Every player who has represented the Ireland Women’s National Senior Football Team will be invited to the Aviva Stadium for the UEFA Nations League opener against Northern Ireland on Saturday, September 23.
This will be the first time the current side has played in the stadium and the hope is that there will be a substantial crowd off the back of the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Attendances are rising sharply across the Women’s game in England and Europe while over 80,000 will be present for Sunday’s World Cup Final between Spain and England.
England have defeated Nigeria and Australia that emerged from Ireland’s group at the Finals along the way to Sunday’s Final.
As part of the 50-year anniversary celebrations of the Women’s National Team, the FAI will honour every player to have featured for the Women’s Senior Team since 1973 through to the current day.
All the players who featured for the senior team in an official game will also receive a one-off commemorative cap that will feature a unique 50-Year crest.
This will account for perhaps 1,000 tickets but it is a big stadium and there will be much work going on with clubs, schools and juvenile teams to get them along.
A 1 PM kick off on the day will help in terms of the ability of teams travelling from outside of Dublin. All the record setting qualifier games up to this point have been evening kick-offs at Tallaght Stadium.
It will cut across many who double up playing other sports who will face a choice but the hope has to be that the historic nature of the game will hold some sway.
Camogie and Ladies Football have attracted crowds of 30,000 and 45,000, heavily skewed towards a younger demographic, for All Ireland Finals Days at Croke Park over the last two weeks. Some of the tips and tactics they used to draw those crowds could, should and will be used for the Aviva match as well.
