The Irish Football Association and the Northern Ireland Football League have reacted to the announcement that the Northern Ireland Football Fund is up and running.
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has opened applications to The Northern Ireland Football Fund (TNIFF) Performance Programme, marking the start of a £36.2m footballing facilities improvement programme across Northern Ireland.
Performance clubs have been invited to submit proposals to modernise their grounds and transform the game for players, fans and local communities.
The Minister, at a launch event in Ulster University’s Belfast campus, said: “In my first year as Sports Minister I have visited many performance club grounds and have been shocked at the dire state of some spectator stands and existing facilities for players.
“My vision is to improve conditions for players and to provide safe, accessible football grounds for supporters. I want to ensure the passion for football and the talent we have in Northern Ireland is nurtured and developed. I want to see improved accessibility for under-represented and disadvantaged groups, an inclusive sport open to all ages and abilities.”
And the Minister added: “I am determined this is only the beginning. It is my ambition that this is a rolling programme of awards and project delivery over the coming years.”
In light of today’s update on the funding programme from the Communities Minister, Northern Ireland’s main football bodies issued statements.
Irish FA President Conrad Kirkwood said: “This is a positive step forward. The Northern Ireland Executive's allocation of £36.2 million for modernising our football infrastructure is welcome.
“That said, it is long overdue and falls significantly short of the Department for Communities’ own estimated £200 million required to upgrade performance club grounds, grassroots facilities and establish a National Football Centre for Northern Ireland.
“Modern fit for purpose stadia will drive performance and raise aspirations. Moreover, better facilities generally will benefit football, and the people of Northern Ireland, for generations to come.
“And we, alongside our partners at NIFL, are dedicated to working closely with the UK Government and Northern Ireland Executive to ensure that our game benefits from the UK and Ireland's hosting of the UEFA Euro 2028 tournament.”
NIFL Chief Executive Gerard Lawlor said it was an important day for football in Northern Ireland.
He said: “We welcome today’s announcement with cautious optimism as our member clubs finally can begin an application process for much-needed funds. The Irish FA and ourselves together have lobbied long and hard for the past 14 years, so we are pleased to reach this important milestone.
“However, as we have regularly outlined, this current fund will unfortunately have nowhere near the impact as initially intended and, as the Minister himself has stated, much more is needed to have the required impact.
“In the correspondence to not develop Casement Park for Euro 2028, the Secretary of State and UK Sports Minister stated that they ‘remained committed to building a legacy for football across the whole of the UK’. This is their big chance as now is the time to step up and deliver.
“The NI Football Fund requires more money. The Lord Justice Taylor Report was published in 1990 and football in Northern Ireland still hasn’t received its proportion, so we strongly feel that UK Government funding is long overdue. We will continue to lobby and make our case to both the NI Executive and UK Government as the role and impact our member clubs play in their communities and society simply cannot be understated.”
