Northern Ireland v Hungary (29/03/2022)

GETTING OUT AND ABOUT AGAIN

During the lockdowns I really missed getting out and about to supporters’ clubs and meeting people in person. It’s been a busy time for the Amalgamation, and I’d almost forgotten how busy it can be when things are ‘all go’. Since the last senior men’s international against Italy back in November we’ve had the UEFA Nations League draw and our Northern Ireland Fans Embassy recently made a site visit to Pristina to gather information for the Kosovo game in June. We’ve also been supporting our clubs as they begin to restart their own activities and thankfully all our clubs have come through the other side with their numbers pretty much intact. Our numbers have actually grown since the summer with three more clubs affiliating to the AONISC. Worldwide, Lisburn and Tavern (from Belfast) came onboard and we now have almost 60 clubs across Northern Ireland with others in GB and further afield. To try and assist with the restart we’ve been helping them to organise various events. Gerry Armstrong did a mini tour around Cookstown, Antrim, Londonderry and Portadown following the launch of his autobiography. Gerry was also joined by Roy Carroll at Randalstown NISC as they celebrated their 50th anniversary, albeit a year later than planned. Over 100 guests attended and a great night was had by all! We also marked the 50th anniversary of Northern Ireland being forced to begin a lengthy period of playing home fixtures at various stadiums around England. Former Northern Ireland captains and managers Sammy McIlroy and Bryan Hamilton joined us to share their memories of the spell when 18 consecutive matches were played away from Belfast due to The Troubles. Michael Cockcroft, who volunteers as a tour guide at the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park, brought along an array of memorabilia, featuring It’s been great to be able to get back into the swing of things as we slowly but surely return to normal life as the Covid pandemic eases.

programmes, match tickets, newspaper articles and match worn shirts, to the event at Newry Hockey Club (pictured). We also met with the Irish FA to discuss ticket pricing and were pleased that an outcome was reached that we feel will have satisfied most fans, particularly the increased availability of children’s tickets. The are other benefits, too, with the ‘campaign package’ covering a greater number of matches, which means that prices are fixed now, and you’ll also save on booking fees. And it guarantees the IFA revenue for the Euro 2024 qualifiers next year, so we felt it was a fair outcome. We’re currently raising funds to purchase life-saving defibrillators which will be located at suitable points in areas near to the stadium. The initiative follows the sad passing of a fellow fan, Gary Hughes, who collapsed and died while meeting friends before the Italy match. After the incident it emerged that it took an inordinate amount of time to source a defibrillator on the night, hence the need for more of them. We’re currently running a prize draw with some excellent prizes, including signed items and match tickets. You can donate at PayPal/Me.aonisc or alternatively contact us through our social media platforms. GARY McALLISTER AMALGAMAT ION OF OFF ICIAL NORTHERN IRELAND SUPPORTERS’ CLUBS

FOLLOW US AT @WGMac

TheAmalgamation www.aonisc.co.uk

IRISHFA.COM

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