IRISH FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION

The Irish Football Association (IFA) is the fourth oldest in the world - after England, Scotland and Wales - being founded at a meeting in the Queens Hotel, Belfast, in 1880.

The national Challenge Cup competition was established at the same meeting, with the inaugural tournament won by Moyola Park. The first international was played the following year against England - a heavy defeat of 13-0.

After Ireland's split in 1921, the IFA continued to govern the game in Northern Ireland whilst the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) was formed to govern the game in the Republic of Ireland.

Northern Ireland have qualified for the World Cup Finals, the showpiece on international football, on 3 occasions, advancing to the quarter-finals at their first two appearances in 1958 and 1982.

Recently the side has gone through tougher times, and famously went 1,298 minutes without a goal during a winless streak that lasted from October 2001 to March 2004.

Founded

 18.11.1880

Pro players

 326

Amt players

 16,500

Yth players

 8,500

FIFA  ranking

 116 (Aug 05)

Coach

 Lawrie Sanchez


Lawrie Sanchez

Recent matches v England

Date

Venue

Comp

Score

26 Mar 05

Manchester United

WCQ

4-0

01 Apr 87

Belfast

ECQ

2-0

15 Oct 86

Wembley

ECQ

3-0

13 Nov 85

Wembley

WCQ

0-0

27 Feb 85

Belfast

WCQ

1-0

ECQ = European Championship Qualifier
WCQ = World Cup Qualifier
HC = Home Championship

Star Players

David Healy, 26, is Northern Ireland's record goalscorer with 18 goals in 44 appearances. Having gone through the 1,298 minute spell without a goal it was Healy who scored for Northern Ireland in their 4-1 defeat by Norway, which the fans celebrated like a World Cup Final win. He went on to score another seven international goals in 2004 and moved from Preston to Leeds United in the Championship.

Keith Gillespie, 30, has amassed 63 caps since making his debut for Northern Ireland as a fresh-faced 19-year-old flying down the wing. He came through in the same FA Youth Cup winning Manchester United team as David Beckham, Paul Scholes, and Ryan Giggs, but only made a handful of appearances for the senior team before moving to Newcastle United. There he was a key part of the Magpies side that finished runners-up in the Premiership two years running and made several Champions League appearances. Now plies his trade for Sheffield United.

Legend 

George Best - 'El Beatle', as the Manchester United magician was known in his heyday, was dubbed the greatest footballer in the world by Pele, and for good reason. His agility, balance, speed, deftness of touch and clinical finishing made him a frightening prospect. He was instrumental in bringing the European Cup to Old Trafford in 1968, and also won 2 League Championship medals with United.  

Insider's view

Lawrie Sanchez on being named Northern Ireland Head Coach: "Where some people see the down side I see the opportunities that are available - a new manager can get a goal scored, can get a victory out of his team, can improve the rankings. We can achieve whatever the players want to achieve."

The Colour
NORTHERN IRELAND

Area

 13,576 km2

Population

 1,500,000

Capital

 Belfast

Language

 English
Famous people - Van Morrison (musician), Kenneth Branagh (actor), Alex Higgins (snooker player), C.S.Lewis (author), Seamus Heaney (poet), Eddie Irvine (F1 driver), Liam Neeson (actor),