Northern Ireland: Michael O’Neill ‘hopeful’ O’Neill ‘hopeful’ training centre plans progress

Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill said that he was “certainly hopeful” that the Irish Football Association can move forward with plans to have a national training centre open by 2028.

The IFA announced in February 2025 their plans for the “state-of-the-art” facility which will be located next to the Galgorm Resort just outside of Ballymena and will have “world-class pitches and cutting-edge training facilities”.

The association reiterated their desire to proceed with the proposal last month, but did say they hope to “mitigate concerns where possible” after objections from local residents.

O’Neill, who grew up in Ballymena, believes having the facility at Galgorm will have a positive impact on the town.

“It’s important that you do have a national training centre that kids are used to coming to from a young age. It’s an elite facility that shows the intent from the association as they continue to develop players,” he told BBC Sport NI’s Stephen Watson.

“We have a young team at the minute, which we’ve developed through the JD academy and it’s something we should be very proud of, but the national training centre is importantly to the development not just of the senior team but the underage teams and the women’s team.

“I’m certainly hopeful, I’m not in a position of granting authority on these things but it would be good for the town. It can only enhance the town and hopefully the project continues to progress.”