As part of the Irish FA’s continuing implementation of Club Licensing policies, the Licensing Committee met via video conference today to consider applications for the award of UEFA, Premiership, Promotion and Championship Licences for season 2022-23.
In line with the current UEFA, Premiership, Promotion and Championship licensing manuals, applicant clubs were assessed in five key areas: sporting, infrastructure/safety, personnel and administration, legal, and financial.
Based on these objective criteria licences were granted/refused to the following clubs:
UEFA CLUB LICENCES GRANTED:
- Ballymena United FC
- Cliftonville FC
- Coleraine FC
- Crusaders FC
- Dungannon Swifts FC
- Glenavon FC
- Glentoran FC
- Larne FC
- Linfield FC
- Portadown FC
- Warrenpoint Town FC
UEFA WOMEN’S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE CLUB LICENCES GRANTED:
- Glentoran (Women) FC
PREMIERSHIP CLUB LICENCES GRANTED:
- Ballymena United FC
- Carrick Rangers FC
- Cliftonville FC
- Coleraine FC
- Crusaders FC
- Dungannon Swifts FC
- Glenavon FC
- Glentoran FC
- Larne FC
- Linfield FC
- Portadown FC
- Warrenpoint Town FC
PROMOTION CLUB LICENCES GRANTED:
- Annagh United FC (Coleraine Showgrounds, Coleraine)
- Ards FC (Bangor Fuels Arena, Bangor)
- Ballinamallard United FC
- Ballyclare Comrades FC
- Institute FC (Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium, Derry)
- H&W Welders FC
- Loughgall FC (Stangmore Park, Dungannon)
- Newry City AFC
CHAMPIONSHIP CLUB LICENCES GRANTED:
- Annagh United FC
- Ards FC (Bangor Fuels Arena, Bangor)
- Armagh City FC
- Ballinamallard United FC
- Ballyclare Comrades FC
- Banbridge Town FC
- Bangor FC
- Dergview FC
- Dollingstown FC
- Dundela FC
- H&W Welders FC
- Institute FC (Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium, Derry)
- Knockbreda FC
- Limavady United FC
- Lisburn Distillery FC
- Loughgall FC
- Moyola Park AFC
- Newington FC (Solitude, Belfast)
- Newry City AFC
- Portstewart FC
- PSNI FC (The Dub, Upper Malone, Belfast)
- QUB AFC
- Tobermore United FC
Communication of these decisions has already been made to the respective clubs concerned.
Club licences are valid for one season only, namely 2022-23.
Irish FA Licensing Committee chairman Allen McKinstry said: "As always I want to pay tribute to the work that has gone on behind the scenes at all of our clubs over recent months to ensure licensing applications are successful.
“Club Licensing is now widely regarded as a modern performance standard and an indicator of the state of club football in a country. Consequently the Licensing Committee remains committed to developing, supporting and implementing standards that will continue to improve the level of professionalism across our game.”
Irish FA Club Licensing Manager Stacey Moffett added: “Even though Club Licensing is a well established part of the football landscape within the men’s game in Northern Ireland, this summer will see the rollout of the new UEFA Club Licensing and Financial Sustainability Regulations (Edition 2022) which will again continue to build on the work of the Club Licensing processes to date.
“At the same time work is also now under way within the Irish FA to expand the licensing process into the women’s domestic game in Northern Ireland to act as a further catalyst for positive change in providing a framework for women’s clubs to develop both on and off the pitch. We look forward to continuing to support all clubs on the journey ahead.”