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Promoting, Fostering and Developing Football for All

Promoting, Fostering and Developing Football for All

PROMOTING, FOSTERING AND DEVELOPING FOOTBALL FOR ALL

The Irish FA’s Five-Year Strategy 2017–2022 IRISH FA FIVE-YEAR PLAN 2017–2022 CONTENTS

Foreword: Irish FA President 04–05 The Irish FA’s Values 06–07 Introduction 08–09 We’re Not Brazil, We’re Northern : Review 10–11 The Economic Context 12–13 Time For A New Strategy 14–15 Challenge Every Time, Qualify Every Other Time 16–19 Rebuild The Football Estate 20–21 Break The Top 40 in 22–23 Reinvigorate The Everyday Game 24–25 Build A Thriving Stadium Business 26–27 Liaising With The Community 28–29 Organise To Serve The Football Family Better 30–31 Timeline 32–33 Consultations 34–35 FOREWORD: IRISH FA PRESIDENT

In a specially designed cabinet in the new Education and Heritage Centre there is a carefully preserved minute book detailing the first ever meeting of the Irish Football Association. The date, 18 November 1880, is handwritten in fountain pen and the unique piece of football history records in fantastic detail how Cliftonville famously issued an invitation to the other clubs in to follow the lead of clubs in , and to form their own association.

The seven founding clubs were Alexander, We’re Not Brazil, We’re Northern Ireland. a new five-year plan to continue to drive Avoniel, Cliftonville, Distillery, Knock, Originally planned to run until 2018, It the association forward and to further Moyola Park and Oldpark. We owe the set out bold aims: to qualify for a major promote, foster and grow football in representatives who gathered around tournament; to deliver a National Stadium; Northern Ireland. the table that night in the Queen’s Hotel to foster a balanced, flourishing senior almost 138 years ago a great deal. It is game; to create a healthy domestic game We want our international teams to their vision and passion for the game at all levels; to reach beyond the game challenge every time and to qualify every of that we carry on and to build a culture of lifelong other time. With the National Football today. That historic meeting also serves participation in football. Stadium now complete and ofcially as a reminder that the Association was opened in October 2016, we now want founded by clubs and to this day continues More than a year ahead of the conclusion of to rebuild the football estate. We want to exist to serve its member clubs. the timeframe outlined in We’re Not Brazil, to help our top clubs be more successful We’re Northern Ireland, with many of our in and want to reinvigorate the More recently, in 2013, the Irish FA objectives met, and in view of the changing recreational game across all levels. We launched an ambitious strategic plan – economic and political outlook, it’s time for want our stadium to be commercially

Promoting, Fostering and Developing Football For All / The Irish FA’s Five-Year Strategy 2017–2022 DAVID J MARTIN IRISH FA PRESIDENT

successful while at the same time Northern Ireland. They would share our The four British Associations in 1886 formed maintaining its special place as the home pride at our senior men’s international the International Football Association of football in Northern Ireland. As an team having represented Northern Board to standardise the laws of the game. Association we want to make as positive Ireland at UEFA Euro 2016 in . I believe that the Irish FA has continued to a contribution as possible to civic in While it would have been far from be at the cutting edge of any changes in the Northern Ireland and to be an efcient, well the agenda back then, I am sure that world’s most popular sport. run organisation capable of delivering for they would be impressed at the rapid everyone in the . growth of women’s football in Northern Above all, perhaps our founding fathers Ireland and share our excitement at would be most pleased at the number of I often wonder what those men who hosting tournaments such as the UEFA people playing football in Northern Ireland gathered in 1880 would make of the Irish Under-19 Women’s Championship in the and our absolute commitment to promoting, Football Association now. I am sure they summer of 2017 and the Under-19 Men’s fostering and developing football for all. would marvel at the new state-of-the- Championship in the summer of 2020. art National Football Stadium that their David J Martin, successors have provided for the people of Irish FA President

05 IRISH FA VALUES

THE IRISH FA’S VISION: To promote, foster and develop football for all in NI

THE IRISH FA’S INSPIRATIONAL DREAM: To inspire every child in Northern Ireland to be a part of our football family and to dream of wearing the green shirt.

Promoting, Fostering and Developing Football For All / The Irish FA’s Five-Year Strategy 2017–2022 THE ASSOCIATION’S CORE VALUES: PITCH PROFESSIONAL We must be professional in all we do, meticulous in our planning and execution, leaving no stone unturned and nothing to chance.

INCLUSIVE Football is truly for all and must be inclusive. Everyone loves the game regardless of gender, religion, , race or sexual orientation. We will continue to work to ensure all individuals and groups feel comfortable and welcome within the game in whatever role they fulfil.

TEAM The Irish FA must work as a team, each with his or her own task as part of a greater whole – knowing our roles and supporting and encouraging other members of the team as we seek to achieve our winning goals.

