Category
✨
PeopleTranscript
00:00Thank you very much everyone and thank you for the invitation to be with you here today.
00:05This is a good day for Northern Ireland, it's a good day for sport, it's a good day for football.
00:12We know that this has been a strategic objective for the Irish FA and also for the Executive Board for many years.
00:21I remain committed to continuing to work in partnership with the IFA to deliver it.
00:27I think we're all aware that the game has come such a long way in recent years and that's at all levels as well.
00:34And I think in particular it's right that we note the growth of the women's game in particular
00:40and I think we can all agree that that has been so inspiring for us to see.
00:46But I think that we all benefit from what we have seen over the last number of years.
00:52We see that teamwork, that dedication and that pride across all generations of players.
00:59We know how important the game is in Northern Ireland, it's part of our DNA.
01:05But the problem is that our existing facilities have fallen behind
01:10and they no longer reflect the standards that we want to see at all levels.
01:16We have no National Football Centre in Northern Ireland
01:20while other countries enjoy modern facilities both at club and elite level.
01:26So in recognition of that ever-growing gap, beginning with my term in office,
01:31I said that I would approve the commitment to invest in football infrastructure forward.
01:37So in May, I signed off a policy framework for the Northern Ireland Football Fund.
01:43I was the first Minister to do so and we cemented the commitment to work with the IFA
01:49to deliver a National Football Centre for our national teams.
01:54I also said that the broad parameters within which we will invest in club grounds,
01:59at performance and at grassroots levels.
02:03I'm pleased that I was able to launch the first call for applications from performance clubs less than four weeks ago.
02:10But I'm also delighted that we are now moving the National Training Centre project forward
02:15and I look forward to making further announcements about grassroots training.
02:21We know that this programme of investment won't be delivered overnight.
02:28It's intended to create facilities which can inspire the next generation,
02:33grow the game and help to deliver ever greater success on the pitch.
02:38For all the communities who participate, contribute or live in and around football facilities.
02:45My officials have been working with the IFA for some time as they have been considering options
02:51and finalising proposals for the delivery of a National Football Centre.
02:56I'm grateful that earlier this month the Department received the first outbound business case
03:02detailing these proposals from the Irish IFA.
03:07These are really ambitious plans.
03:10They seek to transform elite football in Northern Ireland
03:13and bring us in line with the majority of countries in Europe
03:17who already boast bespoke centres for footballing excellence.
03:23The creation of a National Football Centre aims to realise measurable benefits,
03:30including improving Northern Ireland's league performance at all levels.
03:34So I look forward to working with and for my officials to work with the Irish IFA
03:40as we progress the business case through the usual approvals process
03:44and the Irish IFA will announce the next steps to finalise its designs and secure planning and other approvals.
03:54When I set out my vision for the delivery of the Northern Ireland Football Fund,
04:01I wanted to support projects that are ambitious and game-changing for football in Northern Ireland.
04:09My officials will continue their engagement throughout the process
04:13as we deliver on the commitment of the Northern Ireland Football Fund across all its strands.
04:20I am grateful to all stakeholders and to the willingness of clubs at every level to engage.
04:26This has been vital in enabling me to have finally moved the programme forward
04:31to the point where we are now seeing real progress.
04:35There is more work to be done but I am confident that we will continue to move forward towards shared outcomes.
04:43I think that we would all agree that football should have facilities which match our needs and ambitions.
04:53Today, I am saying very clearly that I am committed to working together so that we can realise that.
05:02In conclusion, I would like to thank Conrad and his team once again for the invitation to join them here today as they launch their proposals.
05:11I look forward to continued engagement to deliver the project.
05:16Importantly, so that we can help not just our elite teams but also inspire those that are coming up after
05:25and deliver those benefits for everybody right across Northern Ireland.