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PRESIDENT’S
WELCOME
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.
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.
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
www.irishfa.com3