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Patterson we offer our thanks and appreciation for all
their efforts, and wish them well in the future.
Also departing, after many years service, are Allen
Clarke and Neil Doak. Both have made tremendous
contributions to Ulster, initially as players, but more
recently in a coaching capacity.
Clarky, who was capped eight times by Ireland, played
for Northampton before returning to Ulster in 1998 and
was a member of the victorious European Cup side in
1999. Having retired from playing, he was assistant
coach when Ulster won the Celtic League title in 2006.
He was instrumental in setting up the Ulster Rugby
Academy, and has been assistant coach to the senior
team since 2014. We wish him well in his roll with the
Ospreys next season.
Doaky first played for Ulster in 1995, and went on play
seventy six times in his ten years as a player. Although
he never won an Irish cap, he was a member of the
2002 Six Nations and 2003 World Cup squads. He did
however win thirty two caps for the Ireland cricket team.
Neil was appointed as the Ulster backs coach in 2009,
becoming head coach in 2014. We also wish Doaky
well in whatever he chooses to do.
Anthony Foley
Although not an Ulsterman, there is no doubt that “Axel”
Foley was one of the most popular and respected of
rugby men, not just throughout Ireland, but much further
afield. The news of his sudden death at such a young
age was greeted with disbelief and great sadness. It
was with great pride that Ulster was given permission
by the Munster Branch to erect a plaque in memory of
Anthony in the away changing room in the Kingspan
Stadium.
Kingspan Stadium
Although the stadium was completed a couple of years
ago, Cecil Watson has ensured that the Development
Committee, which he chairs, has kept itself busy. A
funding allocation of £350,000 for 2016/17 has been
fully utilised and planned upgrades to the Stadium have
been completed in advance of the Women’s World
Cup. This includes the recent successful introduction
of stadium wi-fi, which has proved extremely popular.
A further bid for 2017/18 to facilitate Stadium essentials
is being prepared for submission to the Department for
Communities.
Progress on the Sub-Regional Strategy remains on
hold until the Rugby World Cup bid outcome has
been determined, and, of course, until there is political
progress on the restoration of the Northern Ireland
Assembly.
A ten year plan detailing annual refurbishment strategy
and costs for the Stadium is currently being developed
by the Stadium Manager.
The Kingspan Residents Committee is fully operational.
Meetings to date have been positive, the main issue for
residents being illegal parking on match nights.
Best Event or Festival Experience
At a gala evening on 18th May, the Northern Ireland
Tourism Awards Ceremony was held in Enniskillen
Castle. Despite very strong competition from some
ever popular events including the Balmoral Show and
Belfast Christmas Market, the award for “Best Event
or Festival Experience” went to Ulster Rugby for its
staging of the memorable European Champions Cup tie
against Clermont Auvergne last December at Kingspan
Stadium.
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IRFU ULSTER BRANCH
ANNUAL REPORT & STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS 2016/17