The
Northern Ireland national football team represents
Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland is a part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and it is situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. It shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
in international
footballAssociation football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of eleven players using a spherical ball...
. Before 1921, all of
IrelandIreland is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island in the world. It lies to the north-west of continental Europe and is surrounded by hundreds of islands and islets. To the east of Ireland, separated by the Irish Sea, is the island of Great Britain...
was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the
Irish Football AssociationThe Irish Football Association is the organising body for football in Northern Ireland, and was historically the governing body for the whole of the island...
(IFA). In 1921, the jurisdiction of the IFA was reduced to Northern Ireland, following the secession of clubs in the soon-to-be
Irish Free StateThe Irish Free State was the state established as a Dominion on 6 December 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty, signed by the British government and Irish representatives exactly twelve months beforehand....
, although its team purported to remain the national team for all of Ireland until 1950, and to use the name Ireland until the 1970s. The
Football Association of IrelandThe Football Association of Ireland is the governing body for the sport of association football in the Republic of Ireland. It should not be confused with the Irish Football Association , which is the organising body for the sport in Northern Ireland...
(FAI) organises the separate
Republic of Ireland national football teamThe Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in Association Football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Croke Park in Dublin....
.
History
On 18 February 1882, two years after the founding of the Irish FA, Ireland made their international debut against
EnglandThe English national football team represents England in international association football and is controlled by The Football Association, the governing body for football in England...
, losing 13-0 in a friendly played at Bloomfield Park in Belfast. This remains the record win for England and the record defeat for the Northern Ireland team. On 25 February 1882 Ireland played their second international against Wales at the Racecourse Ground, Wrexham and an equaliser from Johnston became Ireland’s first ever goal.
In 1884 Ireland competed in the inaugural
British Home ChampionshipThe British Home Championship was an annual football competition contested between the United Kingdom's four national teams, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland from the...
and lost all three games. Ireland did not win their first game until 19 February 1887, a 4-1 win over Wales in Belfast. Between their debut and this game, they had a run of 14 defeats and 1 draw, the longest run without a win in the 1800s. Despite the end of this run, heavy defeats continued. On 3 March 1888 they lost 11-0 to Wales and three weeks later on 24 March they lost 10-2 to Scotland. Further heavy defeats came on 15 March 1890 when they lost 9-1 to England, on 18 February 1899 when they lost 13-2 to England and on 2 February 1901 when they lost 11-0 to Scotland.
In 1899 the Irish FA also changed its rules governing the selection of non-resident players. Before then the Ireland team selected its players exclusively from the Irish League, in particular the three Belfast-based clubs Linfield, Cliftonville and Distillery. On 4 March 1899 for the game against Wales, McAteer included four Irish players based in England. The change in policy produced dividends as Ireland won 1-0. Three weeks later, on 25 March one of these four players,
Archie GoodallArchibald Lee Goodall , commonly referred to as Archie Goodall, is a former Irish footballer who played for, among others, Derby County and Ireland. Goodall made 423 appearances and scored 52 goals for County...
, aged 34 years and 279 days, became the oldest player to score in international football during the 19th century when he scored Ireland’s goal in a 9-1 defeat to Scotland.
In 1920 Ireland was partitioned into
Northern IrelandNorthern Ireland is a part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and it is situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. It shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
and
Southern IrelandSouthern Ireland was the short-lived autonomous region of the United Kingdom established on 3 May 1921 and dissolved on 6 December 1922....
. In 1922, Southern Ireland gained independence as the
Irish Free StateThe Irish Free State was the state established as a Dominion on 6 December 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty, signed by the British government and Irish representatives exactly twelve months beforehand....
, later to become a republic under the name of
IrelandIreland is a country in north-western Europe. The modern sovereign state occupies about five-sixths of the island of Ireland, which was partitioned on 3 May 1921. It is a parliamentary democracy and a republic...
. Amid these political upheavals, a rival football association, the
Football Association of IrelandThe Football Association of Ireland is the governing body for the sport of association football in the Republic of Ireland. It should not be confused with the Irish Football Association , which is the organising body for the sport in Northern Ireland...
, emerged in Dublin in 1921 and organised a separate league and international team. In 1923, at a time when the home nations had withdrawn from
FIFAThe International Federation of Association Football, commonly known by its French acronym, FIFA , is the international governing body of association football. Its headquarters are in Zürich, Switzerland, and its current president is Sepp Blatter...
, the FAI was recognised by FIFA as the governing body of the
Irish Free StateThe Irish Free State was the state established as a Dominion on 6 December 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty, signed by the British government and Irish representatives exactly twelve months beforehand....
on the condition that it changed its name to the Football Association of the Irish Free State. The Irish FA continued to organise its national team on an all-Ireland basis.
Between 1928 and 1946 the IFA were not affiliated to
FIFAThe International Federation of Association Football, commonly known by its French acronym, FIFA , is the international governing body of association football. Its headquarters are in Zürich, Switzerland, and its current president is Sepp Blatter...
and the two Ireland teams co-existed, never competing in the same competition. However, on 8 March 1950, in a 0-0 draw with Wales at the Racecourse Ground, Wrexham, the IFA fielded a team that included four players who were born in the Irish Free State. As well as being part of the qualifier for the 1950 FIFA World Cup. All four players had previously played for the FAI in their qualifiers and as a result had played for two different associations in the same FIFA World Cup tournament.
After complaints from the FAI, FIFA intervened and restricted players' eligibility based on the political border. In 1953 FIFA ruled neither team could be referred to as Ireland, decreeing that the FAI team be officially designated as the Republic of Ireland, while the IFA team was to become Northern Ireland.
Current player eligibility rules
After the Good Friday Agreement, players holding either a British or Irish passport, but otherwise eligible for Northern Ireland, could play for the national team For a brief period in 2006, a FIFA ruling stated NI players must carry British passports due to difficulties for match commissioners, but it was quickly modified to state that players must merely prove their eligibility to the IFA In 2008, the rules were changed so that merely holding a passport did not automatically qualify players as eligible; players eligible for Northern Ireland who wished to declare for the Republic of Ireland, or vice versa, must have been resident in the target country for two years, or have family ties. Due to the 2008 rule changes, goalkeeper
Maik TaylorMaik Stefan Taylor is a Northern Ireland international football goalkeeper who plays for Birmingham City. He was born in Hildesheim, Germany to an English father and a German mother...
is said to be unique among Northern Ireland national team players in never having had a background in the country.
