Page 15 - Women's Soccer Scene Issue No.25 2021-22

Funding support for NI women’s football
Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey has announced funding of £100,000 for the Irish Football
Association to help promote female sport through football.
The announcement was made ahead of the Northern Ireland senior women’s team playing at
their first major tournament - the European Championship finals - in England this summer.
After meeting with players from the team, the Minister said: “I am delighted that on
International Women’s Day I can announce financial support for women’s football.
“This will help to ensure that initiatives are undertaken that will encourage young girls, the
disabled and those from socially deprived areas to get involved in sport.
“The initiatives will provide access to players, coaching sessions and to games, all of which are
recognised as important when it comes to encouraging those from under-represented groups to get
active and to take up a sport, regardless of their ability.”
The Minister said she was keen to ensure there is a lasting legacy from the Northern Ireland
senior women’s team’s “fantastic achievement” in reaching UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 and
competing against the best teams in Europe in England in July.
“Maximising exposure of women’s sport and the players, who are role models to our young
girls, will help promote participation in the years to come,” she added.
Angela Platt, Director of Women’s Football at the Irish FA, said: “On behalf of the association,
and every young girl, and boy, dreaming of pulling on that famous green jersey, I would like to thank
the Minister for Communities, Deirdre Hargey, and the Department for Communities for their
support.
“We have an important job in encouraging more women and girls into participating in football,
at all levels, right across the country. This funding will help us amplify this by widening out our
ambassador programme of players visiting schools, clubs, grassroots and community settings,
increase our fan engagement levels, plus further building our capacity of volunteers to support the
delivery of programmes for girls’ and women’s football.
“We all know how pivotal 2022 will be for the women’s and girls’ game and this partnership
will help us maximise this real spike of interest in the women’s and girls’ game even further.”
DfC said the funding provided highlights the importance of recognising the progress that has
been made in women’s sport and how success can act as a catalyst and be used to create greater
opportunities for women and girls to get involved in football or other sports.
(irishfa.com)

Tel: (0117) 9694544 Julian Barker
E-Mail: news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk Will Cheshire
Website: Colin Poultney (CollargeImages.co.uk)
www.WomensSoccerScene.co.uk GrifftersWorld Photography
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@wssmagnews Winners of the 2006
FA National Media Award
Editors:
Neil Brown Views expressed in articles in this magazine
Mark Brown are those of the subject and not necessarily
those of Women’s Soccer Scene and its staff.
Contributors:
James Prickett (www.jamesprickett.co.uk) Issue no. 827
Patrick Higgins
Front cover photo: Warminster Town striker Maddie Brown takes control of the ball,
closely watched by Chipping Sodbury Town defender Tianna Bishop.
Issue no. 25 - 10 March 2022 news@womenssoccerscene.co.uk