NI supporters are best fans in Europe

**soccerc** · 23/08/2006, 1:27 PM

NORTHERN IRELAND international football Fans have been officially crowned the best football Supporters in Europe after winning the prestigious, EU and UEFA endorsed, Brussels International Supporters Award 2006!

IFA Head of Community Relations, Michael Boyd, who nominated the Northern Ireland football Fans was delighted with the result:

�I nominated one fan, called Jim Rainey, on behalf of the Amalgamation of Official Northern Ireland Supporters Clubs (AONISC). Jim represents all that is great about the AONISC and has been at the heart of their extraordinary charity efforts, promotion of good relations both at home and abroad; and he has been instrumental in the Northern Ireland Fan�s Football For All campaign that has brought so many families back to support Northern Ireland in an atmosphere free from sectarianism�.

Jonathon Hill from UEFA stated �The work Jim Rainey and the Northern Ireland Fans carry out to tackle sectarianism embodies the spirit of the award. Their Football For All campaign is a shining example to all Supporters around the world of how Fans can coordinate their efforts to create a more fun, passionate and inclusive atmosphere throughout football�.

A delighted Jim Rainey added, "It's a great honour for me to know that at last the Northern Ireland fans have been recognised by UEFA for the sterling work they do to make supporting Northern Ireland such an experience. We have used the spirit of football to extend the hand of friendship around the globe, whilst never missing the opportunity to help those less fortunate than ourselves.
All of this would not have been possible without the support of the Amalgamation of Official NISCs, the Ourweecountry website/fans' forum and the IFA's Football for All initiative. Together we have improved the atmosphere at Northern Ireland matches, at the same time helping charities at home and abroad to the tune of �82,000 over the last five years."