On Sunday 1st October, Irish FA Tours welcomed a group from the A.C.T (Action for Community Transformation) to the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park for a fully guided tour of the stadium.
The group first explored our Education and Heritage Centre at the stadium, learning about the history and formation of the Irish Football Association back in 1880. The group also discovered some lesser-known stories such as how the penalty kick was invented in County Armagh in 1890, and the man from Dublin who saved FC Barcelona from bankruptcy in the 1930’s, Patrick O’Connell.
After this, the group enjoyed a fully guided tour of the stadium –accessing behind the scenes areas such as the Northern Ireland dressing room and dugout area. Here they were able to learn about the history of the ground where international football matches have been played since 1910. The group were then able to enjoy some light refreshments afterwards in our Education and Heritage Centre lobby.
Over the coming months, the Irish FA will be working alongside Microform Ltd. as a NSHD gold sponsor awardee, to explore options on how to digitise some of the historic items within our memorabilia collection. With a particular focus on Northern Ireland’s momentous victory in the last ever British Home Championship competition in 1984, which we are preparing to celebrate the 40th anniversary of next year.
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