About the AIPF
The Association of Irish Powerchair Football is the governing body of powerchair football on the island of Ireland. We run the league and cup competitions, prepare the international squad, and help new clubs get started.
Where we came from
Powerchair football was played informally in Ireland long before it had a structure behind it. The turning point came when the FAI’s Football For All programme, Muscular Dystrophy Ireland and a number of Local Sports Partnerships came together to put an association in place.
The AIPF was formed in 2009, bringing a formal league, club teams and an annual cup competition. In those early seasons players competed in their everyday chairs. Purpose-built sports chairs arrived later, and the game changed considerably once they did.
Ireland joined FIPFA, the international federation, in 2010, and travelled to its first World Cup in Paris in 2011. The association has competed internationally ever since.
Affiliations
- FIPFA, the international federation, since 2010
- EPFA, the European zone
- The FAI, through Football For All
- The Irish FA
Who runs the association
The AIPF is governed by a voluntary board of directors, supported by club representatives across the island.
Julie Nicholson
Chairperson
Donal Byrne
Secretary
Governance and policy
The AIPF is a registered non-profit. Safeguarding is central to how the association operates: powerchair football is played by children and by adults at risk, and all clubs are expected to meet national safeguarding standards.
Our brand policy governs how the AIPF logo may be used by clubs, members and partners. Requests for use outside those terms go to secretary@aipf.ie.