Northern Ireland v Norway Official Match Programme

GOOD EVENING

Welcome to the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park this evening for the first senior international game in what we all hope will be a busy and successful 2017.

Norway are here for the first time in just over five years, having provided friendly opposition for Michael's first game as manager in February 2012. Our home form so far in the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 qualifiers has been excellent and we sit in second place in the group on merit with tonight being a crucial fixture on our journey. As always Michael will have prepared his squad well and we look to you the supporters to provide that special GAWA atmosphere from yet another full house here at the stadium. What many people will notice tonight is that the new Olympia Leisure Centre is now open. This has been built on the back of the West Stand and the old centre has now been demolished. This means that the last phase of the entire development is well under way which will eventually deliver a new boulevard from Boucher Road up to our stadium - a fitting entrance for an iconic stadium! Also in terms of recent openings I am pleased to note that our Education and Heritage Centre was opened by Michael and the legendary Pat Jennings earlier this month. You will be able to read more about the centre elsewhere in this programme but for me it is a 'must visit' for all Northern Ireland fans. You can see the British Championship trophy we won in 1984, take a penalty against Pat Jennings, tackle

David Healy, sit in Michael's seat in the press conference room - a stadium tour is included in the entry ticket to the centre - and much more. Fans will also notice this evening that a new shop has opened in the stadium. Our retail partners JD Sports have opened a Northern Ireland Supporters Store in the East Stand. It’s my pleasure to welcome JD to the stadium. Finally, I would like to mention that it is now only 136 days until we kick off the UEFA WU19 finals here at the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park. Alfie Wylie's squad will be opening the tournament against one of the top teams in Europe on that day and I know that he would like everyone who is here tonight to come along and support our team for the opening game – and indeed throughout the tournament, which runs from August 8-20 in four stadiums across Northern Ireland. Playing at the highest level of European football will be a fantastic experience for our U19 Women’s squad and if we can back them in numbers it will give them a great boost. Tickets for the entire tournament were launched earlier this month and are now on sale via Ticketmaster. Enjoy the game tonight.

Patrick Nelson Chief Executive Irish Football Association

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