Ballymena United, Larne FC and Carrick Rangers receive first Northern Ireland Football Fund support

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons is pictured in his office signing the Northern Ireland Football Fund Letter of Offers.

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has announced the first funding offers under the Northern Ireland Football Fund (NIFF), bringing a welcome boost to football clubs across Northern Ireland.

Among the 20 clubs progressing through the Performance Programme, Ballymena United, Larne FC, and Carrick Rangers are set to receive crucial support to refine their business plans and advance ambitious facility projects.

Ballymena United, a club with a proud local following, is receiving up to £10,000 to update its existing business case. The funding will help the club finalise proposals for enhancing its stadium and training facilities, supporting long-term growth and community engagement.

Minister Lyons said:

“Clubs have waited long enough for this funding to be made available. It’s now over to clubs now to develop or finalise their business cases which set out their detailed project proposals, costs and benefits.”

Larne FC, another prominent club in County Antrim, is also among the 10 previously supported under the Football Ground Business Case Development Fund (FGBCDF), receiving up to £10,000. The funding will help Larne finalise plans to upgrade its facilities, ensuring players and fans alike benefit from improved infrastructure.

Carrick Rangers, known for nurturing local talent, is similarly receiving support to enhance its business case. The club plans to use the funding to strengthen proposals for new facilities and operational improvements, which will bolster both performance and community engagement.

Beyond these three clubs, the Northern Ireland Football Fund has issued letters of offer to 20 performance club projects in total, representing up to £400,000 in financial support.

Ten clubs developing new business cases from scratch – including Armagh City, Ballinamallard United, Ballymacash Sports Academy, and others – will receive up to £30,000 each, providing essential resources to get their projects off the ground.

Minister Lyons highlighted the significance of the milestone:

“When I announced the cohort of football club projects progressing to the next stage of the Northern Ireland Football Fund, I undertook to support clubs so that projects would move forward as quickly as possible. I am delighted that these first offers of support have been made.”

The funding comes from a resource budget separate from the £36.2 million capital budget ringfenced for the Northern Ireland Football Fund. Clubs will work closely with departmental officials and business case consultants to ensure proposals align with applications, address any initial due diligence issues, and include multi-year operational plans to manage new facilities sustainably.

Clubs are expected to prepare and submit completed business cases within three to six months for departmental approval.

This initiative marks a significant step in providing football clubs across Northern Ireland with the tools to develop modern, sustainable facilities, enhancing opportunities for players and supporters alike.