At a special reception held this evening in Hillsborough Castle, Minister Campbell acknowledged the achievements of footballers over the last half century and welcomed the special guest of honour, Harry Gregg MBE.
He said: “Since 1958, football has brought much joy and excitement into Northern Ireland. We have produced some of the finest players in the world, our team is well up the international league table, and, of course, our fans are rivalled by none.
“Football in Northern Ireland has had its ups and downs, but over the last few years, we have been punching well above our weight and we should be proud of what our team has achieved.”
The Minister continued: “In particular, I am happy to mark the achievements of our special guest, Harry Gregg MBE. Harry is a remarkable man, a true hero and his longstanding career has been exceptional.
“We should also not forget the contribution of those men and woman behind the scenes who help to make it all happen. Volunteers, administrators and fans are vitally important to international football in Northern Ireland and I hope their support and enthusiasm will continue over the next 50 years.”
Referring to the forthcoming launch of the new Sports Strategy, the Minister said: “I am very keen to see people of all ages take part in sport and it is my hope that our top sportsmen and woman can inspire our young people to get involved, to get fit and stay active.
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