stadium tour and pop into the newly opened JD Northern Ireland Supporters Store at the stadium. Education and Heritage Centre Manager Stephen Garrett said: “We hope that this centre will inspire young boys and girls across Northern Ireland to dream of wearing the green shirt. From schoolchildren to grandparents, people will leave the stadium having understood the achievements of football in Northern Ireland, feeling a sense of pride at our country’s unique contribution to the world’s number one sport and having enjoyed a taste of the beautiful game.” Words: Nigel Tilson

Northern Ireland have achieved so much on the global stage and the new centre covers it all. As the world’s fourth oldest governing body, the story starts at humble beginnings in 1880 and weaves its way through three appearances at World Cup finals to the country’s first appearance at a European Championship finals in France last summer. The centre enables fans to relive their favourite moments following Northern Ireland, whether it was that goal in Spain in 1982, the famous win over England in 2005 or Gareth McAuley’s header against Ukraine in Lyon.

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