11/09/2025
Twenty Clubs To Benefit From NI Football Fund Named
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has announced the first 20 clubs to be taken forward under the Northern Ireland Football Fund Performance Programme.
The clubs will now proceed to the next stage of funding assessment, with the available budget of £36.2 million.
Speaking at a live-streamed event, the Minister said the clubs, both "big and small," from across Northern Ireland have "impressed with their plans to improve facilities." He noted that the demand for funding "exceeds the current available budget" and said he would be seeking "fair and equitable funding" that is due after years of delays.
The 20 applications to progress to the next stage, in alphabetical order under each tier of the programme, are:
• Tier 1 (project value under £1.5 million): Armagh City, Ballymacash Sports Academy, Lisburn Distillery, Queen’s University, Rathfriland Rangers.
• Tier 2 (project value £1.5 million to £6 million): Ballinamallard United, Ballymena United, Banbridge Town, Bangor, Carrick Rangers, Dergview, Dungannon Swifts, Glenavon, Larne, Lisburn Rangers, Loughgall, Newry City, Oxford Sunnyside.
• Tier 3 (project value more than £6 million): Cliftonville, Glentoran.
The Minister paid tribute to all 38 clubs that applied and said that for those who were disappointed, it is "not the end of the journey." He gave his commitment to "stay with you and continue to seek further funding to meet the evidenced need."
Announcements on the Grassroots Facilities and National Football Centre strands of the fund will be made in the coming months.
The clubs will now proceed to the next stage of funding assessment, with the available budget of £36.2 million.
Speaking at a live-streamed event, the Minister said the clubs, both "big and small," from across Northern Ireland have "impressed with their plans to improve facilities." He noted that the demand for funding "exceeds the current available budget" and said he would be seeking "fair and equitable funding" that is due after years of delays.
The 20 applications to progress to the next stage, in alphabetical order under each tier of the programme, are:
• Tier 2 (project value £1.5 million to £6 million): Ballinamallard United, Ballymena United, Banbridge Town, Bangor, Carrick Rangers, Dergview, Dungannon Swifts, Glenavon, Larne, Lisburn Rangers, Loughgall, Newry City, Oxford Sunnyside.
• Tier 3 (project value more than £6 million): Cliftonville, Glentoran.
The Minister paid tribute to all 38 clubs that applied and said that for those who were disappointed, it is "not the end of the journey." He gave his commitment to "stay with you and continue to seek further funding to meet the evidenced need."
Announcements on the Grassroots Facilities and National Football Centre strands of the fund will be made in the coming months.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.