CARING AND CONFIDENT The Irish FA recognises its duty of care for all involved in the game – players, ofcials, supporters, referees, administrators. We have a responsibility to lead by example and ensure that all children and young people who participate in Association programmes do so in a positive, secure environment that is free from abuse and harm. The Irish FA must be confident that what we are doing is correct in all aspects of our work and that appropriate safeguards are in place.

HONESTY Being honest, saying it as it is, i.e. not being underhand or devious. Honesty and integrity are watch words for the Irish FA.

07 INTRODUCTION

The past four years have been among the most significant in the 137-year history of the Irish Football Association. Our senior men’s team qualified for a major tournament for the first time in 30 years. O’Neill’s team made history with that famous 2-0 win over in Lyon and reached the last 16 of UEFA EURO 2016. The success of the summer of 2016 saw unprecedented interest in the Northern Ireland senior men’s team. More than 40,000 people attended the fan-zone in Belfast’s Quarter. The shirt was the best selling item of apparel in JD Sports three weeks running. Following UEFA Euro 2016 more than 50,000 people applied for just 3,000 campaign cards for the FIFA World Cup 2018 Russia qualifiers.

In October 2016 the new National Premiership and , with Significantly, BBC Sport NI will Football Stadium at was responsibility for the administration and now also have a dedicated online ofcially opened. Supported by funding commercial rights of these competitions. programme to show the from the Northern Ireland Executive, it Women’s Premiership. is now a transformed arena, a state-of- Under NIFL’s stewardship attendances the-art home of football for everyone in have gone up year on year (12% in the We now have more people playing the Northern Ireland. first half of the 2016/17 season) and in game in Northern Ireland than ever before. March 2017 it agreed a new long term The Irish FA has grown participation to One of the most significant changes in commercial deal with Danske Bank for approximately 58,000 young people recent years has been the formation of the title sponsorship of the Premiership between the ages of four and 24. In total, The Northern Ireland Football League and Women’s Premiership. Coverage across small sided games, our primary (NIFL) at the start of the 2013/14 of the Premiership is greater than schools programme, futsal and our season. NIFL is the organising body of ever before with BBC Northern Ireland disability initiatives, numbers are up by the Danske Bank Premiership, the NIFL showing highlights on and 16% year-on-year. Championship, the Premier Intermediate on a dedicated online programme. Sky League, the League Cup, the Premiership Sports will show five Danske Bank and Championship Development Leagues Premiership fixtures and the NIFL League as well as the Danske Bank Women’s Cup Final in each of the next five seasons.

Promoting, Fostering and Developing Football For All / The Irish FA’s Five-Year Strategy 2017–2022 This success was founded Those were to: on a strategy written in 2013 that set out an ambitious Qualify for a major tournament vision until 2018. Deliver a National Stadium Foster a balanced, flourishing senior domestic game Called We’re Not Brazil, Create a healthy domestic game at all levels We’re Northern Ireland, it Reach beyond the game documented the association’s Build a culture of lifelong participation in football goals up until 2018. With the progress that the Irish FA has achieved over the past four years many of the goals that were set out in the 2013-18 strategic plan have now been met.

09 WE’RE NOT BRAZIL, WE’RE NORTHERN IRELAND: REVIEW

Qualify for a major tournament Achieved In Progress Not Achieved Appoint an Elite Performance Manager Reconstruct Elite Coaching Identify Talent / Support Scouting Consolidate Elite Player Support

Deliver a new national stadium Achieved In Progress Not Achieved Complete new stadium Create a stadium management company Adopt sub regional facility strategy Develop a national training centre

Foster a balanced, flourishing senior domestic game Achieved In Progress Not Achieved Establish an independent body to manage senior football Review numbers of divisions and teams in our leagues and promote elite youth development in clubs Reduce debt burden among senior clubs Maximise value of senior football

Promoting, Fostering and Developing Football For All / The Irish FA’s Five-Year Strategy 2017–2022 Create a healthy domestic game at all levels Achieved In Progress Not Achieved Introduce a club mark to support and develop amateur clubs Streamline and modernise models of football administration Consider establishing an amateur board to further develop the game Create clear strategies for women’s, boys’ and schools’ football

Reach beyond the game Achieved In Progress Not Achieved Launch a respect programme Use the power of football to foster community and personal development Strengthen partnerships targeting social need

Build a culture of lifelong involvement in football Achieved In Progress Not Achieved Evolve and celebrate football in Northern Ireland Develop and promote a positive plan for disability football Excite our young people and give them a voice in the future of football Capture the passion of volunteers in football and the community Collaborate through sport to make a diference

11 THE ECONOMIC CONTEXT

The scale of economic uncertainty across the globe is almost unprecedented. Following a period of strong labour market growth since the turn of the decade, the UK vote to leave the European Union and recent local uncertainty around the Northern Ireland public expenditure budget has created an environment where businesses, investors and consumers are uncertain on the ‘terms of trade’ over the medium term.