British Home Championship
Until the 1950s, the major competition for Northern Ireland/Ireland was the
British Home ChampionshipThe British Home Championship was an annual football competition contested between the United Kingdom's four national teams, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland from the...
. The team had won the competition eight times, taking the title outright on three occasions, they were the last winners of the now defunct competition held in 1984, and hence still are the British champions, and the trophy remains the property of the Irish FA. This is much celebrated by their fans.
World Cup
Northern Ireland's best
World CupThe FIFA World Cup, occasionally called the Football World Cup, but usually referred to simply as the World Cup, is an international football competition contested by the men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
performance was in their first appearance in the competition, the
1958 World CupThe 1958 FIFA World Cup, the sixth staging of the World Cup, was hosted by Sweden from 8 June to 29 June. Sweden was chosen as hosts by FIFA in June 1950. It was won by Brazil, who beat Sweden 5-2 in the final for their first title...
, where they reached the quarter-finals after beating
CzechoslovakiaThe Czechoslovakia national football team was the national association football team of Czechoslovakia from 1922 to 1993. At the dissolution of Czechoslovakia at the end of 1992, the team was participating in UEFA qualifying Group 4 for the 1994 World Cup; it completed this campaign under the name...
2-1 in the play-off. They were knocked out by France, losing 4-0. In the 1958 competition Northern Ireland became the smallest country to have qualified for the World Cup, a record that stood until
Trinidad & TobagoThe Trinidad and Tobago national football team, nicknamed The Soca Warriors, is the national team of Trinidad and Tobago and is controlled by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation...
qualified for the
2006 World CupThe 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th instance of the FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000...
. Northern Ireland remains, however, the smallest country to have qualified for more than one World Cup, and the smallest country to have reached the World Cup quarter-finals.
Northern Ireland also qualified for the
1982 World CupThe 1982 FIFA World Cup, the 12th FIFA World Cup, was held in Spain from 13 June to 11 July. Spain was chosen as hosts by FIFA in July 1966. This World Cup was won by Italy, who beat West Germany 3-1 in the final. With their third World Cup title , Italy drew level with Brazil as the most...
.Gerry Armstrong was a Northern Irish football player, who played during the 1970s and 1980s. He is best remembered for scoring the goal in the 1982 World Cup that enabled Northern Ireland to beat the tournament's hosts, Spain, in a shock 1-0 win again reaching the quarter-finals after topping the first stage group,
Norman WhitesideNorman Whiteside is a former Northern Irish football player who represented his country in two World Cups. He played for Manchester United and Everton, before his career was ended by injury at the age of 26...
became the youngest ever player in the World Cup finals, a record that still stands. In the
1986 World CupThe 1986 FIFA World Cup, the 13th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in Mexico from 31 May to 29 June. It was won by Argentina , who beat West Germany 3–2 in the final at Mexico City's Estadio Azteca.-Host selection:...
, they reached the first round.
Billy BinghamWilliam Laurence "Billy" Bingham, MBE is a former footballer and football manager. He managed Northern Ireland during two separate periods as well as Greece. He is currently a scout for English Premier League side Burnley...
, a member of the 1958 squad, was manager for both of these tournaments. They have not qualified for any other World Cups.
European Championship
The side have yet to participate in their first European Championship finals. This is in despite of the fact that Northern Ireland beat the former West Germany 1-0 home and away in qualifiers for Euro 84. More recently, David Healy broke the record for goals scored in one Euro campaign, previously held by Davor Suker of Croatia, by scoring 13 times in Northern Ireland's brave, but ultimately doomed, attempt to qualify for Euro 2008. Healy scored thrice against Spain, twice against Sweden, 5 times against Liechtenstein, once against Denmark, once against Latvia, and also scored against Iceland. He also became the first player ever to score 2 hat tricks for Northern Ireland. He had previously been one of only three players to score a hat-trick for Northern Ireland - the others being
George BestGeorge Best was a Northern Irish professional football player, best known for his years with Manchester United. He was a winger whose game combined pace, acceleration, balance, two-footedness, goalscoring and the ability to beat defenders...
and
Colin ClarkeColin Clarke is a former Northern Irish football player. He is the head coach for the Puerto Rico Islanders of USL First Division and the Puerto Rican national football team.-Playing career:...
.
Recent history
Lawrie SanchezLawrence Philip Sanchez is a football manager and a former player. The defining moment of his playing career came in the 1988 FA Cup Final, where he scored the winning goal for Wimbledon, producing one of the biggest Cup upsets against Liverpool.-Personal life:Sanchez was born in London, the son...
was appointed in January 2004 after a run of ten games without a goal under the previous manager
Sammy McIlroySamuel Baxter "Sammy" McIlroy is a Northern Irish former international footballer whose clubs included Manchester United. After playing, he managed several English football teams and the Northern Ireland national team, gaining most success with Macclesfield Town...
, which was a world record for any international team. That run ended after his first game in charge, a 1-4 defeat to Norway in a friendly in February 2004. The run of sixteen games without a win ended after his second game, a 1-0 victory in a friendly over
EstoniaThe Estonia national football team is controlled by the Estonian Football Association. They played their first match in 1920. In 1940 Estonia was occupied by the Soviet Union and did not regain independence until 1991...
, with a largely experimental side, in March 2004.
On 7 September 2005 Northern Ireland beat
EnglandThe English national football team represents England in international association football and is controlled by The Football Association, the governing body for football in England...
1-0 in a
2006 World CupThe 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th instance of the FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000...
Qualifier at
Windsor ParkWindsor Park, in Belfast, is the home ground of the Northern Irish football club, Linfield. It is also the home of the Northern Ireland national football team and Irish Cup and Irish League Cup finals....
