From Windsor Park to Casement Park – Michael O’Neill hopes to see ‘the best of Northern Ireland in a home tournament’ but some supporters remain sceptical about stadium plan

Casement Park and Michael O'Neill

Casement Park and Michael O'Neill Credit: Macdara Ferris and Michael P Ryan (top right)

Macdara Ferris reports from Belfast

The near capacity 17,866 crowd came to the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park on Saturday and saw their team brush by San Marino 3-0 with ease in their Group H European Championship qualifier.

Qualification for EURO 2024 may be beyond Northern Ireland as they only have six points from seven games but the tournament to follow has been on most supporters minds this week.

The aim is that their team will take part in that event as one of five hosts, playing matches in a venue just a ten minute drive from Windsor Park but not all fans are happy about that.

The Amalgamation of Official Northern Ireland Supporters Clubs (AONISC) this week have questioned the Irish Football Association about the legacy for local football with the matches due to take place in a redeveloped GAA ground.

During Saturday’s game chants of ‘you can shove your Casement Park up your hole’ could be heard.

extratime.com asked manager Michael O’Neill after the game about the tournament that was announcement this week.

“I think it would be a massive boost for football in Northern Ireland,” said O’Neill.

“The Northern Ireland fans who went to France (for EURO 2016), along with the Republic of Ireland fans, were rewarded for how they behaved and what they brought to the tournament so imagine what they could bring in their own country as well.

“I just think it would be a huge boost to get games here and we would see the best of Northern Ireland if we were able to play in a home tournament.



“I think the bid was always going to be strong,” said O’Neill. “I thought we'd be favourites for it and that has proven to be the case. Look we have to be part of a joined up process to be part of it.”

Casement Park

With the 18,000+ capacity of Windsor Park deemed too small for the Euros, the plan is to play the games in Northern Ireland at Casement Park which is a short trip from Windsor Park down Boucher Road, across the M1 and into West Belfast to Andersonstown Road.

The stadium is marked by four massive floodlights and you can walk in through the gates by the mural of Roger Casement (which includes a quote from the man hung for treason in 1916 saying “Death is not dark but only deeper blue”).

The main stand still houses the Antrim GAA Casement Social Club but looking through the adjacent gate at the turnstyles, the terraces and pitch both with weeds and overgrown grass make it hard to envisage the planned 34,500 modern stadium for this location.

Political football



There are undoubtably hurdles to overcome if Northern Ireland are to play games at the Euros in a redeveloped Casement Park.

There is the issue that all five hosts will have to go through qualification for the tournament - with talk of two spots being set aside for those teams who don’t get there under their own steam.

But there are also political issues. 

Rather than develop a major stadium to cater together for football, rugby and GAA, money was set aside previously for each sporting organisation.

While Ravenhill and Windsor Park were redeveloped, Casement Park got bogged down in planning and political issues.

This week DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson questioned “if you have money for Casement Park, why haven't you got money for the health service?”

Speaking about Stormont financially supporting the redevelopment he said: “We have been very clear, the funding that was set aside for regional stadia in Northern Ireland, that was Windsor Park for football, Ravenhill for Ulster Rugby and Casement for GAA, that was done on an equitable basis.

"We will not be withdrawing from that principle. (However) we are very clear, the (Stormont) Executive doesn’t have the additional money that is required for this stadium.

"It is massive the amount of extra money that is now required, over and above what was set aside by the Executive.”

In the AONISC letter to the Irish FA from the fans group asked about what exploration has there been made on the ‘the National Football Stadium, Windsor Park’ and ‘what consideration has been given to the logistical and safety issues that may arise given the divided nature of Northern Ireland society?’

In the match programme on Saturday, Patrick Nelson the IFA Chief Executive noted that “I understand that many of our supporters would prefer the tournament in a traditional football stadium, however this would not be possible…as the capacity of our own stadium falls well short of the threshold for it to be considered as a tournament host.”

Conrad Kirkwood in his IFA President’s welcome notes in the programme said: “There will be tests ahead and we will try to treat all views with respect. We have an opportunity to rise above divisions and to demonstrate the power of football.

“I hope to maintain open and clear dialogue with all stakeholder as we move forward with our plans.”

Fantastic football

O’Neill said that “It’s fantastic that the UK and Ireland bid to host Euro 2028 has been successful and playing in that tournament is a realistic goal for us.”

To attain that goal Northern Ireland football will have to thread a successful journey dealing with difficulties on the pitch and in the political arena.

About Macdara Ferris

Macdara Ferris is a contributor since 2007 to Hoops Scene (Shamrock Rovers' match day programme) and is the co-author of two books on Shamrock Rovers - 'Tallaght Time: Shamrock Rovers 2009 to 2012' (with Karl … View Full Profile