Since 2012, Northern Ireland has emerged facing Northern Ireland, from the perspective steam, and that higher inflation on essential from a deep recession and has been enjoying of the IFA, is the emerging cost of living items such as petrol and diesel is diverting strong job growth. In fact, employee jobs squeeze and the implications it may have for spending away from discretionary spend. have increased by close to 40,000 since a spending patterns on leisure or spectating, low point in early 2012. Forecasts for the UK coupled with changing employment and For example, data from Barclaycard, which and NI from University suggest that demographic trends. processes close to half the UK’s credit and growth will continue, but in two distinct debit card transactions, shows that while phases – a ‘ Impact’ phase where the COST OF LIVING SQUEEZE consumer spending was up 4% in February pace of growth is expected to decline and Northern Ireland has experienced a decade 2017, expenditure on ‘nice to have’ goods then a ‘Bounce Back’ phase later in this of stagnant wages. The chart overleaf shows was reversing, with department store decade when UK growth is expected to get that, in current prices, average wages are spending 5.2% and spending on back to c.2% per annum and NI growth is only now back at 2006 levels, having fallen electronics down 4.5%. Spending on petrol expected to accelerate to c.1.5% per annum. considerably in the years following the global forecourts was up nearly 20%. Barclaycard’s economic crash. data suggests consumers are prioritising The level of uncertainty surrounding ‘experience’ purchases and social occasions economic forecasts is unprecedented due An era of low inflation has contributed over physical goods. In the medium term, to a range of factors that are beginning to to ofset this real wage decline but the inflation is expected to tick up to 2.4% by take hold or emerge including recent political expectations are, from the , the beginning of the next decade. instability, and a lack of an agreed public that inflation will increase over 2017. Indeed, expenditure budget for Northern Ireland. there is some tentative evidence emerging Perhaps chief among the economic changes that consumer spending has run out of

Promoting, Fostering and Developing Football For All / The Irish FA’s Five-Year Strategy 2017–2022 REAL GVA GROWTH RATE, UK VS. NI 2016–2020

2.5% NI 2.0% UK 1.5%

1.0%

0.5%

0.0% 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

BREXIT IMPACT BOUNCE BACK

GROSS ANNUAL FULL TIME EARNINGS IN 2016 PRICES, NI, 2006–2016

£27,000 Real full time wage growth -0.03% £26,500 £26,000

£25,500 £25,000 £24,500

£24,000 £23,500 £23,000 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

SHIFTING LABOUR TRENDS aged 0-14 is expected to increase but the key a scenario where corporation tax is lowered A shifting labour market landscape, consumer group in the 15-29 age group will and an assumption that a range of economic where part-time employment is delivering decline by 12,000 between now and 2022. policies are successfully implemented could a majority of new jobs, is evident across drive a growth in employment of close to Northern Ireland. Back in 1992, 25% of The selection of issues noted above all 90,000 additional jobs. jobs here were part-time. Today that provide a downside risk to economic figure has increased to 45%. This impacts performance and consumer confidence. It is evident from the current socio-economic on confidence and decisions around That said, consumer behaviour has context that Northern Ireland faces a housing purchases and other ‘big ticket’ confounded commentators since the challenging environment. The current consumer items. UK vote to leave the European Union, context is not without opportunity. The with few expecting the increases that expected reduction in corporation tax, if AN OLDER POPULATION have been evident. successfully implemented, will bring new Northern Ireland’s population profile corporate entities to Northern Ireland and is changing. By 2022, the NI Statistics Latest forecasts from the new commercial opportunities to the IFA. and Research Agency suggest that our Economic Policy Centre are noting a In addition consumer engagement with population will have reached just over significant divergence between their technology is changing the way spectators 1.9 million. Within this total, the number baseline forecasts and a lower and upper engage with sport, through streaming and of people aged 60 or above is expected band scenario. In the baseline scenario, social media. This too brings potential to increase by over 50,000 from today’s Northern Ireland is expected to increase commercial opportunities. The IFA is alert to number meaning that one in four people its employment by 32,000 over the decade the challenges of the economic context and here will be over 60 in 2022. At the other to 2026. A hard Brexit outcome could see also to the opportunities that lie ahead. end of the age scale, the number of people this reverse to a 5,000 loss of jobs. Under 13 TIME FOR A NEW STRATEGY

To maintain growth and to continue to promote, foster and develop football for all in Northern Ireland, the board of the Irish FA decided in late 2016 to begin the process of formulating a new strategy that would ultimately run from 2017 until 2022. Another significant factor that motivated the decision to create a new strategy was that qualification for UEFA EURO 2016 and reaching the last 16 of the tournament meant that the association benefited financially.

A new plan was required to ensure that the We want to build on the foundations laid in legacy of UEFA EURO 2016 has an impact recent years and set new targets that will on every level of football in Northern Ireland benefit the whole game in Northern Ireland. and that we use that funding to make sure that qualification for major tournaments To that end, and following consultations doesn’t just happen once in every generation across the football family, we have set six but is something that happens regularly for new long term objectives. all our international teams.

