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GOOD
EVENING
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
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.
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
www.irishfa.com7