Release Date: 01/12/2011

WITH support from EU Peace III funding, UEFA (the European Governing Body of Football) and the Northern Ireland Community Relations Council, the Irish FA’s Community Relations Department is in the process of supporting 14 local football clubs from all over Northern Ireland to develop their own Community Relations Strategies and club owned Funding Plans.

The Irish FA is paying for expert consultants to carry out club community audits to help local clubs develop new community focused business plans and capacity building plans which will support the long term sustainability of the clubs.

Irish FA Football For All Ambassador Colin Murray, explains, “The Irish FA Community Relations team is facilitating a process which is helping clubs to develop their business plans so that clubs can become community hubs, developing creative new public and private partnerships which diversify the business of the club and give more value back to their local communities.”

Irish FA Head of Community Relations, Michael Boyd, added: “This process is designed to support local clubs with long term business planning and to build on the good work of existing volunteers who keep the local clubs running. Developing new club owned community focused business plans and capacity building plans lays down the foundations for clubs to build brighter futures in partnership with their local community.”

The Irish FA Club Community Audit Process is a compulsory part of the Irish FA Domestic Licence for Carling Premiership clubs. This process is currently being evaluated by Community Evaluation Northern Ireland and initial feedback is positive.

Jim Spratt, who was appointed as Community Relations Officer at Abbey Villa Football Club as part of this process, enthused: “This strategy is about doing the right thing.  Abbey Villa wants to focus more on the community, be an integral part of it and improve its own facilities to benefit the community as a whole.”

The aim of the Community Relations Audit & Strategy is to further the good work already being done at many Irish League and Amateur League clubs in their local area and to harness this momentum to develop each club’s long-term sustainability embedding them in their local community and recognising the value they can give to their community.

This type of strategic thinking and long-term planning is already reaping dividends for the Co. Antrim club, Crumlin United. The club commissioned an independent business plan from a leading sports consultant. Sean Hunter, Crumlin United Community Development Officer said: “Crumlin United has a fantastic clubhouse on Mill Road which hosts a thriving senior citizens club, arts & crafts classes, a mother & toddler group and many more socially inclusive activities throughout the week.”

Irish FA Community Relations Officer, Lisa Rickett who helped support Crumlin United guiding the Community Relations Audit said: “The club has fully embraced that owning their own community relations strategy makes good business sense and helps them develop new partnerships which benefit the Club and the local community.”

Irish FA Chief Executive, Patrick Nelson added: “The volunteers at the local clubs deserve real praise for leading on Community Relations and showing the way forward for others to follow.”

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