IFA Programme 2016

PRESIDENT’S

WELCOME

On behalf of the Irish Football Association I am pleased to welcome the officials, players and supporters of San Marino to Belfast and in particular to Northern Ireland’s National Football Stadium for this evening’s FIFA 2018 World Cup qualifying game.

The match coincides with the official opening of our National Football Stadium after the rebuilding of the South, East and West stands and also refurbishment work carried out to the North Stand - a project which cost in the region of £40 million. The redevelopment of the stadium brings our capacity up to 18,600 and it will be full for this evening’s opening and first home group game in the 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign. It has been an exciting last few weeks for everyone at the Irish Football Association as we approached completion of the work and this evening’s opening ceremony. I would also like to take this opportunity to welcome the President of FIFA, Gianni Infantino, to this special occasion for football in Northern Ireland and to thank him for agreeing to officially open the stadium. The opening ceremony affords us the opportunity to publicly thank the Northern Ireland Executive who have, through the Department for Culture, Arts and Leisure (now Department for Communities), supported this project and without whom this stadium could not have been transformed so magnificently and to such a high specification. It also presents an opportunity to thank the members of the Irish FA board, the stadium board and the project team, who together with contractors O’Hare & McGovern have contributed immensely to providing a stadium of which the people of Northern Ireland can be justifiably proud.

Ownership of the entire programme was in the remit of the association’s chief executive, Patrick Nelson, who worked calmly and tirelessly to see the project through to completion. There is, of course, an important game to be played this evening. This is the second time San Marino have been in Northern Ireland. They played at Windsor Park on 15 October 2008, also in a World Cup qualifier, with Northern Ireland winning by a 4-0 scoreline. For Michael O’Neill and his playing squad, they come into the game on the back of a good point won away from home in Prague and will be looking to build on that in this first home game following on from their successful Euro 2016 finals in France. After this evening’s game we travel to Hannover to play world champions Germany, a big challenge but one I am sure the manager and players will relish. Thanks to all who supported the team throughout the Euros in France, a magnificent support which resulted in the receiving of a medal from the Mayor of Paris. We look forward to that passionate support continuing this evening in our new, enlarged stadium and I hope you all enjoy an exciting game followed by a safe journey home. David J Martin President Irish Football Association

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