SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan has said that construction work must begin at Casement Park as soon as possible.
He was speaking after Turkey dropped out of bidding to host Euro 2028, leaving Britain and Ireland as the sole contenders to host the tournament. Casement Park has been designated as one of the host stadiums for the tournament.
Said the Foyle MLA: “It’s great news that the Euro Championships 2028 will be hosted on these islands.
“This will provide a huge boost for soccer, for sport and the wider economy.
“I was one of the first to raise the strategic importance of the Casement Park project in terms of the North’s ability to play a part in hosting international tournaments.
“Focus must now be on getting it built so that we can realise the benefits of hosting a tournament of such prestige.
“But those benefits should not be exclusive to Belfast or Casement Park- we need to see significant spin-off investment in grass roots soccer and in local clubs.
“Derry has the potential to be the base for a competing country and the thousands of fans that will flock here to follow them but we need to have first lass facilities to maximise our chances.
“A key aspect of this investment should be progress on the Subregional Stadia Fund, which was promised seven years ago but has been held up by lack of ministers and lack of interest from ministers over that seven-year period.
“We will be pushing for it to kickstart the completion of the Brandywell. Community-based clubs also need to reap the benefits, allowing them to build on the great work they already do with so many children and adults across these islands.”
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