Northern Ireland Football Manager, Nigel Worthington met with Poul Woodall, Route Director of Norfolkline Irish Sea, at the IFA’s historic Windsor Avenue premises, to seal the deal on the new partnership between the ferry operator and the IFA.

Norfolkline will be partnering the IFA in their delivery of the Norfolkline Excellence Programme at each of the six County Excellence Centres. The passenger ferry company, operating routes between Belfast and Dublin to Liverpool will be supporting the grassroots programme, designed by the IFA to develop the best young football talent in Northern Ireland.

Poul Woodall, Route Director at Norfolkline Irish Sea commented: "Norfolkline are delighted to work with the IFA in this venture to develop young local talent. Norfolkline as part of the A.P. Moller Maersk Group strives to nurture young talent within the company, it seems poignant that we support it at a grassroots level also. The IFA is an emerging dynamic brand and we are excited about the opportunities that this partnership can bring to Norfolkline."

The IFA’s Performance Manager, Nigel Best added: "I am delighted that Norfolkline have agreed to sponsor the Excellence Programme. This is the third year of the IFA’s Excellence Programme for the best of the Province’s young players. It is vital that we continue to invest in the development of our young talent, but in order to sustain such a commitment the IFA is reliant on partnerships such as this with a prestigious company like Norfolkline."

The Norfolkline Excellence Centres will operate from September to December and February to May. Over 780 boys and girls from under 11 through to under 15 age groups will benefit from the Norfolkline Excellence Centres.

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