Tournament set to grow women's football

This year’s European Women’s Under-19 Championship final round will provide a great opportunity to drive women’s football forward in Northern Ireland, according to the tournament director, Sara Booth.

Eight national teams, including hosts Northern Ireland, will participate in the tournament from 8 to 20 August. The qualifiers are already under way, with elite rounds being staged in April and June to determine the finalists.

In Sara’s words: “This is the single biggest opportunity for the Irish Football Association to grow women’s football. By putting our country on the world stage and hosting this event, we hope to inspire a new generation of girls, and boys, to dream of wearing the Northern Ireland jersey."

"Not only do we want more young people taking up the sport, but we want to encourage more administrators, coaches, referees, officials and volunteers to get involved at their local girls’ and boys’ clubs as a consequence of this tournament.”

A local organising committee has been set up to deliver the event, and more than 30 members of the Irish FA have been involved in some capacity to date – the first time in the history of the association that so much support has been mobilised for a women’s football event.

Comprehensive marketing and digital media plans are already in place, while a legacy and participation plan is being developed.

This article originally appeared in UEFA Direct No165