As you probably know, we love watching live sports. So, when we heard about Northern Ireland Women vs Iceland in Ballymena, we couldn’t resist getting tickets and heading off to cheer Northern Ireland Women on. Most of their internationals are usually played around Belfast, but with this one being in Ballymena, it felt like the perfect excuse for a mini family adventure.
Getting There
For just £24, we purchased a Translink Friends and Family Day Ticket that covered our journey all the way from Groomsport to Ballymena by bus and train, such good value for a full day of travel! From Ballymena train station it should have been a 20-minute walk to the ground, but it took us slightly longer as we stopped for a burger on the way.
Matchday
We’d bought our match tickets in advance – £28 for 2 adults and 1 child – and had seats in the main stand, giving us a great view of the action. The concourse was buzzing, with lots of activities for kids, though Megan’s probably a bit old for the face-painting and games now.
The queues for coffee and food were very long, I have found this at all Northern Ireland Women’s games, so if you’re going, maybe grab something on the way instead.
Walking into the concourse I realised we didn’t bring any cash and I wanted a programme, but they were giving them out for FREE, which I thought was brilliant. We have tons of programmes from all the games we have been to.
The Game
Iceland were a different level to Northern Ireland and controlled the game from start to finish and won 2–0. To be fair, it could easily have been more.
However, the highlight for us came near the end when Mia Moore, a girl from Bangor, made her international debut! Megan couldn’t believe it – Mia actually went to her primary school, just a few years above her. She actually had a great opportunity to score, but the defender just nicked the ball from her. (I’m sure she saw her name in lights!).
Despite it being freezing cold it was still such a fun evening. We loved watching the younger kids line up along the front of the stand after the final whistle, hoping for an autograph or even a shirt, Megan used to love doing this and it still brings a smile to my face.
Family Verdict
Best bit: Seeing Mia Moore from Bangor make her debut – such a proud local moment!
Worst bit: The cold! Definitely wrap up warm if you’re going to a winter match.
Food/drink tip: Grab something to eat/drinks before you get to the ground – the queues were long and options limited.
Value for money: Excellent. £24 for travel and £28 for match tickets made for a brilliant, affordable family night out.
Would we go again? Absolutely! The atmosphere at women’s games is so friendly and relaxed, perfect for families, even if you’re not massive football fans.
Thanks for reading about our experience watching Northern Ireland Women vs Iceland in Ballymena. We hope you enjoyed it, and maybe it’ll inspire you to catch a game yourself one day!
The Lewis Family ⚽💚
