Irish FA chief executive Patrick Nelson has pledged to keep women's football 'moving at pace' in Northern Ireland. It comes after the nation's first appearance at a major tournament.
Kenny Shiels' side competed at the Euro 2022 finals, losing to Norway, Austria and hosts England in the group stages. Despite the results , it was a defining moment for women's football here.
Nelson said Northern Ireland’s participation at the Euros had provided “great memories” but also insisted women’s football here must continue moving forward.
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He said: “Now it is our job to harness all of this energy and positivity and ensure that we have the pathways available both for girls and boys to enjoy the game and also so that we identify, nurture and develop talent for our future domestic game and international squads.
“Angela Platt has been our director of women’s football for almost a year now and together with her team, and the help of all of us in the association, she will ensure that all aspects of women’s football in Northern Ireland continue to move forwards and not backwards.
“Challenge every time, qualify every other time is one of the strategic goals we set for ourselves in the performance pillar of our new corporate strategy, and it applies equally to male and female teams. The bar has been raised, new standards are expected and it is time for us to look forward with confidence.”
Northern Ireland enjoyed a full-time training camp at Newforge from January, the first time most of the players had experienced such a set-up. Nelson believes the professional approach helped prepare Shiels' squad for the finals.
“I’m delighted that the board saw fit to make this investment to ensure we competed well," Nelson added.
“The media interest in our involvement in the Women’s Euro was incredible. Day after day the media stories were all about the tournament, our players and, of course, our supporters.
"Yet again the GAWA showed why their reputation as being the best supporters in the world was well earned and won’t be given up easily. “
Nelson also insists the Irish FA needs to build on the recent success of the senior women's team, and progress the IFA's ‘Growing the game - maximising impact’ girls’ and women’s development plan, which he believes may need to be revised to see if the association can 'do more, faster, better'.
He said: “I’m sure, with all of our staff, our partners at NIFL and NIWFA, our member clubs and the bigger pipeline of young players, we can and we will.
“Do not despair that we are out of the Euros. Be proud and delighted that we were there as an equal partner of the other 15 nations who qualified for the tournament and as a force in women’s football in Europe.”
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