The Vision
The development of the National Football Centre represents a landmark investment in sporting infrastructure, fulfilling a key strategic priority for the Irish FA.
It will serve as a central hub for both elite and grassroots football in Northern Ireland, creating a lasting legacy for the game.
The Proposal
The design for the proposal is based on a ‘centre-for-all’ approach to promote inclusivity and performance and deliver elite-level facilities for male and female players across senior and youth levels. Key features will include:
- Outdoor artificial grass pitch with floodlighting.
- Two outdoor pitches to UEFA match standard with floodlighting and four 750-seater stands.
- A flagship, multi-purpose building with training, medical, catering, administration and media facilities.
- Two outdoor training pitches with two 200-seater stands.
- Indoor artificial grass pitch.
The masterplan for the site also features an energy centre, PV panels, a television gantry, access roads, lighting, fencing, car parking, soft and hard landscaping, site access from Fenaghy Road, emergency access from Ballymena Road and associated operational development.
The National Football Centre will support infrastructure to meet European standards for training and match preparation. The facilities will serve both daily operations and long-term player development across all age groups and pathways.
The Site
The site lies in the countryside, adjacent to the Galgorm Resort, between Cullybackey and Ballymena.
The lands are situated between Fenaghy Road and the railway line, to the north, south, east and west of 125 Fenaghy Road, Cullybackey, Ballymena, BT42 1EA. This can be seen in the image below.
Explore the Proposal
Please feel free to open and download the display boards to see the proposal for yourself.
Feedback
We’d love to hear your views and feedback on the proposal.
You can fill out the feedback form on this page, or if you require any further information on the project, please contact David Mounstephen at Fleming Mounstephen Planning by calling 028 9620 9448 or by e-mail to david@fmplanning.co.uk.
Any comments made to the prospective applicant are not representations to the planning authority. If a planning application is subsequently submitted to Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, normal publicity will be undertaken by the Council and there will be an opportunity to make formal representations regarding the proposal at that time.
By filling in this form you are agreeing that Fleming Mounstephen Planning can hold and process your data in relation to this public consultation event. Comments will be shared for planning evaluation purposes and on an anonymous basis only.