The 143rd annual general meeting of the Irish Football Association was held in County Fermanagh.
Irish FA President Conrad Kirkwood conducted proceedings at The Killyhevlin Hotel in Enniskillen.
The AGM was attended by delegates from member clubs of the association from across Northern Ireland along with members of the Irish FA Board and Senior Leadership Team.
Irish FA Chief Executive Patrick Nelson said one of the highlights of 2023 was the successful UK & Ireland Bid to host UEFA Euro 2028. He said he hoped staging the tournament on these shores would bring long-term benefits to all five countries involved.
The Chief Executive said the financial result of the association over the 12-month period was pleasing.
He explained that each year the association sets out to break even and to reinvest all income back into football in Northern Ireland - and he was delighted to report that the association was able to deliver on the break-even ambition in 2023.
On the international front, the Chief Executive said results for the senior men’s team were at best mixed over the 12-month period, however he noted the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifiers had finished on a high with a 2-0 victory over Denmark. He added that 2024 will be all about performances in the UEFA Nations League.
He welcomed the appointments of Tanya Oxtoby as senior women’s team manager, Tommy Wright as Under-21 men’s team boss, Gareth McAuley as men’s U19 manager, Gail Redmond as boss of the women’s U19 and U17 teams and Danielle McDowell Tuffey as girls’ elite youth academy manager.
It was revealed some course corrections had helped to reset the association’s compass for the remaining period of the current corporate strategy, A Roadmap for Football, which runs until 2027. He stressed having a “vibrant and living strategy” was important for the association.
The Chief Executive applauded the launch of the association’s first Sustainability Strategy and said he believed its commitments in sustainability will be solid and long-lasting.
The meeting also saw addresses from members of the global football family. Gianni Manca, MA Regional Manager for FIFA, stressed the importance of its member associations to have a strong governing body and looked forward to assisting the organisation with the development of its national training centre. In addition Luca Nicola, Head of National Associations Governance and Global Institutions for UEFA, said it was looking forward to Belfast being ready to host games at UEFA Euro 2028.
Irish FA Finance Director Niall McClean revealed the economic climate in 2023 continued to be challenging with high levels of inflation creating significant pressure on costs.
Across the three entities that make up the Irish FA, the organisation achieved its budgeted target for a break-even trading result for the year ended 31 December 2023 (2022: loss of £0.5m).
He explained the result was reached by growing overall revenue to £21.4m (2022: £19.7m), largely due to a greater number of home games played by the senior men’s team, increased broadcast revenues and higher funding from FIFA and UEFA. Costs grew to £21.4m (2022: £20.3m), mainly because of higher costs due to more football activity and inflationary pressures.
He gave an overview of the main income and expenditure categories for the association.
He noted that in addition to the break-even trading result, the association benefited from the recovery in the international investment markets and favourable foreign exchange movements.
The Finance Director explained that overall the association achieved a break even trading position.
There was one proposed amendment to the Football Regulations and it was carried. It was agreed the Intermediate Cup Committee should consist of seven members nominated from the Irish FA Council or an appropriate league to ensure all competing leagues in the competition are represented on the committee.
At the meeting members approved the association’s annual report and financial statements, the Irish FA Foundation’s annual report and financial statements plus the IFA Stadium Development Company’s annual report and financial statements.
The AGM was followed by a meeting of the Irish FA Council at which Conrad Kirkwood was re-elected as Irish FA President and Neil Jardine and Colin McKendry as First Deputy President and Second Deputy President respectively.
"I am honoured and privileged to be elected to serve in a fourth year as President," said Kirkwood. “I look forward to promoting the work of the Irish FA at home and abroad for another year.
“My thanks goes to the football family for their support in what was a difficult year personally and I am keen to help improve people's lives through the power of football."
