Football for All
Founded in 1880, the Irish Football Association (IFA) is the fourth oldest football governing body in the world. The IFA plays an important role in the development of association football through the work of the International Football Association Board, the world rule making body of football, of which the IFA is a constituent member.
Since 1998 the IFA has worked in partnership with the Northern Ireland Community Relations Council, Sports Council Northern Ireland and Amalgamation of Official Northern Ireland Supporters Clubs to tackle the problems of sectarianism in football, with assistance from the EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation.
FOOTBALL FOR ALL STAFF
Michael Boyd is the Head of the Community Relations department and has been employed with the IFA since February 2000. Michael is a Sports Studies graduate from the UniversityofUlster , Jordanstown and has an MSc in Communications, Public Relations and Advertising, also from the UniversityofUlster . He is a keen amateur league player for Sirocco Works and acquired his European A Licence coaching badge in 2000. During his time working on the Football For All programme, Michael has been invited to speak to delegates at UEFA conferences sharing his knowledge and expertise in addressing issues of sectarianism and racism within football and wider society. He has visited the United States of America on three separate occasions as part of the prestigious Community Bridges Programme at Columbia University New York, the prestigious US State Department funded International Visitor Programme and with the Boston College Irish Institute to extend his experience and knowledge and to create invaluable networks within this important field of work. Michael has also been a Team Leader on the Football For Peace project inIsraeland China Culture Kick Tour. In 2008 Michael set up aUKandIrelandwide Football Without Frontiers Network to share learning tackling the issues of racism and sectarianism in Football. Michael is currently working on a PHD Doctorate looking at the role of sport being used as a hook to promote Good Relations.
Colleen Macauley is the Community Relations Officer. A graduate of Queen's University and the UniversityofUlster , Jordanstown, Colleen has a BA (Hons) in Information Management and an MSc in Management, specialising in marketing. Colleen was previously employed with Ballymoney Community Safety Partnership and Newtownabbey 's Local Strategy Partnership. Colleen has a broad experience of working with interagency partnerships, local youth groups, sports clubs and community groups in the development of cross community football initiatives, fundraising, community relations work, action plan and strategy development.
Louise Eakin is the departments post graduate placement student responsible for Communication, Advertising and Public Relations. This mirrors Louise’s academic pathway where she is currently studying for her Masters degree in the same subject area. Louise is no stranger to the IFA offices. After graduating from a BSc Hons in Interactive Multimedia Design, Louise decided to take a year out to gain work experience and was welcomed into the IFA as a temporary receptionist for a short period of time. In March this year Michael and Colleen were organising the Football Without Frontiers “Community Champions” conference and asked Louise to help out, focusing on presentation design. She did such a great job she was invited back in June to help the IFA Community Relations Department with their highly successful Football For All Awards Night, recognising and rewarding Volunteers who use the sport of football to make a meaningful difference in the community.
FOOTBALL FOR ALL ETHOS
The IFA's Community Relations Policy statement is:
"The IFA respects and values diversity. We endeavour to provide an environment which values and enables the full involvement of all people, in all aspects and at every level of Northern Ireland football, regardless of perceived cultural identity, political affiliation or religious beliefs. We believe in the philosophy of Football For All".
The IFA has always endeavoured to promote Football For All and condemns all things sectarian. We pride ourselves with the fact that all Northern Ireland International Football teams have always represented our community fairly. Our Mini-Soccer, Football Development Centres, County Coaching Programmes, Women's Football and Disability Development Programmes have always been cross community, promoting Football For All. The appointment of the IFA's first Community Relations Officer in 1998 was another forward step in a long process, which will ultimately result in the provision of football in an environment where everyone feels safe and included.
FOOTBALL FOR ALL
The IFA's Community Relations Programme is a long term project concerned with promoting Football For All. The main objective of the IFA's Football For All campaign is to make sure is that the sport of football is welcoming and inclusive to all members of our society in Northern Ireland.
The IFA’s Football For All Community Relations Department recently secured a grant of approximately half a million pounds from the Special EU Programmes Body from the European Union’s Programme for Peace and Reconciliation - PEACE III, under Priority One, Reconciling Communities, Theme 1.2, Acknowledging and Dealing with the Past, Strand Three, Securing the Future.
In addition the IFA’s Community Relation’s Football For All campaign has won international recognition for tackling the issue of sectarianism atNorthern Ireland international games from the IOC, EU and UEFA endorsed Brussels International Supporters Award’s Body, the Metro Éireann Media and Multi-Cultural Awards and Sports Business ISEM Awards.
The IFA’s Football For All campaign is currently supported by Border Action and the NI Community Relations Council.
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