Former prime minister Sir Tony Blair was eager on an concept to relocate Premier League soccer facet Wimbledon FC to Belfast within the late 1990s.
Beforehand confidential state papers embrace a observe from 1997 described as “following up earlier casual discussions about the potential of an English Premier League soccer membership relocating to Belfast”.
It was described as one thing that will be a “important breakthrough if Belfast had a soccer group enjoying within the English Premier League”, and “ought to have the ability to construct up sturdy cross-community help and supply a optimistic unifying power in a divided metropolis”.
It was additionally mooted that it could include a principally personal sector-funded trendy 40,000-seater sports activities stadium, and probably an academy for sport, positioned on Queen’s Island in east Belfast or the North Foreshore web site within the north of town.
The observe instructed that Wimbledon FC would bear a reputation change to Belfast United.
It was leaked to the Belfast Telegraph which then printed a narrative reporting that Secretary of State Mo Mowlam was throwing her weight behind the concept, to deliver new funding to Northern Eire and increase its picture on the worldwide stage.
Nevertheless the article additionally famous that native soccer bosses in Northern Eire had been involved it might “kill off the sport in Northern Eire”.
In addition to Ms Mowlam, Downing Avenue additionally took an curiosity within the proposal, with a observe by then-chief press secretary Alistair Campbell urging that Wimbledon proprietor Sam Hamman “had explored the potential of transferring Wimbledon to Dublin, however this appears to have come to naught”.
He added that Mr Hamman had seen media reviews of Northern Eire’s curiosity, and “was eager to know whether or not this was severe, or hypothesis, main nowhere”.
A memo dated July 16, 1998 – simply months after the Belfast/Good Friday Settlement was signed – indicated Mr Blair was eager on the concept.
It recorded Mr Blair’s view was that “it could be wonderful if Wimbledon had been to maneuver to Belfast and we should always encourage this as a lot as attainable”.
Nevertheless one other observe, dated August 17, 1998, described the matter as being at a “delicate stage”, recording that the Irish soccer authorities “proceed to withstand the concept strongly”.
It mentioned that the three native newspapers have welcomed it, and that TV presenter Eamonn Holmes “has been lively in gathering public help”.
“If the Irish soccer authorities are to regulate their place, it should be achieved by native stress, most likely with Authorities remaining within the background,” the observe information, additionally instructed that Mr Hamman is inspired to go to Belfast “so as to assess the seriousness of his curiosity”.
A letter to Ms Mowlam in April 1999 by a member of the Deliver Premier League Soccer to Northern Eire, detailed discussions with then-UK Sports activities Minister Lord Dubs and Mr Hamman, however famous persevering with opposition by the soccer authorities in Northern Eire.
They wrote that “troublesome, intense, open, sincere debate, dialogue and negotiation is required”, however mentioned the prize is “certainly nice and probably magnificent. A scenario just like the peace course of”.
The thought will not be talked about once more within the file after which consideration shifted to proposals to construct a brand new nationwide stadium for Northern Eire for the millennium.
Wimbledon FC remained in England, and relocated to Milton Keynes in 2002.