Promoting, Fostering and Developing Football For All / The Irish FA’s Five-Year Strategy 2017–2022 Challenge every time, qualify every other time Rebuild the football estate Break the top 40 in European leagues Reinvigorate the everyday game Build a thriving stadium business Serve the community better

15 CHALLENGE EVERY TIME, QUALIFY EVERY OTHER TIME

When the Northern Ireland senior men’s team qualified for UEFA EURO 2016, it created history. It was the first time in 30 years that our country’s men’s side had made a major tournament and it was the first time that Northern Ireland had competed at the EUROs.

We saw global media interest in Northern BUILD A NEW NATIONAL Ireland, huge increases in participation, TRAINING CENTRE our kit was the best selling item of apparel We will build a new, state-of-the-art in JD Sports for three weeks running and training centre that will serve as a qualification saw an £8 million economic centre of excellence for every Northern benefit to the country. Ireland team - from the senior men’s and women’s international sides In short, the efect of the senior men’s team down to our youngest Club NI qualification was game-changing. representative team.

We want every team that represents Featuring up to six outdoor pitches, Northern Ireland - boys, girls, men and medical facilities, a physiotherapy women - to compete in qualification clinic and a gym, this will ensure that and to aim to qualify every other time. every Northern Ireland team prepares at the highest standard of facility To help achieve that ahead of international matches. we will:

Promoting, Fostering and Developing Football For All / The Irish FA’s Five-Year Strategy 2017–2022 PERFORMANCE ACADEMY PERFORMANCE SCHOOLS DEVELOP AN ELITE We will work with our Universities to create We will establish six performance schools, COACHING METHODOLOGY performance Academies. We have already across the geographical spread of Northern We will develop and formalise a made progress in this area with Ulster Ireland. Each of these will become a hub for Northern Ireland coaching ‘DNA’ University now the ofcial Northern Ireland post-primary school players. that will inform our coaching – from partner of the Irish FA’s Girls’ and Women’s our youngest Club NI representative Football Academy. We want to replicate this In our current JD Club NI set-up our young side right up to the senior men’s model for young men. This will be aimed players receive a maximum of 252 hours international team. at 16–23 year olds and will build a football of coaching per annum. All the while, their programme alongside an education pathway. counterparts in the rest of the UK, where the Academy set-up is already the norm, TALENT ID MANAGER are receiving at least 450-500+ hours per We will appoint a full time Talent ID Manager annum. Through the schools programme we who will be responsible for identifying male will have the opportunity to increase contact and female players at all levels in England time and to better prepare our players to and Scotland that can represent Northern help them succeed in their career ambitions. Ireland. This person will also work in Northern Ireland to identify the best talent Becoming a professional footballer is one at Irish League clubs. of the most competitive careers. As such, it is extremely important that players receive a good quality education. Working with our partner schools will help ensure that players are able to maintain a good school/football balance.

5117 CHALLENGE EVERY TIME, QUALIFY EVERY OTHER TIME

INCREASE THE STANDING OF DEVELOP A MENTOR OUR UNDER-AGE TEAMS PROGRAMME We will invest more in our age-grade We want to establish strong links between representative sides. We will provide the our senior internationals and those young best facilities, the best equipment and the boys and girls who are starting out on their best player welfare to ensure that playing football careers. We will create a mentor for Northern Ireland is the most premium programme that sees our most experienced experience possible. male and female players spend time with young players, sharing advice and tips to FURTHER PROMOTE help them in their career. INNOVATIVE TRIALS In recent years we have been at the HOST MORE UEFA TOURNAMENTS forefront of innovative trials, working with In the summer of 2017 we will host the corporate partners such as JD to create new UEFA Under-19 Women’s tournament. ways of discovering talent. Four players This will provide a fantastic chance to joined Club NI through our ‘Are You JD showcase our country’s grounds and Enough?’ programme. facilities. It also means that our Under-19 women’s team has the chance to play at We will further promote trials such as that level for the first time. these and seek more opportunities to be innovative through sponsor and We have had more success in this area. partner activations. In December 2016 Northern Ireland was chosen to host the European Under-19 Championship in 2020. The decision by the BUILD RELATIONSHIPS UEFA Executive Committee said a lot about WITH CLUBS the positive reputation of the Irish FA within We will seek to strengthen and deepen UEFA and follows the excellent work that our relationships with our football clubs in the team has already put in ahead of the Northern Ireland as well as those in England Women’s Under-19 Championship. and Scotland. Our NIFL clubs do an excellent job in developing and nurturing talented With the completion of the new National young footballers in Northern Ireland, both Football Stadium at Windsor Park and with men and women. We need to recognise that further investment in our club grounds to more and to support the academy and youth come, we have the opportunity to host development work that goes on at club level more UEFA tournaments, to let our younger more. With clubs in England and Scotland players compete in them and to enable we want to cover every base in terms of our staf to grow in their capabilities by eligibility but we also want to establish best delivering them. practice across training, preparation for games and player welfare.