. David Healy scored the winner in the 73rd minute. Almost a year later, on 6 September 2006, Northern Ireland defeated Spain 3-2 in a qualifier for Euro 2008, with Healy scoring a hat-trick. In the following match, Healy became the only Northern Irish player to score two hat-tricks after scoring all of Northern Ireland's goals in their 3-1 win over Liechenstein. Healy also scored a brace in the 2-1 victory over Sweden in the same qualification group. Healy scored thirteen out of Northern Ireland's fifteen Euro 2008 qualification goals in seven matches, and was the leading goalscorer in the competition. In June 2007 Nigel Worthington was named manager in the place of Lawrie Sanchez who tookover at Fulham. Initially Worthington tookover until the end of the euro 2008 qualifiers but was later given a contract until 2010.
Summary of all Northern Ireland's competitive results
All competitive matches
‡
| P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
Gd |
| 466 |
116 |
100 |
250 |
503 |
952 |
-451 |
All matches including friendlies
‡
| P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
Gd |
| 557 |
139 |
126 |
292 |
592 |
1113 |
-521 |
Data correct as of Czech Republic v Northern Ireland v 14 October 2009
The team have also won the Home Championship 8 times, including 5 shared.
2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
Northern Ireland were drawn from the third pot during the UEFA group draw. They began their campaign to qualify for the
2010 FIFA World CupThe 2010 FIFA World Cup will be the 19th FIFA World Cup, the premier international football tournament. It is scheduled to take place between 11 June and 11 July 2010 in South Africa. The 2010 FIFA World Cup will be the culmination of a qualification process that began in August 2007 and involved...
on the pitch on September 6, 2008 in a road fixture against
SlovakiaThe Slovakia national football team is the national football team of Slovakia and is controlled by the Slovak Football Association...
, which was lost by a score of 2–1. Four days later they hosted the
Czech RepublicThe Czech national football team is the national football team of the Czech Republic controlled by the Football Association of the Czech Republic.-History:...
to a scoreless draw. Northern Ireland then dropped their third qualification match 2–0 at
SloveniaThe Slovenia national football team is the national football team of Slovenia and is controlled by the Football Association of Slovenia. They played their first match in 1992 after the split of Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 1991...
, leaving the Northern Ireland side with only one point and one goal scored through three matches. However, they bounced back for back-to-back victories over UEFA minnows
San MarinoThe San Marino national football team is the national football team of San Marino, controlled by the San Marino Football Federation. The team has enjoyed very little success, due to the republic's tiny population, the smallest of any UEFA country....
by scores of 4–0 and 3–0, lifting them to a tie for second in the group with seven points and a positive, four-goal differential with half of their group matches remaining. In the following round of matches Northern Ireland maintained their winning streak by defeating Poland 3-2 at Windsor Park, however the match was marred by the riots before kick-off. Northern Ireland then defeated Slovenia 1-0 in their next qualification match to ensure they remained 2nd in their qualifying group. In September 2009 the team travelled to Poland, where pre-match planning by the footballing federations of both teams and the police ensured that a repeat of the riots in Belfast did not happen this time around. The game ended 1-1 after Northern Ireland took the lead through Kyle Lafferty, but Poland levelled on the 78th minute through Lewandowski. Northern Ireland's next match is at home to Group 3 leaders Slovakia and a win for Northern Ireland with results going their way elsewhere would be a major boost to their qualification hopes despite having played a game more than their main rivals
2009 international matches
Northern Ireland matches scheduled for 2009:
| Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Competition | Goalscorers (Career goal) |
|---|
| 11 February 2009 |
SMR Stadio Olimpico Stadio Olimpico is a multi-purpose stadium in Serravalle, San Marino. It is currently used mostly for football matches. It is the national stadium of San Marino, and is also used by the club San Marino Calcio, which plays in the Italian football league. The Stadio Olimpico was also used by...
, SerravalleSerravalle is a common placename in Italy: the name means "place where the valley narrows".-Italy:Municipalities :* Serravalle a Po, in Mantova Province* Serravalle di Chienti, in Macerata Province* Serravalle Langhe, in Cuneo Province...
|
| 0–3 W |
WCQ The European Zone of the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification will see 53 teams competing for 13 places. The qualification process started on 20 August 2008, after UEFA Euro 2008. The qualification process also marks the first official competition for Montenegro....
G3The 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification UEFA Group 3 was a UEFA qualifying group for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The group comprised the Czech Republic, Poland, Northern Ireland, Slovakia, Slovenia and San Marino....
|
Gareth McAuleyGareth McAuley is a Northern Irish footballer currently playing for Ipswich Town.-Career:Coming from Glenoe outside of Larne and nicknamed "Big G", Gareth began his career at Linfield and spent some time in early 2000 on loan at Ballyclare Comrades. After four years at Linfield, he moved to...
(1)
Grant McCannGrant Samuel McCann is a Northern Irish footballer who currently plays for Scunthorpe United of Football League Championship in England....
(3)
Chris BruntChristopher "Chris" Brunt is a Northern Irish association footballer who plays for Football League Championship side West Bromwich Albion.-Early life:...
(1) |
| 28 March 2009 |
NIR Windsor ParkWindsor Park, in Belfast, is the home ground of the Northern Irish football club, Linfield. It is also the home of the Northern Ireland national football team and Irish Cup and Irish League Cup finals....
, BelfastBelfast is the capital of and the largest city in Northern Ireland, a constituent country of the United Kingdom. It is the seat of devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly. It is the largest urban area in the province of Ulster, and the second largest city on the island of...
|
| 3–2 W |
WCQ The European Zone of the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification will see 53 teams competing for 13 places. The qualification process started on 20 August 2008, after UEFA Euro 2008. The qualification process also marks the first official competition for Montenegro....
G3The 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification UEFA Group 3 was a UEFA qualifying group for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The group comprised the Czech Republic, Poland, Northern Ireland, Slovakia, Slovenia and San Marino....
|
Warren Feeney Warren Feeney is a professional footballer. He currently plays for Cardiff City.-Early career:...
