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Legend Pat Praises Sandy Row Community Centre for Positive Action

27 March 2009

Northern Ireland Goalkeeping legend, Pat Jennings, today praised the community in Sandy Row and in particular the young people from the Sandy Row Community Centre for the quick response they took removing sickening graffiti in relation to the Polish Goalkeeper Artur Boruc.

The sinister words, “Boruc RIP”, appeared on walls in the Sandy Row area of South Belfast on Thursday ahead of the Northern Ireland V Poland World Cup qualifier at Windsor Park on Saturday. However young people from Sandy Row were quick to paint over the graffiti and condemn the culprit responsible for it.

Samuel Hillerby from the Sandy Row Youth Association said, “Whoever did this graffiti does not represent our community and is no Northern Ireland Football Fan. We painted over this because we want to welcome all the Polish Fans to Belfast and we want to make sure we show our community in the right light. We will be keeping an eye on the area to make sure there is no repeat”.

Northern Ireland Football legend Pat Jennings, said, “I would like to praise the Sandy Row Community Forum, all the Volunteers at the Sandy Row Community Centre and in particular the young Northern Ireland Fans from the area who were instrumental in painting over this sinister graffiti. The IFA’s Community Relations team has informed me of the good cross community and intercultural work that goes on in the area and I wanted to add my support to those people who are taking such positive action. The young people who ensured this sickening graffiti was painted out are a credit to their community and as true Northern Ireland Football Fans we value their support”.

 

For further information contact Michael Boyd at mboyd@irishfa.comor 07894614328

IFA Proud of Links with Rangers, Celtic and Polish

 

IFA Head of Community Relations, Michael Boyd, today highlighted how proud the IFA is of its links with Glasgow Celtic, Glasgow Rangers and the Polish community. Michael said, “Both Rangers and Celtic are massive Clubs. We are proud so many Players from Northern Ireland have played and continue to play for both. We are very proud of Northern Ireland football legends like Martin O’Neil, Bertie Peacock, Billy Simpson and John McClelland who have such strong connections with both clubs. Currently we have a wealth of talent at both clubs and we hope that they too can go on to be legends for the Northern Ireland football team and their respective clubs”.

Boyd was also very keen to highlight the positive relationship the IFA is developing with the Northern Ireland Polish Association. He added, “The IFA is proactively developing a very good relationship with the Northern Ireland Polish Association. We not only respect the Poland football team but we respect the Polish Supporters and the Polish community living here in Northern Ireland. We actually hope that one day we will see Players from Northern Ireland with Polish surnames and heritage being the new heroes of the Green and White Army”.

The IFA, Crusaders and the Northern Ireland Polish Association are running a Respect Festival at Seaview from 11.30am-3pm in the build up to the main game at Windsor Park

Love Football Hate Bigotry is a Worthy Cause

 

Northern Ireland International Football Manager, Nigel Worthington, today took time out of his busy schedule preparing for the Poland game this Saturday at Windsor to stress his support for the IFA’s new EU funded “Love Football Hate Bigotry” campaign.

 

Nigel said, “It is important everyone connected with Northern Ireland football supports the “Love Football Hate Bigotry” campaign. Inclusion and respect are important ingredients in the make up of the Northern Ireland Football team. I cannot stress enough how important the Northern Ireland Fans are in creating an atmosphere that inspires our Players. The atmosphere at Windsor for our games is world class. It is important to us that this continues to be an atmosphere full of passion that we can all be proud of”.

Nigel added, “I would like to take this opportunity to publicly praise the Amalgamation of Official Northern Ireland Supporters Clubs for their support of the “Love Football Hate Bigotry” message, the development of the outstanding Green and White Army film and the Fan’s friendly Respect Festival at Seaview with the Polish Fans in the build up to the main game. The Fans and Volunteers behind these initiatives are great Ambassadors for Northern Ireland football. Their contribution transforming the atmosphere at games and promoting Northern Ireland football in the right light is greatly appreciated”.

 

Football Legends Back IFA “Love Football Hate Bigotry” Campaign

 

Northern Ireland Football legends Pat Jennings, Mal Donaghy and David Healy have added their support to the IFA’s “Love Football Hate Bigotry” campaign in the build up to the World Cup qualifying game with Poland at Windsor Park in Belfast on Saturday.

 

Goalkeeping legend Pat Jennings said, “The IFA’s Football For All campaign has transformed the atmosphere at Northern Ireland games. I fully support the “Love Football Hate Bigotry” message and would encourage all Football Fans to follow this advice”.

World Cup legend Mal Donaghy added, “The Northern Ireland Fans support for the team and support eradicating sectarianism from the stands has been inspirational. The message from the Fans is loud and clear, love football hate bigotry!”.

Goal scoring hero Healy said, “The Northern Ireland football team fully supports the “Love Football Hate Bigotry” campaign. We all have a responsibility to challenge and eradicate bigotry. The IFA, the Players and the Fans are all united behind this message. We want everyone to feel part of the team, that is going to make us all stronger”.

 

“Northern Ireland, Poland Fans Day launched – promoting respect through football”

 

The Irish Football Association’s Community Relations Department, together with the Amalgamation of Northern Ireland Supporters Clubs, World United Intercultural Football Team and Crusaders FC have jointly launched an attractive free ‘Fans Day’ – Promoting Respect Through Football - on the day of the Northern Ireland Vs Poland World Cup international qualifier on March 28th.

The Fans day will be co-sponsored by the IFA with the support of the EU.

The Promoting Respect Through Football day at Seaview on Sat 28th March will include:

  1. Free youth football fun skills coaching (cross community, girls and intercultural) – with each child to receive a free t-shirt, tickets to a forthcoming Crusaders game and a certificate
  2. A penalty kick competition (with Northern Ireland Legend Tommy Wright)
  3. A fans friendly game (Polish and Northern Irish playing together)
  4. Face painters , balloon modellers, and soccer inflatables
  5. After match food (with Irish and Polish menus) and refreshments
  6. Music provided by the A-freek-A African Cross Community Drumming Group

All young participants will receive a free ballot for 2 tickets for the real Northern Ireland vs Poland game, to be balloted at half time at the Fan’s game on the day.

Commenting on the day, Irish FA Head of Community Relations, Michael Boyd said “Together with the Amalgamation, the Northern Ireland Polish Association and Crusaders we are delighted to be involved in this Promoting Respect Through Football fans day and hope it will be a real success.”

Jim Rainey of the Northern Ireland Amalgamation of Supporters Clubs Commented: “The Amalgamation has run these Fans matches before – and they have been a great success. Fans matches help integrate visiting nations and get the banter going amongst fans. We also look forward to playing at Seaview, one of the few Irish League grounds where matches are rarely cancelled!”

Neil McMaster, from the Grove Crusaders Supporters Club commented: “It is important to Crusaders to attract young people of all ethnic and national backgrounds to our club – whether as players, spectators, or volunteers.  We will ensure that the travelling Polish fans enjoy a warm welcome and hope the local Polish community will return again to watch the Crues, or to enrol their children in our youth programmes.”

 

Contact: Michael Boyd, IFA Tel: 07894-614328, Jim Rained Amalgamation of Northern Ireland Supporters Clubs Tel: 07915654400 Maciek Bator Polish Association of Northern Ireland Tel: 07930476649  , Neil McMaster, Crusaders FC Tel 07778-504087

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