Irish FA presentation
- 2. HistoryFounded in Belfast in 1880 (originally an all Ireland team)4th Oldest Assoc and member of IFABBlanchflower, Jennings….Best (Players at all levels have always represented all of the community) Qualified for 3 World Cups – 1958, 1982 (Quarter Finalists) and 1986 (Quarter Finalists)
- 3. BackgroundInternational, Domestic and Grassroots football 870 registered teams (Adults), 500 Boys teams, 50 Women’s teams and 300 School teams
- 4. International45 International MatchesIncluding men's, women’s, youth and disability teamsAward winning Football For All (FFA) campaign
- 5. International Key to success tackling sectarianism at international level is FFA partnership work with Northern Ireland Supporters who are key members of FFA Advisory Panel
- 6. Domestic676 goals or averaging 2.96 goals per game789 Affiliated RefereesCommunity Relations Officers at every Irish League Club and Community Relations key to domestic licence.
- 7. DomesticThe IFA FFA Community Relations Dept supports Clubs with:Community AuditsCommunity Relations StrategiesFunding Plans
- 8. GrassrootsOver 5,000 FFA participants, 14,282 children in primary schools are being coached each week of which 6,905 were girlsUEFA 5* Charter Mark
- 9. GrassrootsKey FFA Community Projects:Women’s World UnitedBelfast Celtic Dealing with the Past ProjectLimestone United and Ardoyne Interface ProjectsBelfast Street League
- 10. Research80% agreed that the IFA works for all sides of the community78% said the IFA have worked hard to move football forward over the last 4 years76% agreed that NI games have become family friendly66% said the IFA is a professional organisation73% said the NI team is representative of the whole community86% said the IFA have eradicated sectarianism over the last 4 yearsSource: Millward Brown, Sample 302, Nov 09External RecognitionThe EU/UEFA endorsed Football For All programmeBrussels International Award UK SME award for Excellence in Marketing by Institute of MarketingPositive external baseline surveys and evaluations of FFA
- 11. Our VisionTo develop, foster and promote football for all in Northern Ireland
- 14. Football For All Football For All is all about creating a fun, safe and inclusive culture throughout football
- 15. Football For AllThe EU funded Football For All Project was set up to tackle issue of sectarianism which was crippling Football in Northern Ireland.
- 16. The guiding principles of FFA remain education, support and communication.
- 17. Mainstreaming Football For All into the fabric of the Irish Football Association has revolutionised Northern Irish Football. Football For All – the futureLooking to the future, the main challenge is to build on progress made and remove all remaining barriers to inclusion.
- 18. FFA recently commissioned research to identify the remaining barriers to inclusion.
- 19. The challenge is for the sport of football to reflect a new more confident, diverse and inclusive Northern Ireland.Irish Football Association;QuestionsContacts:Michael Boyd (Head of Community Relations)mboyd@irishfa.com02890 669458