Northern Ireland v San Marino Offical Match Programme

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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.
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
Baking Brilliance daily traditional breads specialty cakes patisserie deli corporate catering
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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
The idea of building a new National Football Stadium had been in the
making for quite a few years.