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19

Several locations had been considered but it was

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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

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Finland the West Stand (Kop) suffered a structural

failure of such an impact that it had to be made

safe by demolition.

We had to redirect a huge amount of effort to

ensure that we had the East Stand demolition

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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

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sincere and truly meant thank you.

Without you we could never have achieved what

we have.

Geoff Patterson

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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

Delighted to craft the cake for the official opening

of the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park

home to the

northern ireland football team

THE PROJECT

MANAGER’S VIEW

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