Northern Ireland begin seven-month full-time training camp before Women’s Euros

Twenty-two Northern Ireland-based players are entering the programme at Newforge Sports Complex.

Members of Kenny Shiels’ squad who play professionally in England and Scotland will remain with their clubs to train, apart from during international windows.

Northern Ireland Women will be competing at a major tournament finals for the first time at the England-hosted Euros, which start on July 6.

Shiels’ side are set to face Norway at Southampton’s St Mary’s Stadium in their Euros opener on July 7, before further Group C games at the same venue against Austria and then England.

Their next competitive fixtures are World Cup qualifiers against the latter two teams in April, and either side of that double-header they are expected to play friendlies in February and June.

Shiels said in a statement from the Irish Football Association: “2022 will be a pivotal year for my squad and backroom team.

“Having a permanent base at Newforge will help us collectively to maximise our potential in readiness for World Cup qualifiers and, of course, competing at the Euros in England.

“It will take at least six weeks until our programme begins to show effect. It’s certainly a great feeling to be part of it. Some girls will adjust quicker than others. Newforge is a fantastic setting for the girls to progress.”

Irish FA chief executive Patrick Nelson said: “We will do everything we can to prepare the squad for this fantastic occasion.

“It has been a huge undertaking to put such an operation together over the last few months. We are, of course, used to short term international training get-togethers, but never before have we run a seven-month camp with the financial, operational, technical, welfare and medical support such a project demands.”

Angela Platt, the Irish FA’s director of women’s football, said: “Up to now many of our players have balanced studying or employment, or both, with training commitments to prepare to compete at the highest level in our sport.

“Competing with the best requires a level of commitment that makes full-time employment virtually impossible. With this programme now in place it will enable our squad to fully focus on being elite athletes and give us the best chance of success in Southampton later this year.

“To the employers, education organisations and clubs we say a big thank you for their support in releasing players from their current commitments to be part of this exciting and innovative programme.”

--

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper whenever you are able to do so.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world.

But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper when you can safely.

You can also enjoy unlimited access to the best news from across Northern Ireland and the UK by subscribing to newsletter.co.uk

With a digital subscription, you can read more than five articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.newsletter.co.uk/subscriptions now to sign up.

Thank you