Six pitches, floodlights and stands: Galgorm residents to meet over major football centre

Wednesday 12 August 2026

Residents concerned about plans for a major new National Football Centre near Galgorm will gather in Ballymena on Thursday evening to hear the latest on the proposal and the campaign opposing its location.

The public meeting, organised by the Right Facility, Wrong Location campaign, will take place at 6pm at the Adair Arms Hotel in Ballymena, with residents and others interested in the development invited to attend.

At the centre of the debate is a substantial Irish Football Association (IFA) proposal for land beside Fenaghy Road, between Galgorm and Cullybackey, which would create a new national base featuring six football pitches, spectator stands and extensive training, medical, community and support facilities.

Dozens of representations opposing the application have already been submitted through the Northern Ireland Planning Portal, while the IFA’s planning documents set out its case for a facility intended to support the long-term development of men’s, women’s and youth football in Northern Ireland.

What is being proposed

Map showing location of proposed major new National Football Centre near Galgorm

The planning application covers lands to the north, south, east and west of 125 Fenaghy Road, bounded by Fenaghy Road to the south and the railway line to the north.

Plans submitted to Mid and East Antrim Borough Council propose six football pitches — five outdoor and one indoor.

Three would have hybrid surfaces and three would be artificial, while three pitches would have floodlighting. One would be designated as a community pitch.

The proposal also includes spectator facilities, with one pitch having 1,100-seat and 500-seat stands and another having a 500-seat stand.

A two-storey multi-purpose building would provide training, changing, medical, catering, administration and media facilities.

Other elements include a community pitch building, photovoltaic panels, internal access roads, lighting, fencing, car parking, hard and soft landscaping and new site accesses from Fenaghy Road.

Campaigners question whether Galgorm is the right location

The Right Facility, Wrong Location group is not opposing the principle of developing a National Football Centre, but argues that the proposed Galgorm site is unsuitable for a project of this scale.

Campaigners have highlighted potential traffic, noise and light pollution as areas of concern, alongside the possible environmental and landscape impact of developing the countryside site.

Thursday’s meeting follows an earlier campaign meeting held late last year and engagement with residents in recent months.

Those attending will be given an update on the planning application and opposition campaign, with experts involved in areas including planning and environmental matters expected to take part.

Campaign spokesperson Sarah Herbison said:

“This is one of the most significant planning applications ever proposed for this area and it has the potential to permanently change the character of Galgorm and the surrounding countryside.

“Whatever people’s views on football, residents deserve the opportunity to fully consider what this development could mean for their community in the years ahead.

“Having spoken with many residents, we know that our campaign has a lot of support and we know that there are significant concerns from many residents about the proposal. I would encourage residents to attend on Thursday evening to hear the latest and to make sure they have their voices heard.”

Among those which have submitted objections are local businesses and organisations including Galgorm Parks Riding School and Riding for the Disabled, alongside local residents.

What the Irish FA says the centre would deliver

The other side of the planning debate is the scale of the potential sporting investment and the benefits the Irish FA says a National Football Centre would bring.

Documents supporting the application describe the development as a long-term investment in the future of football in Northern Ireland, providing a unified base for the men’s and women’s national teams, academy programmes and football education.

The centre is intended to provide elite-level facilities for senior and youth players, with professional indoor and outdoor training pitches and infrastructure designed to meet European standards for training and match preparation.

The Irish FA envisages a “dual campus” arrangement with the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park in Belfast, with the Galgorm facility providing the dedicated training and development base.

The proposals also contain a community element. The designated community pitch is intended for community access and recreation, while a separate community training building is described in planning documents as a hub supporting local sporting development and wider community engagement.

The application therefore presents a significant planning decision for the area: weighing the potential sporting and community benefits of a national facility against concerns raised locally about whether a development of this scale is appropriate at the proposed countryside location.

Residents can still have their say

The published neighbour consultation period has passed, but Mid and East Antrim Borough Council’s planning office has confirmed that representations can continue to be accepted up until determination of the application.

Anyone wishing to examine the plans or submit a representation can access the application through the Northern Ireland Planning Portal.

Further information about the opposition campaign and its position on the proposal is available from Right Facility, Wrong Location.

Thursday evening’s meeting will provide campaigners with another opportunity to set out their objections and answer questions from residents, while the ultimate decision on whether the National Football Centre can proceed at the Fenaghy Road site remains with the planning process.