Northern Ireland Football Fund: Twenty clubs move to next stage of funding

Twenty clubs have progressed to the next stage of the long-awaited Northern Ireland Football Fund.

Of the 41 clubs eligible for the stadia funding, 38 applied and 20 have now been successful for the next stage.

The funding was initially announced in 2011 and, after 14 years of delays, progress was made in January when the Northern Ireland Executive announced that clubs could apply for a share of the £36.2m set aside.

Glentoran and Cliftonville are the two clubs who were successful in progressing in the third and most expensive tier, with funding applications of more than £6m.

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons said Thursday’s announcement is not a guarantee of funding, and further assessments and “rigorous due diligence checks” will take place before money is allocated.

Coleraine, Crusaders and Portadown were the three eligible Irish Premiership clubs who were not listed by Lyons.

Championship sides Ards and Institute, who are hoping to build their own stadiums, and League of Ireland side Derry City were also not included in the successful applicants.

Lyons estimated the departmental cost of all 20 projects was “just over £82m”, and “estimated total project costs” came to £98m.

Ballinamallard United, Ballymena United, Banbridge Town, Bangor, Carrick Rangers, Dergview, Dungannon Swifts, Glenavon, Larne, Lisburn Rangers, Loughgall, Newry City, Oxford Sunnyside were successful in the middle tier, which consisted of applications between £1.5m to £6m.

Armagh City, Ballymacash Rangers, Lisburn Distillery, Queens’ University and Rathfriland Rangers were successful in the lowest tier, for funding applications of less than £1.5m