Promoting, Fostering and Developing Football For All / The Irish FA’s Five-Year Strategy 2017–2022 19 REBUILD THE FOOTBALL ESTATE

The new National Football Stadium at Windsor Park shows what is possible with vision and investment. The Northern Ireland Executive helped to fund the new stadium, providing £31 million of backing. The new home of football in Northern Ireland is a modern, state-of-the-art arena and we want to build on that legacy by helping to rebuild the football estate. The Department for Communities is set to deliver £36 million of capital investment into the game. We want to be at the forefront of delivering that spend and maximising it for the benefit of all of football in Northern Ireland. £31m £36m funding by Northern Ireland Executive more funding to be delivered by enabled us to build our stadium the Department for Communities

Promoting, Fostering and Developing Football For All / The Irish FA’s Five-Year Strategy 2017–2022 NATIONAL TRAINING CENTRE PROJECTS LENDING STRATEGY We want to use some of the capital spend We will complete up to 20 other smaller We will develop and deliver a financial from the Department for Communities projects with clubs outside the NIFL service where the association will serve budget to deliver a National Training Premiership. These will include intermediate as a lender to ensure that clubs can Centre. A state-of-the-art facility would and junior football clubs and will incorporate the full range of government benefit all of Northern Ireland – from the stadia and training facilities. funds available to them. senior men and women’s sides down to Club NI. We would also use the National REGIONAL HUBS PITCH STRATEGY Training Centre as a base for clubs to We will aim to deliver a football hub in We will provide subsidised training for club prepare for European competition. each of the new super-councils. This will ground-staf and will host workshops and serve as a host venue for small-sided practical demonstrations at the National STADIA IMPROVEMENTS games and will become the focus for all Football Stadium at Windsor Park. We will deliver several major stadia local Irish FA activity. improvements. These will be significant, high profile redevelopments of NIFL FUTSAL Premiership grounds. These will radically We will work with Northern Ireland’s improve the experience for supporters super-councils to ensure that every and will improve our chances of hosting local area has a futsal arena and further UEFA tournaments by increasing associated equipment. the number of quality stadia that we have in Northern Ireland.

5121 BREAK THE TOP 40 IN EUROPEAN LEAGUES

The Northern Ireland Football League’s (NIFL) co-efcient in Europe is 47th out of 54. This is based on performance in Europe. Qualification for the group stages of the Europa League or Champions League can in a hugely significant windfall of UEFA funding – both for a successful club and for the league. The Irish FA wants to support our NIFL Premiership clubs to achieve more in European competition but also to make life easier for clubs by supporting their everyday administration.

Promoting, Fostering and Developing Football For All / The Irish FA’s Five-Year Strategy 2017–2022 TWEAK THE SEASON LIFESTYLE PROGRAMMES We will work with the Northern Ireland FOR CLUBS Football League (NIFL) to propose a In order to be successful players at clubs tweaking of the season so that clubs are need to be in the best possible physical playing in May and . This will mean condition. Through conditioning and that clubs that have qualified for Europe training, the clubs already do a fantastic are in peak form and fitness ahead of their job of preparing their players for matches. competitive matches. The Irish FA wants to support the clubs by sharing best international practice in FACILITATE PREPARATION the areas of strength and conditioning We will help support the clubs’ preparation as well as nutrition and lifestyle. for their European matches. This will The association will fund courses for include the provision of top facilities, help clubs and will provide experts to help with releasing players to participate in full guide and form the clubs’ training and time preparation and coaching clinics led by nutrition programmes for players. international managers and staf. ADMINISTRATION AT CLUBS PERFORMANCE ACADEMY The Irish FA will provide a pot of funding to We want to create a performance be used to help pay for administration staf Academy for players aged 16-23 where at NIFL Premiership clubs. Our aspiration players would be owned by the clubs is that through our funding and through but their fitness, strength and conditioning other partner support that there will be a and development would be furthered in full-time administration ofcer in every an elite environment with a strong NIFL Premiership club. The association will education element. also provide training, advice and annual refreshers on club administration.

23 REINVIGORATE THE EVERYDAY GAME

Football is a sport enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of people in Northern Ireland. It is played by kids in pre-school to people in later life enjoying their retirement. On Saturday afternoons hundreds of clubs the length and breadth of the country face each other in intermediate and junior football and rivalries can be as intense as anything you see in the English, Scottish or NIFL Premierships.

