In line with the current UEFA, Domestic and Championship Club Licensing Manuals, applicant clubs were assessed in five key areas, namely: Sporting, Infrastructure/Safety, Personnel & Administration, Legal and Financial.
Based on these entirely objective criteria licences were granted / refused to the following clubs:
UEFA CLUB LICENCES GRANTED:
- Ballinamallard United FC (Shamrock Park, Portadown)
- Ballymena United FC (Mourneview Park, Lurgan)
- Cliftonville FC
- Coleraine FC
- Crusaders FC (Solitude, Belfast)
- Glenavon FC
- Glentoran FC
- Linfield FC
- Portadown FC
DOMESTIC CLUB LICENSES GRANTED:
- Ballinamallard United FC
- Ballymena United FC
- Cliftonville FC
- Coleraine FC
- Crusaders FC
- Dungannon Swifts FC
- Glenavon FC
- Glentoran FC
- Institute FC
- Linfield FC
- Portadown FC
- Warrenpoint Town FC
CHAMPIONSHIP CLUB LICENSES GRANTED:
- Ards FC (Bangor Fuels Arena, Bangor)
- Ballyclare Comrades FC
- Bangor FC
- Carrick Rangers FC (Seaview, Belfast)
- Larne FC (Dixon Park, Ballyclare)
- Lisburn Distillery FC (Donegal Celtic Park, Belfast)
CHAMPIONSHIP CLUB LICENCES REFUSED:
- Dergview FC
- Dollingstown FC
- Donegal Celtic FC*
- H&W Welders FC
- Knockbreda FC
*Club formally applied but did not submit any documentation
Communication of these decisions has already been made to the clubs concerned.
Clubs who have been refused a licence have the right of appeal, in line with 3.2.7. of the Club Licensing manual(s) and any such appeals will be heard on Wednesday 13 May 2015.
Club Licences are valid for one season only, namely 2015/16.
Larne FC and Lisburn Distillery FC had nominated alternative ‘home’ stadiums meeting the required ground criteria in the event that either club had been in a position to achieve promotion to the NIFL Premiership. Both clubs will continue to play home Championship matches at their permanent home venues.
Carrick Rangers FC has nominated Seaview Stadium, Belfast as its alternative ‘home’ stadium as under the terms of its current General Safety Certificate, Taylor’s Avenue does not meet the minimum capacity requirement to host Premiership football. The club are actively working in partnership with Mid & East Antrim Borough Council to secure a revised General Safety Certificate to enable home Premiership fixtures to be played at Taylor’s Avenue should the club sportingly qualify.
Crusaders FC has nominated Solitude, Belfast as its venue for the purposes of its UEFA Licence application. Once the 3G playing surface at Seaview has completed the annual re-certification process to achieve the required FIFA 2 Star status for the pitch, the club will be able to host UEFA Club Competition fixtures at the stadium. It is anticipated that this re-certification process will be completed shortly and well in advance of the 2015-16 UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds.
The Committee wishes to congratulate those clubs who have been granted a Club Licence and acknowledge the efforts of many key personnel at each club for the time and contributions they have made towards the successful application.
Licensing Committee Chairman, Allen McKinstry commented: “As each season passes we are seeing an ever improving level of financial stability within our clubs, the continued expansion of youth development set-ups, improved facilities and more appropriately qualified club personnel across a variety of positions. Whilst it is the clubs who deserve huge credit for the strides that have been made, the Licensing Committee is determined to ensure that the club licensing process continues to act as a catalyst for positive change within domestic football.
“It is therefore particularly pleasing to see a record number of Championship Licences awarded and encouraging to see a number of other Championship clubs having made strong submissions. The number of Championship clubs having engaged in the process during this cycle bodes well for the implementation of the NI Football League restructure proposals which will see the introduction of mandatory licensing to award licences for season 2016-17, coinciding with the creation of a second senior tier of football in Northern Ireland.”