New strategy for women's and girls' football launched by IFA

Infrastructure, accessibility and player pathways are some of the key areas targeted in the Irish FA's new five-year strategy for women's and girl's football in Northern Ireland.

Angela Platt, director of women's football in the IFA, said the the new strategy will provide the "blueprint" for the sport going forward.

The association said the new strategy took 15 months to complete and consists of "five key pillars".

Platt said the previous five-year strategy "built a really strong foundation" and the new plan will look to continue that progress.

"Across those five pillars we have a clear direction in terms of the key areas we want to work on," she said.

Platt said the IFA will work with the the Northern Ireland Football League (NIFL) and Northern Ireland Women's Football Association (NIWFA) to continue to grow the domestic leagues, and they will "invest our resources collectively".

She said that there is a "real focal point" to strengthen the infrastructure of clubs in Northern Ireland to improve the competitiveness in the domestic leagues.

In Northern Ireland's squad for the Euro 2022 finals, 13 players played their football in the Women's Premiership in Northern Ireland.

That number had dropped to just six for February's Nations League games , with the majority of Tanya Oxtoby's squad now plying their trade in England or Scotland.

When asked if she sees the Women's Premiership becoming more of a development league to set players up for a move across the water, she said the IFA was working with NIFL and NIWFA to "review the women's football pyramid".

"That is one of the priorities this year that we are really focusing on," she added.

"I think it's important to say that those players who are in a higher performance environment, it's good for them in terms of us making sure those players are exposed to higher levels of competitions.

"That's not to say we can't improve the competitiveness here and there is a competitive opportunity here to make sure that we strengthen that."

Platt said participation numbers had increased off the back of Euro 2022 and there were now 11,441 players registered, compared to just 1600 in 2018.

She added there is a "wealth of talent" coming through and highlighted 16-year-old goalkeeper Abbie Smith, who signed a two-year scholarship deal with Manchester City, and also said the newly-announced National Training Centre was "pivotal".

"There is a wealth of talent coming through the system and it's really important for us to invest our time and energy to support their competitiveness too.

"The more opportunities that players can get to play at the highest level that's suitable to them, I think that is really important."

Platt also said that increasing attendances, both in the domestic leagues and for Northern Ireland's senior team, was a "key priority".

Northern Ireland made history in 2022 by qualifying for the European Championships - their first women's major tournament.

Platt said she was happy with the progress of the senior women's team under Tanya Oxtoby, despite missing out on a spot at the Euro 2025 finals after a play-off defeat by European giants Norway.

She added the Euro 2022 finals were a "pinch me" moments and "it's something we don't want to be a one off".

"It's an aspiration for us to be back at the top table in the future.

"We came so close in our last qualifying campaign and it's no shame in losing to a team like Norway who were ranked significantly higher than us.

"The very fact we got to that play-off is success in itself and we learn form that, and I know Tanya, her staff and the players will leave no stone unturned for the next qualifying campaign to give us a chance to be at the top table again."

Platt added that Oxtoby, who was previously Emma Hayes' assistant manager at WSL giants Chelsea, has a "wealth of experience" and she has enjoyed working with the Australian.

Oxtoby was appointed as Northern Ireland manager in July 2023 after Kenny Shiels left his role that January.

"The level of professionalism, dedication and a level of detail that we probably haven't experienced before," Platt said on Oxtoby.

"Our players have really bought into that. The culture and performance environment really has made a difference.

"I'm really excited to see the progress they are making and I'm pleased with the progress they are making."