(4)
Jonny EvansJonathan Grant "Jonny" Evans is a Northern Irish football centre back who currently plays for Manchester United in the Premier League. Evans was born in Belfast and started his career at Greenisland FC, where he was spotted by Manchester United scouts...
(1)
Michał Żewłakow (own goal) |
| 1 April 2009 |
NIR Windsor ParkWindsor Park, in Belfast, is the home ground of the Northern Irish football club, Linfield. It is also the home of the Northern Ireland national football team and Irish Cup and Irish League Cup finals....
, BelfastBelfast is the capital of and the largest city in Northern Ireland, a constituent country of the United Kingdom. It is the seat of devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly. It is the largest urban area in the province of Ulster, and the second largest city on the island of...
|
| 1–0 W |
WCQ The European Zone of the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification will see 53 teams competing for 13 places. The qualification process started on 20 August 2008, after UEFA Euro 2008. The qualification process also marks the first official competition for Montenegro....
G3The 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification UEFA Group 3 was a UEFA qualifying group for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The group comprised the Czech Republic, Poland, Northern Ireland, Slovakia, Slovenia and San Marino....
|
Warren Feeney Warren Feeney is a professional footballer. He currently plays for Cardiff City.-Early career:...
(5)
|
| 6 June 2009 |
ITA Arena Garibaldi - Stadio Romeo Anconetani, PisaPisa is a city in Tuscany, central Italy, on the right bank of the mouth of the Arno River on the Ligurian Sea. It is the capital city of the Province of Pisa...
|
| 3–0 L |
Friendly An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition...
|
|
| 12 August 2009 |
NIR Windsor ParkWindsor Park, in Belfast, is the home ground of the Northern Irish football club, Linfield. It is also the home of the Northern Ireland national football team and Irish Cup and Irish League Cup finals....
, BelfastBelfast is the capital of and the largest city in Northern Ireland, a constituent country of the United Kingdom. It is the seat of devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly. It is the largest urban area in the province of Ulster, and the second largest city on the island of...
|
| 1–1 D |
Friendly An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition...
|
Grant McCann Grant Samuel McCann is a Northern Irish footballer who currently plays for Scunthorpe United of Football League Championship in England....
(4) |
| 5 September 2009 |
POL Silesian Stadium, Chorzow Chorzów is a city in Silesia in southern Poland, near Katowice. Chorzów is one of the central districts of the Upper Silesian Metropolitan Union - a metropolis with a population of 2 million...
|
| 1-1 D |
WCQ The European Zone of the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification will see 53 teams competing for 13 places. The qualification process started on 20 August 2008, after UEFA Euro 2008. The qualification process also marks the first official competition for Montenegro....
G3The 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification UEFA Group 3 was a UEFA qualifying group for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The group comprised the Czech Republic, Poland, Northern Ireland, Slovakia, Slovenia and San Marino....
|
Kyle Lafferty Kyle Lafferty is a Northern Irish professional association footballer who currently plays for Scottish Premier League side Rangers and also the Northern Ireland national team.-Early career:...
(38) |
| 9 September 2009 |
NIR Windsor ParkWindsor Park, in Belfast, is the home ground of the Northern Irish football club, Linfield. It is also the home of the Northern Ireland national football team and Irish Cup and Irish League Cup finals....
, BelfastBelfast is the capital of and the largest city in Northern Ireland, a constituent country of the United Kingdom. It is the seat of devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly. It is the largest urban area in the province of Ulster, and the second largest city on the island of...
|
| 0–2 L |
WCQ The European Zone of the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification will see 53 teams competing for 13 places. The qualification process started on 20 August 2008, after UEFA Euro 2008. The qualification process also marks the first official competition for Montenegro....
G3The 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification UEFA Group 3 was a UEFA qualifying group for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The group comprised the Czech Republic, Poland, Northern Ireland, Slovakia, Slovenia and San Marino....
|
|
| 14 October 2009 |
CZE TBA |
| 0–0 D |
WCQ The European Zone of the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification will see 53 teams competing for 13 places. The qualification process started on 20 August 2008, after UEFA Euro 2008. The qualification process also marks the first official competition for Montenegro....
G3The 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification UEFA Group 3 was a UEFA qualifying group for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The group comprised the Czech Republic, Poland, Northern Ireland, Slovakia, Slovenia and San Marino....
|
|
Controversy and sectarianism
Some of Northern Ireland's fans have been perceived as sectarian by opposing elements in Northern Irish society.
Neil LennonNeil Francis Lennon is an Irish former professional footballer from Northern Ireland. He is the former captain of Celtic where he was first-team coach having moved from Wycombe Wanderers on 3 April 2008. Following the appointment of Tony Mowbray as Celtic manager, Lennon's role at the club was...
, who had been subject to boos and jeers from some supporters while playing for Northern Ireland in Windsor Park, was given a death-threat, due to his association with
Celtic F.C.The Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. Since the club's formation in 1888, Celtic have won the Scottish championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the 2007/08 season, and the Scottish...
.
Steps have been taken to eradicate the sectarian element within the support, and these have proved to be very successful. Lennon has been quick to heap praise on the Northern Ireland fans, and in particular "Football For All" Outstanding Achievement Award Winner Stewart MacAfee, for the work they have carried out to create a more inclusive atmosphere at international games.
Stadium
Northern Ireland play their home matches at
Windsor ParkWindsor Park, in Belfast, is the home ground of the Northern Irish football club, Linfield. It is also the home of the Northern Ireland national football team and Irish Cup and Irish League Cup finals....
,
BelfastBelfast is the capital of and the largest city in Northern Ireland, a constituent country of the United Kingdom. It is the seat of devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly. It is the largest urban area in the province of Ulster, and the second largest city on the island of...
, home of
Linfield F.C.Linfield F.C. Linfield F.C. Linfield F.C. (full name Linfield Football & Athletic Club, is a Northern Irish professional football club playing in the IFA Premiership. Founded in March 1886 in south Belfast, Linfield play at Windsor Park, which is also the home of the Northern Ireland international...
