IFA Programme 2016

THE PROJECT MANAGER’S VIEW The idea of building a new National Football Stadium had been in the making for quite a few years.

We had to redirect a huge amount of effort to ensure that we had the East Stand demolition works finished in time for the next home international game against Romania in June 2015. Again we did it and managed to keep our spectator capacity to the stated number. Throughout all the setbacks and delays we have strived to make this stadium available to as many spectators we could safely provide seats for and ensure that coming into and leaving from what effectively was a huge building site was achieved with the minimum of fuss. Today we are at the end of the process to build a National Football Stadium and we can be proud of what we have achieved. To all the people who have contributed in whatever way they have to build this magnificent stadium a sincere and truly meant thank you. Without you we could never have achieved what we have. Geoff Patterson Stadium Project Manager

Several locations had been considered but it was finally agreed that the redevelopment of Windsor Park was the best option. The redevelopment works for the National Football Stadium started in May 2014 after the Irish Cup Final had been played on the old Windsor Park surface. We had never intended to start with the pitch reconstruction works but as a result of circumstances outside our control we had to revisit our programme plan. The single biggest concern for us was to have a new playing surface in place and ready for the start of our Euro 2016 campaign in September 2014. We achieved that part of the plan. What followed was a sequence of work starting with the demolition of the South Stand and at the same time commencing the building of the East Stand. All was going well until the end of March 2015 when two days after the home Euro 2016 qualifier against Finland the West Stand (Kop) suffered a structural failure of such an impact that it had to be made safe by demolition.

Delighted to craft the cake for the official opening of the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park home to the northern ireland football team

Baking Brilliance daily traditional breads specialty cakes patisserie deli corporate catering Visit our Bakery and Deli/Restaurant situated at The Arc, Titanic Quarter (behind SSE Arena) and Bakery located at Cherryvalley Belfast. Download our ‘Belfast Baking Company’ App for special offers and competitions. T 028 90 183 690 www.belfastbaking.com

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