The Irish Football Association (IFA) has announced a new five-year strategy aimed at improving women’s and girls’ football in Northern Ireland. The strategy focuses on key areas such as infrastructure, accessibility, and player pathways to ensure sustained growth in the sport.
Angela Platt, the IFA’s Director of Women’s Football, described the new plan as a “blueprint” for the future of the sport. The strategy, which took 15 months to develop, is built on five key pillars:
- Grassroots Football and Everyday Game – Increasing accessibility for women and girls across Northern Ireland.
- Clubs and Competitions – Strengthening club infrastructure and enhancing competitiveness.
- Performance Pathway for Young Players – From youth levels to the senior national team.
- People Development – Recruiting and developing a skilled workforce to support growth.
- Profile and Visibility – Boosting visibility and advocacy for women’s football.
Platt highlighted that the previous five-year plan laid a strong foundation, and this new strategy will continue to build on that success. She emphasized the importance of working alongside the Northern Ireland Football League (NIFL) and the Northern Ireland Women’s Football Association (NIWFA) to improve domestic leagues and ensure better infrastructure for clubs.
The IFA is also focusing on the Women’s Premiership and its role in developing players, with many Northern Ireland players now playing in top leagues in England and Scotland. While the Premiership is seen as a development league, the IFA is reviewing the entire women’s football pyramid to strengthen the competition within Northern Ireland.
Participation in women’s football has surged, with the number of registered players growing from 1,600 in 2018 to 11,441 after Northern Ireland’s historic qualification for Euro 2022. The IFA sees this as a sign of progress, with talent like 16-year-old goalkeeper Abbie Smith, who signed with Manchester City, showing the potential coming through the system. Platt also pointed to the new National Training Centre as a crucial part of this development.
Another focus for the IFA is increasing attendances at domestic matches and for the senior women’s national team. Despite missing out on Euro 2025 qualification after a play-off loss to Norway, Platt remains optimistic about the team’s progress. She praised the leadership of manager Tanya Oxtoby, highlighting her professionalism and the positive culture she has fostered within the team.
“We came close in our last qualifying campaign, and the fact that we made it to the play-off is a success in itself,” said Platt. “We’re excited to see the progress the team is making, and we look forward to competing at the top level again.”
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