, which they have use of on a one hundred and eight year lease, giving the owners 15% of revenue, including gate receipts and TV rights..
There was a proposal to build a multisports stadium for Northern Ireland at the disused
Maze prisonHer Majesty's Prison Maze was a prison used to house paramilitary prisoners during the Northern Ireland Troubles from mid-1971 to mid-2000....
outside
LisburnLisburn is the third-largest city in Northern Ireland. It is situated south-west of Belfast on the River Lagan, which forms the boundary between County Antrim and County Down...
for the use of
RugbyRugby union is a full contact team sport, a form of football which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. It is played with an oval-shaped ball, outdoors on a level field, usually with a grass surface, 100 m...
,
Gaelic gamesGaelic games are the traditional sports played in Ireland. The two main Gaelic games are Gaelic football and Hurling, both of which are organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association...
and football. This plan was given an "in principle" go-ahead by the Irish Football Association. However, it was opposed by fans, over 85% of whom in a match day poll conducted by the Amalgamation of Northern Ireland Supporters' Clubs ("AONISC") preferred to stay at a smaller new or redeveloped ground in the city of Belfast. The AONISC organised a protest against the move to the Maze at the game against
EstoniaThe Estonia national football team is controlled by the Estonian Football Association. They played their first match in 1920. In 1940 Estonia was occupied by the Soviet Union and did not regain independence until 1991...
in March 2006.
The issue assumed ever greater urgency by 2007, following a series of inspections which questioned the suitability of Windsor Park to host international football. Following a reduction of capacity due to the closure of the Railway Stand, the IFA made it known that they wished to terminate their contract for the use of the stadium. A report on health and safety in October 2007 indicated that the South Stand might have to be closed for internationals, which would further reduce the stadium's capacity to 9,000.
In April 2008, Belfast City Council announced that they had commissioned Drivers Jonas to conduct a feasibility study into the building of a Sports Stadium in Belfast which could accommodate international football, which was followed at the beginning of May 2008 by speculation that the Maze Stadium project was going to be radically revised by Peter Robinson, the Finance and Personnel Minister in the Northern Ireland Assembly, so that any construction might be used for purposes other than football, rugby union and Gaelic games.
Given the time that is needed to build a new stadium, in the absence of significant work improving Windsor Park, Northern Ireland may be forced to play their home games at a venue outside Northern Ireland for a period. Everton FC's
Goodison ParkGoodison Park is a football stadium in Liverpool, England and home ground of Everton F.C. The ground was built in 1892, though it has been greatly developed since, having an all-seated capacity of 40,158....
in Liverpool has been touted as a possible alternative.
In
MarchMarch is the third month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, and one of the seven months which are 31 days long.March in the Southern Hemisphere is the seasonal equivalent of September in the Northern Hemisphere....
2009, proposals were announced for the construction of a new 25,000 seat stadium in the
SydenhamSydenham is an electoral ward of Belfast based on the area of the same name and containing the George Best Belfast City Airport. The ward was created in 1973 being carved out of the former Victoria ward and has had only minor alterations since then...
area of East Belfast as an alternative to the Maze proposal. This would form part of a major development, with links to both
George Best Belfast City AirportGeorge Best Belfast City Airport is an airport in Belfast, County Down, Northern Ireland. The airport has a single runway operation. Situated adjacent to the Port of Belfast it is 2 miles from Belfast city centre. It shares the site with the Short Brothers/Bombardier aircraft manufacturing facility...
and the
Bangor railway line|}...
. The development would also include a hotel, and retail/leisure areas. The stadium itself would be used for both football and
rugby unionRugby union is a full contact team sport, a form of football which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. It is played with an oval-shaped ball, outdoors on a level field, usually with a grass surface, 100 m...
, with
GlentoranGlentoran F.C. is a Northern Irish football club and current IFA Premiership champions. The club was founded in 1882 and plays its home games at the Oval in east Belfast. Club colours are green, red, and black.Glentoran's biggest rivals are Linfield...
and
Ulster RugbyUlster Rugby is an Irish professional rugby union team based in Ulster, that competes in the Magners League and Heineken Cup...
intended as tenants. However,
Ulster GAAThe Ulster Council is a Provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association sports of hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, and handball in the province of Ulster. The headquarters of the Ulster GAA is based in Armagh City....
, who were a partner in the Maze proposal, have stated that in the event of a new stadium being built in East Belfast, which is a major
unionistUnionism in Ireland is an ideology that favours the maintenance or strengthening of the political and cultural ties between Ireland and Great Britain....
area, their preference would then be to remain at
Casement ParkCasement Park is the principal Gaelic Athletic Association stadium in Belfast, Northern Ireland, home to the Antrim football and hurling teams...
in
nationalistIrish nationalism comprises political and social movements and sentiment inspired by a love for Irish culture, language and history, and a sense of pride in Ireland and the Irish people...
West Belfast.
The IFA were initially non-committal about any of the proposals for improving their facilities, be it rebuilding Windsor Park, or supporting either the Maze or Sydenham proposals. However, in
SeptemberSeptember is the ninth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of four Gregorian months with 30 days.In Latin, septem means "seven" and septimus means "seventh"; September was in fact the seventh month of the Roman calendar until 153 BC, when the first month changed from Kalendas...
2009, they issued an announcement in favour of the redevelopment of Windsor Park. Although there were no specifics to this,
LinfieldLinfield F.C. Linfield F.C. Linfield F.C. (full name Linfield Football & Athletic Club, is a Northern Irish professional football club playing in the IFA Premiership. Founded in March 1886 in south Belfast, Linfield play at Windsor Park, which is also the home of the Northern Ireland international...
had previously released a study with two proposals, of which tha major one would be a £20m rebuilding of the stadium, raising capacity to 20,000.
Popular culture
Since the defeat of England in 2005 there has been an increase of national pride in the team, with demand for tickets outstripping supply. Tongue-in-cheek songs such as "We're not Brazil, we're Northern Ireland" (sung to the tune of the American civil war song, Battle Hymn of the Republic), 'It's Just Like Watching Brazil' and 'Stand up for the Ulstermen' are popular at home matches.