We need to focus on and help PARTICIPATION RESTRUCTURE INTERMEDIATE Our football development team has FOOTBALL grow football outside of our made huge progress in terms of numbers The Irish FA will institute reforms so top three divisions. playing football through the Let Them Play that there is a maximum of 88 teams in 10-year participation strategy. The Irish the combined senior and intermediate FA, working alongside partners, has grown categories of the game. We also need to increase participation to approximately 58,000 participation so that as many young people between the ages of four The divisions in these areas will be people as possible can have and 24 across Northern Ireland. structured and defined by the association but run by independent bodies. access to our sport. Significant growth and development have been driven in the Irish FA The top three divisions will be run by NIFL. McDonald’s Small-Sided Games centres, Below this, and with promotion/relegation the Irish FA DENI funded Curriculum to the Premier Intermediate league, will be Sports Schools Programme and the two ‘regional’ intermediate sections (the Irish FA’s new Disability, Referee, definition of these regions will be defined Futsal and Girls’ strategic plans. following further consultation). From 2017–2022 the Irish FA will continue These two intermediate sections will to resource and fund Let Them Play consist of a maximum of 52 teams and to encourage growth in participation will be run by the association on a paid particularly among girls and women. contract basis. Interested parties will bid to run each section.

Promoting, Fostering and Developing Football For All / The Irish FA’s Five-Year Strategy 2017–2022 PROPOSED NEW STRUCTURE

Senior Football Premiership – 12 teams Championship – 12 teams

Intermediate Football Premier Intermediate – 12 teams Section A – 26 teams Section B – 26 teams

Junior Football

This structure will come into operation REVIEW COACH EDUCATION from the 2019/2020 season. Our coach education system is highly regarded in the game At the elite level This will give a two-year lead period it attracts some of the biggest names in to allow the Irish FA to manage the football to study for Pro licences. At entry league bidding process and to define the level we recognise that coach education appropriate criteria to select the 88 teams is the key to helping develop our young in this part of the game. players. We will review our coach education system to ensure that it is accessible and Teams not included in this structure will afordable for all. become junior clubs, however the new system will allow for promotion from junior SUPPORT CLUBS IN football to the new intermediate league. DEPRIVED AREAS We will establish a new programme to This is a proposal at this stage and an support football clubs in areas of intermediate football working group deprivation to develop volunteering will lead on a future consultation with and prepare funding plans. stakeholders.

INTRODUCE A NEW IT SYSTEM ANNUAL STAKEHOLDERS We will introduce a new IT system that CONFERENCE will provide an online facility for discipline, We will establish an annual conference registration and fixture management for where representatives from across the all levels of the game. recreational game can attend and discuss the major football issues in their clubs and communities.

25 BUILD A THRIVING STADIUM BUSINESS

The National Football Stadium at Windsor Park is the home of football in Northern Ireland. It should be accessible for everyone in the football family and all club finals should be played in it.

The stadium is also the home ground of pay for stewarding and other related COMMERCIAL OPPORTUNITIES Linfield FC and the Irish FA aims to work costs that currently make playing finals at We will maximise commercial positively with the club going forward. the ground prohibitive. opportunities at the stadium through concourse TV, big-screen advertising We want to make sure that the stadium CONFERENCING and pitch-side boards. business is a success. We will outsource our conferencing and banqueting to an industry leading services EDUCATION AND HERITAGE A significant percentage of both ticket company who will deliver value for money CENTRE AND GROUND TOURS and broadcasting income is the bedrock and profitability. In March 2017 the Irish FA opened a new income for the stadium and it is the job education and heritage centre at the of the association to reduce the stadium SHOP AND MERCHANDISING National Football Stadium at Windsor company’s reliance on this core funding We have worked with our ofcial retail Park. The facility tells the unique story stream by identifying other income partner to open a Northern Ireland shop of Northern Ireland football using a streams. This core funding can then at the stadium. While this will be most variety of media, interactive displays be reallocated back into football busy on senior men’s international match and key artefacts from the 1880s to the development activities. nights, it is a permanent shop that will present day. Visitors are able to relive service our fan base six days a week. It the atmosphere of famous nights, gain In short, we want to improve the is also the only shop in Northern Ireland insights into the drama on and of the profitability of the stadium business stocking ofcial memorabilia pitch and feel the rush of emotions and to make it a thriving venue at the and it is a great addition for people coming shared by everyone inside the stadium - heart of football and the wider Northern to tour the stadium or visit the new win, lose or draw. Ireland community. Education and Heritage Centre. We have also introduced stadium tours CLUB FINALS FAN ZONE which provide fans with behind the scenes The National Football Stadium at Windsor We will seek to work with sponsors and access to the player areas, changing rooms Park is a fantastic venue but modern partners on making the Northern Ireland and press facilities. arenas such as ours come with increased fan zone a premium experience for running costs in terms of stewarding supporters. The redevelopment of the We want schoolchildren from across and utilities. boulevard leading up to the new Olympia Northern Ireland to come to the centre Leisure Centre will only improve this and experience the stadium first hand. The Irish FA believes that all club finals experience for children and young people We believe that the National Football should be played at the National Football in the years to come. Stadium at Windsor Park can be a huge Stadium at Windsor Park. To ofset costs, draw for tourists and visitors to Belfast the association will set aside a fund to help as well as football fans.

