10 Sep 2009Windsor Park redevelopment plan backed by IFA

Football Technology and Stadia

Plans to upgrade the stadium facilities at Windsor Park have received the backing of the Irish Football Association (IFA).

The IFA's decision to support the redevelopment confirms that plans for a new multi-sport national stadium in Belfast have now fallen by the wayside, with Windsor Park set to remain as the home of the Northern Irish football.

IFA Premiership side Linfield currently own the stadium, which is famed for the intimidating atmosphere that often greets visiting teams, despite having a capacity of just 13,500.

A statement from the IFA said: "The size of the stadium, together with the ownership structure of the stadium and negotiations around the existing contract with Linfield FC were not discussed, but the Association will now begin work on these areas and other key elements of the redevelopment project."

The alternative proposal involved the construction of a multi-purpose sports stadium on the former site of the Maze prison, but that plan was abandoned by the Stormont government earlier this year.

Written by Mark Thompson

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