Northern Ireland's supporters were awarded the Brussels International Supporters Award, for their charity work, general good humour and behaviour and efforts to stamp out sectarianism. Representatives of the Amalgamation of Official Northern Ireland Supporters' Clubs received the award from UEFA and EU representatives prior to the Northern Ireland versus Spain game at Windsor Park in September 2006. The team have various supporters' clubs.
Current players
The following players were called up for the match against
Czech RepublicThe Czech national football team is the national football team of the Czech Republic controlled by the Football Association of the Czech Republic.-History:...
14 October. (Cap and goal totals updated as of 9 September)
Recent call ups
The following players have been called up to the Northern Ireland squad since the appointment of Nigel Worthington as manager.
Coaching staff
- Manager: Northern Ireland Nigel Worthington
Nigel Worthington is a Northern Irish football manager and former player. He is currently manager of the Northern Ireland national team....
- Assistant Manager: England Glynn Snodin
Glynn Snodin is a former professional footballer who was recently an assistant manager at Leeds United...
- Goalkeeping coach: England Fred Barber
Frederick Barber is an English former goalkeeper who is currently the goalkeeping coach with Bolton Wanderers and with Northern Ireland....
- Physio: Northern Ireland Terry Hayes
- Team Attendant: Northern Ireland Derek McKinley
History in major tournaments
World Cup
- 1930
The 1930 FIFA World Cup was the first FIFA World Cup, the world championship for international football teams. It was played in Uruguay from 13 July to 30 July...
to 1938The 1938 FIFA World Cup was the third staging of the World Cup, and was held in France from 4 June to 19 June. France was chosen as hosts by FIFA in August 1936...
- Did not enter
- 1950
The 1950 FIFA World Cup, held in Brazil from 24 June to 16 July, was the fourth FIFA World Cup, and the first staged in 12 years due to World War II. Brazil was chosen as the host country by FIFA in July 1946. It was also the first tournament that the trophy itself would be referred to as the Jules...
to 1954The 1954 FIFA World Cup, the fifth staging of the World Cup, was held in Switzerland from 16 June to 4 July. As the year saw the 50th anniversary of FIFA, it was appropriate for football's premier competition to be played in the home of its governing body, and Switzerland was chosen as hosts in...
- Did not qualify
- 1958
The 1958 FIFA World Cup, the sixth staging of the World Cup, was hosted by Sweden from 8 June to 29 June. Sweden was chosen as hosts by FIFA in June 1950. It was won by Brazil, who beat Sweden 5-2 in the final for their first title...
- Quarter-finals
- 1962
The 1962 FIFA World Cup, the seventh staging of the World Cup, was held in Chile from 30 May to 17 June. Chile was chosen as host by FIFA in June 1956, as the World Cup returned to the continent of South America after 12 years...
to 1978The 1978 FIFA World Cup, the 11th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in Argentina between 1 June and 25 June. Argentina was chosen as hosts by FIFA in July 1966. The 1978 World Cup was won by Argentina who beat the Netherlands 3-1 after extra time in the final...
- Did not qualify
- 1982
The 1982 FIFA World Cup, the 12th FIFA World Cup, was held in Spain from 13 June to 11 July. Spain was chosen as hosts by FIFA in July 1966. This World Cup was won by Italy, who beat West Germany 3-1 in the final. With their third World Cup title , Italy drew level with Brazil as the most...
- Second Group Stage
- 1986
The 1986 FIFA World Cup, the 13th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in Mexico from 31 May to 29 June. It was won by Argentina , who beat West Germany 3–2 in the final at Mexico City's Estadio Azteca.-Host selection:...
- Round 1
- 1990
The 1990 FIFA World Cup, the 14th staging of the World Cup, was held in Italy from 8 June to 8 July. Italy was chosen as hosts by FIFA on 19 May 1984, making it the second country to host the event twice. USSR was the rival of Italy's candidacy to host the event...
to 2010The 2010 FIFA World Cup will be the 19th FIFA World Cup, the premier international football tournament. It is scheduled to take place between 11 June and 11 July 2010 in South Africa. The 2010 FIFA World Cup will be the culmination of a qualification process that began in August 2007 and involved...
- Did not qualify
European Championship
- 1960 - Did not enter
- 1964 to 2008 - Did not qualify
Managers
Peter DohertyPeter Dermot Doherty was a Northern Irish professional football player and manager.-Playing career:Born in Magherafelt, County Londonderry, Doherty began his career with Glentoran in the Irish League. After helping Glentoran to the 1933 Irish Cup, early in the 1933–34 season Doherty joined English...
(1951–1962)
Bertie PeacockJohn Robert "Bertie" Peacock, MBE was a football player and manager from Coleraine, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland....
(1962–1967)
Billy BinghamWilliam Laurence "Billy" Bingham, MBE is a former footballer and football manager. He managed Northern Ireland during two separate periods as well as Greece. He is currently a scout for English Premier League side Burnley...
(1967–1971)
Terry NeillWilliam John Terence "Terry" Neill is a Northern Ireland former football player and manager.-Playing career:Born in Belfast, Neill played as a youth for Bangor, before moving in December 1959 to Arsenal. He spent a year in Arsenal's youth side, before making his debut against Sheffield Wednesday...
(1971–1975)
Dave ClementsDave Clements in Larne in County Antrim, was a football player and manager from Northern Ireland. He started his career as a left winger but also played as a defensive midfielder and left full back throughout a career which lasted from 1964 to 1976 in which time he played for Coventry City,...
(1975–1976)
Danny BlanchflowerRobert Dennis "Danny" Blanchflower was a footballer, football manager, and journalist who captained Tottenham Hotspur F.C. during its double-winning season of 1961. He was ranked as the greatest player in Spurs history by The Times in 2009...
(1976–1979)
Billy BinghamWilliam Laurence "Billy" Bingham, MBE is a former footballer and football manager. He managed Northern Ireland during two separate periods as well as Greece. He is currently a scout for English Premier League side Burnley...
