The Irish Football Association (IFA), the governing body for football in Northern Ireland, has announced the extension of two key partnerships.
This move strengthens the IFA’s financial standing and collaboration with leading businesses.
Onecom, a leading European business communications provider, has renewed its partnership with the IFA. This extended agreement signifies a fruitful collaboration that began in 2017. Onecom goes beyond simple sponsorship; the business telecoms provider has been actively supported the IFA by:
- Implementing crucial digital upgrades at Windsor Park, the National Football Stadium.
- Serving as the former title sponsor for the Onecom Business League.
Stuart McAlpine, Business Sales Director at Onecom, said, “We are delighted to continue our long-standing partnership with the Irish FA and wish all the association’s teams every success in the coming 2024-25 season. The vision and values of both organisations are very much aligned, and we look forward to working with the Irish FA for many years to come.”
Stephen Garrett, Senior Commercial Manager at the Irish FA, said, “Onecom has been a valued partner of the association for several years and the extension of the partnership agreement between the two organisations is very welcome.”
The IFA has also solidified its partnership with Crowne Plaza Belfast, a prestigious hotel within the Andras Hotels Group. This agreement formalizes an existing relationship where Crowne Plaza Belfast has served as a trusted supplier for the IFA’s coach education and international departments.
Rajesh Rana, Director of Andras Hotels, said, “We are honoured to be supporting the Irish Football Association as an official partner. The work the Irish FA does, from grassroots level and junior level up to the senior teams, is inspirational and we are delighted to be able to play a small part in this work. Our hotel team members really enjoy catering for football and all sports groups, and have a strong relationship with the Irish FA which we value immensely.”
Stephen Bogle, Head of Commercial Operations at the Irish FA, said, “We have had a great relationship with Belfast Crowne Plaza, and Andras Hotels, for several years and this agreement will strengthen that relationship further.”
These partnership renewals follow the recent multi-year deal secured with Chase, a subsidiary of JP Morgan, as the official banking partner. These strategic alliances provide the IFA with a strong financial foundation and valuable connections within the business community. This will undoubtedly contribute to the continued growth and success of the association.
As a European telecom company catering specifically to businesses, Onecom offers a comprehensive suite of services. This includes business mobile plans, high-speed broadband internet, and cloud-based communication tools.
Andras Hotels Group, established in Belfast in 1981, has a large portfolio of properties, including the four-star Crowne Plaza Belfast, the four-star Holiday Inn in Belfast city centre, the three-star Holiday Inn Express in Belfast, Ibis hotels in Belfast city centre and Belfast’s Queen’s Quarter, Hampton by Hilton in Belfast plus serviced apartments in Belfast and Portrush.