From Antrim to Ballymena: IFA explains decision behind location shift for National Training Centre

The Irish Football Association (IFA) has responded to a demand by Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council to “explain itself” after a site in Antrim was rejected for the development of a football training centre.

The IFA was represented at a meeting of the council’s Operations Committee at Antrim Civic Centre, on Monday evening, by Patrick Nelson, chief executive and Graham Fitzgerald, chief operating officer.

The officials were asked to explain the IFA’s withdrawal of interest in the proposed site at Birch Hill Road, Antrim.

The committee was informed in a report to members, in January, the Irish Football Association’s interest in the development of a national football training centre at a 60-acre site, at Birch Hill Road, in Antrim, had been “officially withdrawn” and “an alternative preferred site was in development with a private owner”.

At this week’s meeting, councillors were told of the IFA’s “sincere appreciation” to the council’s directors for their “collaboration and assistance”.

Mr Fitzgerald said the proposed “football infrastructure” would be “fulfilment of a long-standing strategic priority” of the association.

He indicated the first meeting with council officials took place on April 11 to discuss a site at Birch Hill Road and in June, the council agreed to act as a sponsorship body for land transfer between the Education Authority and IFA.

He noted there would be “no financial implication” for the council.

“On 14 November, we wrote to the council to withdraw our interest in Birch Hill Road. We are grateful for the support and assistance provided by the council during that six-month period.

“We can understand the inevitable disappointment of Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council that the project will not proceed in this borough but we wish to reassure that we were as clear and transparent as possible in all interactions with council.”

He stressed any misunderstanding was “unintentional”. He went on to say the national football centre would be “ultimately developed in a location that is in reasonably close proximity to this borough” and that it would be “accessible to all”.

Committee chair Antrim DUP Alderman John Smyth stated that “a lot of work went in” by council officers.

Macedon Ulster Unionist Cllr Robert Foster said: “It is vitally important that Northern Ireland football has a national training centre.” Cllr Foster went on to say he would dispute that the proposed location is “accessible to all”.

He noted that officers were not told until November, saying: “Time for our officers is ratepayers’ money”.

“So much effort had been put in over many weeks to get to that point,” he added.

Mr Fitzgerald continued: 

“From April to November, during that period, for large parts of that, Birch Hill Road was our preferred site. It was our intention to move forward as quickly as we possible could. During those six months, the picture did change for us when another opportunity came to our attention.”

He stressed: “There was absolutely no lack of genuine engagement for us. We think we were as transparent as we could have been throughout the whole process.”

He pointed out Birch Hill was “never confirmed as the only site”. He explained that other options were not disclosed “for commercial reasons”.

“It is not an unusual situation where an organisation like ours could try to keep as many options open for as long as possible,” he stated.

Dunsilly Ulster Unionist Cllr Stewart Wilson said: “Ratepayers of this borough have every right to some sort of compensation.”

Mr Nelson said in terms of compensation, he would not agree. He added:

“We are talking about a situation where we have responsibility to develop football in Northern Ireland in all its locations.

“We have looked at a number of sites, some in the  public sector and some in the private sector. It is the very nature of doing business, people have to speculate occasionally to try to bring a project to fruition.”

Ald Smyth stated: “We also have a responsibility to the rate-payers of this borough.”

Antrim DUP Cllr Paul Dunlop BEM asked if public money is expected to be used for the project. He was told the “majority” of funding would be provided by the IFA but the body would be “seeking support” from DfC.

Cllr Foster went on to say the Birch Hill site would have “delivered so much community benefit for the whole of Northern Ireland”.

“If you try to get to Galgorm on a bus, you would be doing well or try to walk to it. Birch Hill would have led to a different outcome.”

Meanwhile, an application has been made to Mid and East Antrim Borough Council regarding a proposed new national football centre by the IFA at a 50-acre site at Fenaghy Road, Galgorm.

The application is a request for an environmental impact assessment determination in relation to the planned facility outside Ballymena, at Fenaghy Road, Galgorm.

The proposed development, which has been described by the IFA, as “multi-million pound, state-of-the-art” will comprise of five outdoor pitches, one indoor pitch, stands, training building and car parking.

The IFA has said it is expected to feature “world-class pitches and cutting-edge training facilities supporting both elite and grassroots players”.

An environmental impact assessment is a process undertaken by developers when it is considered that a development proposal may have a significant environmental impact.

The IFA says it has a “long-standing strategic priority to create a facility that will nurture elite talent, support youth development and bolster team performance”.

It is also designed to “serve Northern Ireland’s international squads whilst aiming to support the charitable and community activities of the Irish FA Foundation and marks a bold investment in the future of the game”.

It was stated the facility would “complement the national football stadium at Windsor Park, in Belfast, creating a dual campus set-up to strengthen Northern Ireland’s football infrastructure”.