(1980–1994)
Bryan HamiltonBryan Hamilton is a Northern Irish former professional football player and manager. He gained 50 caps for Northern Ireland between 1969 and 1980, and later managed the national team for four years.-Playing career:...
(1994–1998)
Lawrie McMenemyLawrie McMenemy MBE is a retired football coach, best known for his spell as manager of Southampton Football Club...
(1998–1999)
Sammy McIlroySamuel Baxter "Sammy" McIlroy is a Northern Irish former international footballer whose clubs included Manchester United. After playing, he managed several English football teams and the Northern Ireland national team, gaining most success with Macclesfield Town...
(2000–2003)
Lawrie SanchezLawrence Philip Sanchez is a football manager and a former player. The defining moment of his playing career came in the 1988 FA Cup Final, where he scored the winning goal for Wimbledon, producing one of the biggest Cup upsets against Liverpool.-Personal life:Sanchez was born in London, the son...
(2004–2007)
Nigel WorthingtonNigel Worthington is a Northern Irish football manager and former player. He is currently manager of the Northern Ireland national team....
(2007–present)
Northern Ireland players with 50 or more caps
As of 9 September 2009, the players with the most caps for Northern Ireland are:
| # |
Name |
Career |
Caps |
Goals |
| 1 |
Pat JenningsPatrick Anthony Jennings OBE is a Northern Irish former football player. He played 119 games for Northern Ireland as a goalkeeper, a figure which at the time was a world record and is still a Northern Ireland record, in an international career which lasted for over 22 years...
|
1964 - 1986 |
119 |
0 |
| 2 |
Mal Donaghy Malachy Martin "Mal" Donaghy is a Northern Irish former football player.- Football career :The current Northern Ireland Under-19 coach, originally from West Belfast, amazingly began his football career as a goalkeeper with little-known Down and Connor League side team St...
|
1980 - 1994 |
91 |
0 |
| 3 |
Sammy McIlroy Samuel Baxter "Sammy" McIlroy is a Northern Irish former international footballer whose clubs included Manchester United. After playing, he managed several English football teams and the Northern Ireland national team, gaining most success with Macclesfield Town...
|
1972 - 1987 |
88 |
5 |
| 4 |
Keith GillespieKeith Robert Gillespie is a Northern Irish professional footballer who plays in midfield for Irish League side Glentoran.-Early career:...
|
1995 - 2008 |
86 |
2 |
| 5 |
Maik TaylorMaik Stefan Taylor is a Northern Ireland international football goalkeeper who plays for Birmingham City. He was born in Hildesheim, Germany to an English father and a German mother...
|
1999 - present |
80 |
0 |
| 6 |
David HealyDavid Jonathan Healy MBE is a Northern Irish footballer who plays as a striker for English Premiership team Sunderland and the Northern Ireland national team. He is the all-time leading scorer for Northern Ireland with 35 goals...
|
2000 - present |
77 |
35 |
| 7 |
Jimmy NichollJames Michael "Jimmy" Nicholl is a Canadian-born Northern Irish former footballer and, later, a manager....
|
1976-1986 |
73 |
1 |
| 8 |
Michael Hughes |
1992 - 2004 |
71 |
5 |
| 9 |
Aaron Hughes Aaron William Hughes is a Northern Irish footballer who plays for Fulham. Hughes is able to play centre back, right back or left back, as well as anywhere in midfield...
|
1998 - present |
70 |
0 |
| 10 |
David McCreery David McCreery was a Northern Ireland football player. He played mostly in midfield but was very versatile, and during his career played in every position bar goalkeeper...
|
1976 - 1990 |
67 |
0 |
| 11 |
Nigel Worthington Nigel Worthington is a Northern Irish football manager and former player. He is currently manager of the Northern Ireland national team....
|
1984 - 1997 |
66 |
0 |
| 12 |
Martin O'Neill Martin Hugh Michael O'Neill, OBE, is an Irish former association footballer who captained the Northern Ireland national football team, also known for playing for Nottingham Forest and who has previously managed Wycombe Wanderers, Norwich City, Leicester City and Celtic and is currently manager of...
|
1972 - 1985 |
64 |
8 |
| 13 |
Gerry Armstrong Gerard "Gerry" Joseph Armstrong is a Northern Irish former footballer. He spent the majority of his career in England, as well as having a spell in Spain. He represented the Northern Ireland national football team and won acclaim at the 1982 FIFA World Cup, where he was the highest scoring British...
|
1977 - 1986 |
63 |
12 |
| 14= |
Iain Dowie Iain Dowie is a football manager, who most recently managed Queens Park Rangers F.C., and former professional footballer and Northern Ireland international...
|
1990 - 2000 |
59 |
12 |
| 14= |
Terry Neill William John Terence "Terry" Neill is a Northern Ireland former football player and manager.-Playing career:Born in Belfast, Neill played as a youth for Bangor, before moving in December 1959 to Arsenal. He spent a year in Arsenal's youth side, before making his debut against Sheffield Wednesday...
|
1961 - 1973 |
59 |
2 |
| 16= |
Billy BinghamWilliam Laurence "Billy" Bingham, MBE is a former footballer and football manager. He managed Northern Ireland during two separate periods as well as Greece. He is currently a scout for English Premier League side Burnley...
|
1951 - 1964 |
56 |
10 |
| 16= |
Danny BlanchflowerRobert Dennis "Danny" Blanchflower was a footballer, football manager, and journalist who captained Tottenham Hotspur F.C. during its double-winning season of 1961. He was ranked as the greatest player in Spurs history by The Times in 2009...
|
1950 - 1963 |
56 |
2 |
| 18= |
Jimmy McIlroy James "Jimmy" McIlroy is a former football player, regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of Burnley.-At Burnley:...
|
1952 - 1966 |
55 |
10 |
| 18= |
Damien JohnsonDamien Michael Johnson is a Northern Irish international football midfielder who currently plays in England for Birmingham City.-Blackburn Rovers:...
