Irish FA chiefs hope to have at least 13,000 supporters in attendance for Northern Ireland’s next World Cup qualifier with Switzerland at Windsor Park on September 8.
That’s the number of spectators permitted to attend next week’s Super Cup between Chelsea and Villarreal at the South Belfast venue which has a capacity of 18,000.
And IFA president Conrad Kirkwood hopes UEFA’s season curtain-raiser provides a workable template for allowing a near bumper crowd into the Swiss game in four weeks time.
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“The Super Cup will be good guidance in terms of where we go, face masks, testing and all other mitigating factors that will be put in place which will help us,” he said.
The last time Northern Ireland had a full house for a home fixture was 630 days ago – a scoreless draw in a Euro 2020 qualifier with the Netherlands in November 2019.
Due to Covid-19 restrictions, six subsequent home games have been played behind closed doors or in front of a heavily reduced capacity at the National Stadium.
Asked what size of attendance he would like to see for the Swiss game on September 8, Kirkwood said: “You’d always like it to be at full capacity so the place is rocking.
“We’ll have 13,000 for the Super Cup, but obviously you’d like more. At the same time, you also have to make it safe, be sensible and have the right measures in place.
“There’s a hope, but this pandemic is all about uncertainty and you don’t know what’s coming down stream, so it would be foolish to say ‘definitely, we’re going to have that’.
“We want to get as many people as possible (inside the stadium) but we also want it to be as safe as possible. We have a responsibility for that.
“The thing that’s crucial to us is to work very closely with the government, both central and local, to get the best outcome we can.”
Kirkwood believes having the Green and White Army back in full voice at Windsor Park would represent a “massive boost” for Ian Baraclough and his players.
New Irish FA President Conrad Kirkwood
(Image: IRISH FA)
Northern Ireland have yet to celebrate a win – four defeats and two draws – in Belfast under the new manager who succeeded Michael O’Neill last summer.
And there’s no doubt the loss of Windsor’s famous atmosphere has contributed to the national team’s recent lack of momentum and wins on home soil.
“There is a symbiotic relationship between the players and fans and they both feed off each other, so it would be a big boost for everybody,” said Kirkwood.
“Even in terms of mental health. We’re all missing the games and attending the games. I think it would be a massive boost to be honest.”
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