Promoting, Fostering and Developing Football For All / The Irish FA’s Five-Year Strategy 2017–2022 NAMING RIGHTS AND TICKET STRATEGY FRIENDS AND PATRONS SCHEME SPONSORSHIP The Irish FA believes that everyone in The stadium has played host to football We will actively seek a Naming Rights Northern Ireland should be able to attend a since 1905. We want to reflect the special partner for the stadium and will game. Therefore we will establish a ticket role that the National Football Stadium seek sponsorship for the spectator policy that provides access to games at Windsor Park has for football fans by stands within. for those who are most disadvantaged creating a friends and patrons scheme through incentives and discounts for whereby supporters can reflect their OFFICE RENTALS community groups. connection with the stadium in a tangible We will employ a letting agency to ensure way – e.g. bricks on the new walkway into that the ofce space available at the MATCHDAY HOSPITALITY the stadium, or a GAWA fans wall. stadium is fully utilised and brings the Through the redevelopment of the National maximum amount of revenue back into Football Stadium we have excellent UEFA MEGA-EVENTS the association. matchday hospitality, both through With our new stadium we are perfectly corporate boxes and through lounges and placed to host major UEFA events. We will A DYNAMIC STADIUM premium bar areas. We will ensure that we bid for the and seek to bring Working with partners such as Ulster sell all our available matchday hospitality the winners of the Champions League and University, who will begin hosting a degree at all our senior men’s international Europa League to Belfast. We will also bid course in the stadium in 2017, we will seek matches and work to ensure maximum for major UEFA-led association events such to create a living, breathing stadium that is capacity for other events such as the as workshops and conferences. flexible in its space. We will work with the Tennent’s semi-finals and burgeoning film industry to see if our space final as well as junior internationals. RESIDENTS could be used in the creation of TV shows Our stadium has been part of the local or movies. We want our stadium to used CONCERTS AND MAJOR community since 1905 and we recognise for even more than the promotion NON-FOOTBALL EVENTS that our neighbours are families with of football. The National Football Stadium at Windsor residential homes. We want to play a Park has the potential to become one pro-active role in improving the local area UTILITY PARTNERS of the best outdoor concert venues in by bidding for local government funding to We will seek to gain value by establishing Northern Ireland with a perfect mix of help develop the area around the National sponsorships or competitive contracts seated and standing areas. We want Football Stadium at Windsor Park. We will with energy suppliers that reduce our to establish the stadium as the go-to also work with residents to ensure that overhead costs. We will also seek to install outdoor venue of choice by building strong they are informed first of every event at renewable energy systems such as solar partnerships with the major concert the stadium and that they have access to panels that create sustainability. promoters and by hosting several major tickets for every event that we host. non-football events each year.

27 SERVE THE COMMUNITY BETTER

We can have a huge positive impact on Northern Ireland society. We need to work as an association and with a wide range of existing partners to fund and deliver this impact and to use football to serve all of the community in Northern Ireland.

A PUBLIC MISSION + Advance education by providing A ‘COMMUNITY’ KEY We will write and put into the public work experience and support to PERFORMANCE INDICATOR (KPI) domain the Irish FA’s commitment to educational establishments and Each member of staf will be granted some helping to deliver positive change in extra-curricular groups time in their working month to volunteer Northern Ireland through the power on Irish FA or other corporate social of football. + To provide funds and football facilities responsibility initiatives to ensure that in areas of economic need with the object every member of staf feels empowered to ESTABLISH AN IRISH FA of improving circumstances make a positive impact through their work, FOUNDATION whatever department they are in. For the past 137 years, the Irish Football + To improve the health and Association has organised, promoted wellbeing of people in Northern A FULL-TIME and developed football. It has discovered Ireland through football PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER some of the greatest talents to ever play Increasingly government is using the Irish the game, helped make history in major Over the course of this plan we will make FA to deliver innovative and far reaching tournaments on stage and, the new Irish FA Foundation operational programmes, using football to help deliver perhaps most important of all, engendered and use it as the primary vehicle through positive change. a life-long love of football in generations which we can serve all of the Northern of men and women. Ireland community. We will employ a full-time public afairs ofcer to liaise directly with government, We have established the framework identifying opportunities and auditing for a new charitable arm – the Irish FA A MEASURED ANNUAL performance. Foundation. A legacy of the senior men’s CORPORATE AND SOCIAL successful EURO 2016 campaign, it will RESPONSIBILITY (CSR) CORPORATE SOCIAL become the vehicle through which we will PROGRAMME RESPONSIBILITY increase participation and continue to We want to add an increased focus to our COMMUNICATIONS PLAN reach the goals of Let Them Play, work by writing an annual CSR plan setting To promote the work that the Irish FA does our youth strategy. out our targets for the year and explaining and the work that our delivery partners how we will deliver them. This report will engage in, we will establish a bespoke The Foundation will have four main aims: then be independently audited at the communications and marketing plan and end of each year to determine societal actively seek to engage media in this + Develop amateur football, youth football, impact and those findings will be shared aspect of the Irish FA. schools football and futsal. with stakeholders.