|
1999 - Present |
55 |
0 |
| 20= |
Allan Hunter |
1970 - 1980 |
53 |
1 |
| 20= |
John McClelland John McClelland is a former Northern Irish footballer who played as a defender.-Club career:McClelland played for Portadown, Cardiff City, Bangor City, and Mansfield Town, before signing for Rangers for £90,000. There he won a Scottish Cup winner's medal, before Watford paid £225,000 for his...
|
1980 - 1990 |
53 |
1 |
| 22= |
Jim MagiltonJames "Jim" Magilton is a Northern Irish former footballer and manager, currently manager of Queens Park Rangers.-Playing career:...
|
1991 - 2002 |
52 |
5 |
| 22= |
Alan McDonald |
1986 - 1996 |
52 |
3 |
| 24= |
Sammy Nelson Samuel Nelson is a Northern Ireland former football player, who joined London club Arsenal on his 17th birthday in 1966....
|
1970 - 1982 |
51 |
1 |
| 24= |
Chris Nicholl Christopher John "Chris" Nicholl is an English-born former footballer and manager of Northern Irish ancestry.-Playing career:Nicholl was born in Macclesfield...
|
1975 - 1984 |
51 |
3 |
| 24= |
Gerry TaggartGerald "Gerry" Taggart is a former professional footballer, who is a coach at Leicester City.-Manchester City:Taggart started his career as a trainee with Manchester City in 1989...
|
1990 - 2002 |
51 |
7 |
| 27= |
Bryan Hamilton Bryan Hamilton is a Northern Irish former professional football player and manager. He gained 50 caps for Northern Ireland between 1969 and 1980, and later managed the national team for four years.-Playing career:...
|
1969 - 1980 |
50 |
4 |
| 27= |
James Quinn James Quinn is an English-born Northern Irish former professional footballer. A forward, his final club was Northampton Town. He played for numerous clubs in his career, and was also a Northern Ireland international.After four league games with Birmingham City, Quinn was sold to Second Division...
|
1996 - 2007 |
50 |
4 |
Top Ireland / Northern Ireland goalscorers
.jpg)
| # |
Player |
Career |
Goals (Caps) |
Goals per game |
| 1 |
David HealyDavid Jonathan Healy MBE is a Northern Irish footballer who plays as a striker for English Premiership team Sunderland and the Northern Ireland national team. He is the all-time leading scorer for Northern Ireland with 35 goals...
|
2000 - present |
35 (77) |
0.45 |
| 2 |
Billy GillespieBilly Gillespie was a football player for Sheffield United over a twenty year period from 1913 to 1932, scoring over 137 League and Cup goals in 492 games for the South Yorkshire side....
|
1913 - 1932 |
13 (25) |
0.52 |
| 2= |
Colin Clarke Colin Clarke is a former Northern Irish football player. He is the head coach for the Puerto Rico Islanders of USL First Division and the Puerto Rican national football team.-Playing career:...
|
1986 - 1993 |
13 (38) |
0.34 |
| 4 |
Joe BambrickJoe Bambrick, , was a former footballer who at club level played for Chelsea, Walsall, Glentoran, and Linfield....
|
1928 - 1940 |
12 (11) |
1.09 |
| 4= |
Gerry Armstrong Gerard "Gerry" Joseph Armstrong is a Northern Irish former footballer. He spent the majority of his career in England, as well as having a spell in Spain. He represented the Northern Ireland national football team and won acclaim at the 1982 FIFA World Cup, where he was the highest scoring British...
|
1977 - 1986 |
12 (63) |
0.19 |
| 4= |
Jimmy Quinn James Martin "Jimmy" Quinn is a former Northern Ireland international footballer and was manager of Bournemouth.-Club:...
|
1985 - 1996 |
12 (46) |
0.26 |
| 4= |
Iain Dowie Iain Dowie is a football manager, who most recently managed Queens Park Rangers F.C., and former professional footballer and Northern Ireland international...
|
1990 - 2000 |
12 (59) |
0.20 |
| 8 |
Billy BinghamWilliam Laurence "Billy" Bingham, MBE is a former footballer and football manager. He managed Northern Ireland during two separate periods as well as Greece. He is currently a scout for English Premier League side Burnley...
|
1951 - 1964 |
10 (56) |
0.18 |
| 8= |
Jimmy McIlroy James "Jimmy" McIlroy is a former football player, regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of Burnley.-At Burnley:...
|
1952 - 1966 |
10 (55) |
0.18 |
| 8= |
Peter McParland Peter James McParland, MBE is a former professional footballer.-Dundalk & Aston Villa:McParland was spotted playing for Dundalk in the League of Ireland by Aston Villa manager George Martin...
|
1954 - 1962 |
10 (34) |
0.29 |
| 8= |
Johnny Crossan |
1960 - 1968 |
10 (24) |
0.42 |
Media coverage
Sky SportsSky Sports is the brand name for a group of sports-oriented television channels operated by the UK and Ireland's main satellite pay-TV company, British Sky Broadcasting. Sky Sports is the dominant subscription television sports brand in the United Kingdom and Ireland...
currently have the rights to show Northern Ireland's home international fixtures after many years of the games being exclusively live on
BBC Northern IrelandBBC Northern Ireland is the main public service broadcaster in Northern Ireland.The organisation is one of the three national regions of the BBC, together with BBC Scotland and BBC Wales. Based at Broadcasting House, Belfast, it provides television, radio, online and interactive television content...
. The decision to sell to Sky was met with disapproval., however BBC Northern Ireland have bought the rights to some away games and highlights of all home matches.
SetantaSetanta can mean:* The given name of the Irish mythological figure Cúchulainn* Setanta Sports, Ireland-based international television sports channel* Setanta Records, record label* The LÉ Setanta, former Irish Naval Service ship...
bought rights to all but one of Northern Ireland away games. However the future of these rights are up in the air as Setanta has gone bust in the UK. Coincidently, the match that wasn't bought by Setanta was shown on BBC NI on
Match of the Day from Northern IrelandMatch of the Day from Northern Ireland is the name given to coverage of football matches involving local teams in Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland national football team, produced and broadcast by BBC Northern Ireland...
.
External links