Belfast City Council project advances in £9m grassroots football facilities programme

Belfast City Council is among seven applicants selected to progress to the next stage of a £9 million programme aimed at improving grassroots football facilities across Northern Ireland.

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons announced the successful projects at an event at Blanchflower Stadium in Belfast.

A total of 42 applications were submitted to the pilot Northern Ireland Football Fund Grassroots Facilities Programme, with seven now moving forward.

Belfast project moves to due diligence

The successful applicants include five club or facility-led schemes and two council-led projects.

Belfast City Council and Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council are the two local authorities progressing to the next stage.

The five other successful applicants are Crewe United Football & Social Club, Colin Valley Football Club, Cookstown Youth FC, Dungiven Celtic Youth Football Club and NFC Kesh.

The Department for Communities will now undertake legal and financial due diligence on the projects.

Subject to successfully completing those checks, the first schemes could progress to formal funding agreements later this year.

£9m programme aims to improve facilities

Lyons said improved facilities could create more opportunities for people to play football while helping clubs meet growing demand.

The Minister said good sporting facilities can also support health and wellbeing and strengthen local communities.

The latest announcement forms part of the Northern Ireland Football Fund Grassroots Facilities Programme.

Other funding stories: £2m sports funding opens to Northern Ireland clubs and community groups