Promoting, Fostering and Developing Football For All / The Irish FA’s Five-Year Strategy 2017–2022 29 ORGANISE TO SERVE THE FOOTBALL FAMILY BETTER

Staf teams need to be well chosen, well led, efcient and commercially successful. Investments will need to made in ICT and staf development to enable this.

UEFA REVIEW ESTABLISH A STAKEHOLDER NEW IT SYSTEM We will invite UEFA to commission a review ENGAGEMENT OFFICER The Irish FA will seek to develop and of our structures and processes to ensure The Irish FA will establish a stakeholder introduce a new IT system. It will provide that we are operating in the most efcient engagement ofcer who will be responsible state-of-the-art solutions to issues such and dynamic way. for managing questions, complaints as registration, ticketing and discipline and feedback from across the Northern matters and will aim to make the role BETTER FAN ENGAGEMENT Ireland football family. They will liaise with of administrators and secretaries We will promote better engagement departments within the Irish FA and will at clubs easier. with fans attending senior men’s ensure that clubs, ofcials, convenors, international matches and other Northern volunteers and everyone involved in football Once designed and implemented the Ireland men’s and women’s representative in Northern Ireland can get the information Irish FA will work with all leagues and games. This will include information that they need from the Irish FA. clubs throughout Northern Ireland so that provision, ticketing, access to the stadium, improvements in IT are made across the travel to away matches and other QUALITY MANAGEMENT football community. supporter issues. We will gather feedback We will apply for further quality on improving the experience for fans at management awards and will STAFF TRAINING Northern Ireland matches and will continue benchmark ourselves against the To improve team cohesiveness and to work closely with the Amalgamation best industry standards. efectiveness we will continue to introduce of Ofcial Northern Ireland Supporters’ programmes of staf development to make Clubs (AONISC). We will also consider employees feel supported in their work and ways to build the capacity for fan to ensure that they are performing at engagement within and between NIFL their full potential. Premiership and other league clubs based on best practice from UEFA.

Promoting, Fostering and Developing Football For All / The Irish FA’s Five-Year Strategy 2017–2022 SMOOTH OPERATING STRUCTURE There has, and will be, changes to the association with the development of the Stadium Development Company and the new Irish FA Foundation. IRISH FA GROUP

While these present huge opportunities for success, we must make sure that all three arms of the association relate well together and complement each other in the pursuit of common goals.

STADIUM IRISH FA FOUNDATION

31 TIMELINE

Challenge every time, qualify every other time 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 Build a national training centre Performance academy Performance schools Talent ID manager Develop an elite coaching methodology Increase the standing of our under-age teams Further promote innovative trials Build relationships with clubs Develop a mentor programme Host more UEFA tournaments

Rebuild the football estate 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 Build a national training centre Stadia improvements Smaller stadia improvements Regional hubs Promote futsal Lending strategy Pitch strategy

Break the top 40 in european leagues 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 Tweak the season Facilitate preparation Performance academy Lifestyle programme for clubs Support administration at clubs

Reinvigorate the everyday game 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 Encourage participation Restructure intermediate football Introduce a new IT system Review coach education Support clubs in deprived areas Annual stakeholders conference

Promoting, Fostering and Developing Football For All / The Irish FA’s Five-Year Strategy 2017–2022 Build a thriving stadium business 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 Club finals Conferences Shop and merchandising Fan zone Commercial opportunities Education and heritage centre/tours Naming rights and sponsorship Ofce rentals Dynamic stadium Utility partner Ticket partner Matchday hospitality Concerts Friends and patrons Liaise with residents

Serve the community better 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 A public mission Establish an Irish FA foundation A measured annual CSR programme A community KPI A full-time public afairs ofcer Corporate social responsibility communications plan

Organise to serve the football family better 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 UEFA review Appoint a supporter liaison Establish a stakeholder service Smooth operating structure Quality management IT system Staf training

33 CONSULTATIONS

NIFL Board

North West FA

Mid-Ulster FA

Northern Ireland Women’s FA/NIFL Ladies

Two open sessions hosted at the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park

County FA

Premier League Management Committee

Northern Ireland Boys’ FA

Premier Intermediate League/Championship Clubs

Fermanagh and Western FA

Amalgamation of Ofcial Northern Ireland Supporters’ Clubs

Promoting, Fostering and Developing Football For All / The Irish FA’s Five-Year Strategy 2017–2022 35 While the strategy will run until 2022, a review of progress will be presented to the board of the Irish FA in December of each year. This will track achievements against goals set, will analyse where improvements may need to be made and will provide an annual benchmark of the Irish FA’s delivery of its five-year plan. irishfa.com

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