Northern Ireland v San Marino Offical Match Programme

PRESIDENT’S

WELCOME

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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