NIFL Driving Meaningful Change Alongside Women in Football

The Northern Ireland Football League (NIFL), in partnership with Women in Football (WIF), hosted a landmark event at Stormont to promote greater female representation in football leadership. The initiative highlights record growth in the women’s game, while committing to improving off-pitch representation and launching new leadership opportunities in Northern Ireland.

Landmark Event at Stormont Champions Female Leadership

In partnership with Women in Football, the Northern Ireland Football League hosted a landmark leadership event at Parliament Buildings on Thursday evening.

The event brought together female leaders from across football and the wider business community, with a clear focus on championing greater female representation in the sport, particularly in leadership and administrative roles.

The evening highlighted NIFL’s current landscape and future ambitions to celebrate, support, and attract women into football at all levels, while addressing long-standing barriers to participation behind the scenes.

From Conversation to Action

While many organisations speak about the need for change, NIFL and Women in Football are actively delivering it.

Despite growing professionalism in the women’s game in Northern Ireland — including female officials refereeing men’s Sports Direct Premiership matches and record-breaking attendances — female representation in off-pitch roles remains disproportionately low.

NIFL Chief Executive Gerard Lawlor addressed this challenge directly.

“We have many exceptionally talented women in this country. Yet we have had to explore, question, and challenge ourselves as to why the female community does not yet see football administration as a space for them.”

He added that the event marked the beginning of a longer journey.

“If you’ve ever wondered whether there is a place for you in football leadership, there is. Let’s reshape the future.”

High-Profile Voices Shaping the Game

The evening featured a fireside chat with Bangor native Katie Nixon, Head of Public Affairs at the Premier League.

This was followed by an inspiring panel discussion hosted by Hayley McQueen.

The panel included:

• Maggie Murphy, Managing Director, Aston Villa Women
• Nuria Tarré, Chief Marketing Officer, City Football Group
• Yvonne Harrison, CEO, Women in Football
• Regan McFarland, Partnerships and Sales Manager, NIFL

Discussions explored leadership, innovation, and inclusion, with insights into how meaningful change can be driven across both sport and business.

Commitment to Long-Term Impact

Women in Football CEO Yvonne Harrison praised the partnership and its ambition.

“Together with Gerard and the league’s stakeholders, we look forward to growing our presence and impact in Northern Ireland and supporting women here into the future.”

The partnership also brings new career opportunities, including the launch of the Women in Football Leadership Course in Belfast in 2026, aimed at equipping women with the skills, confidence, and networks needed to succeed in football leadership roles.

Record-Breaking Season for Women’s Football

On the Pitch

The 2025 women’s season delivered historic milestones, with new league and cup attendance records across NIFL competitions.

The VBET Women’s League Cup Final attracted the highest crowd ever recorded for a women’s match in NIFL history.

Digital Growth

Beyond matchdays, digital engagement reached unprecedented levels:

• Over 21 million video views across Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok
• More than 4,500 new followers gained during the season
• Over 212,000 post reactions, highlighting strong audience growth and engagement

Attention now turns to the upcoming Sports Direct NIFL Women’s season, kicking off in May, with the BOYLE Sports League Cup beginning in April. Fixtures are expected to be released soon.